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December 15, 2014 - Special Update: The Oil Price Decline in 4 Charts

December 15, 2014

Markets were jarred by plummeting oil prices last week, giving the Dow and S&P 500 their worst weeks of 2014.[1] For the week, the S&P 500 lost 3.52%, the Dow fell 3.78%, and the Nasdaq dropped 2.66%.[2]

Markets reacted badly to crude oil's slide largely because of its economic implications for oil producers like Russia. What's bad for Russia is bad for its largest trading partner - Europe. Though the U.S. economy is doing well, economic troubles in Europe could be potentially bad for U.S. companies.

Though it can be depressing to experience a market drop so close to the end of the year, there may be a silver lining to oil's decline. In this week's update, we're taking a look at some of the short - and long-term factors behind the drop in oil prices.[3]

Since June, the price of Brent crude, one of the most commonly used crude oils, has fallen from a high of $115.19 to the current low of $65.64.[4]


Source: Energy Information Administration
Source: Energy Information Administration

In the short term, the rise of the United States as an oil-producing power has pushed up global oil supplies, thus depressing oil prices.


Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy

In November, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), an international group that coordinates oil production between members to stabilize prices, met to determine production quotas. While the group, whose members control 40% of global oil supplies, could have acted to reduce the oil glut by cutting production, they voted to maintain current production levels, sending oil prices even lower.[5] While it may seem crazy, it's likely that OPEC members are seeking to drive smaller producers out of the market.

On the other side of the equation, economic growth in many major oil markets is stalling, reducing the demand for oil. Developed countries have also made major strides in reducing energy use and increasing efficiency. All this spells declining demand in many markets. Global oil consumption estimates have been cut four times this year as the oil industry struggles to come to grips with changing fundamentals.[6]


Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy

Other long-term factors may affect future oil demand. Economists predict that U.S. gasoline consumption will flatten and contract in coming years. [7] Demographic trends in the U.S. suggest that domestic demand may fall as baby boomers retire and reduce their driving; Millennials, members of the largest generation in U.S. history, are moving to cities and using alternative transportation in increasing numbers. Use of renewable energy sources is also on the rise and expected to continue, though cheap oil may make alternative energy less fiscally appealing.

What does cheap oil mean for the U.S.?

On the positive side, lower prices will likely boost consumer sentiment and increase discretionary spending, which is great news for U.S. businesses. Based on U.S. Highway Administration estimates, this year's gas price drop has translated into over $1,000 in annual savings for the average American household.[8]

On the other hand, the U.S. is becoming a serious oil producer and low prices are bad news for domestic oil producers. The economic viability of U.S. shale oil production (the source of its recent oil boom) relies on high oil prices to offset expensive extraction. One metric used by energy analysts is the "breakeven price," which is the oil price needed for projects (or producers) to make a healthy return. Can shale oil producers survive in a world of dirt-cheap oil? Opinions differ; the chart below shows the estimated breakeven price for several shale oil projects.


Source: Business Insider, Deutsche Bank Research, Wall Street Journal, Citibank Research

While some projects may be able to survive low oil prices, one estimate puts the average breakeven price of U.S. shale projects around $65-$70/barrel, indicating that many are vulnerable to low oil prices.[9]

Globally, oil price instability and continued downward pressure could mean bad news for major producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia that depend on oil revenues to make debt payments. While some countries have large cash reserves that will help cushion the effects of cheap oil, the long-term economic effects could be serious.

Bottom line: How Low Can Oil Go?

Well, that's the trillion-dollar question and everyone has a guess. Government energy economists are currently forecasting an average price of $68/barrel on Brent Crude, though they admit there's a great deal of uncertainty in price forecasts right now.[10]

Are oil and gasoline prices going to remain this low? Hard to know. The prices we are seeing are partially the result of speculation and bearish sentiment on oil. While fundamentals suggest oil prices will remain depressed in 2015, it's unlikely that $2.00 gas is here to stay.[11] Let's make the most of it while we can.

Looking ahead, we can expect additional market volatility as traders take a look at their portfolios after last week's rout. Wednesday's Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting will also be in focus; analysts hope that the Fed will address how the recent drop in oil prices may affect the timing of future interest rate increases.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR:

Monday: Empire State Mfg. Survey, Industrial Production, Housing Market Index
Tuesday: Housing Starts, PMI Manufacturing Index Flash
Wednesday: Consumer Price Index, EIA Petroleum Status Report, FOMC Meeting Announcement, FOMC Forecasts, Chair Press Conference 2:30pm
Thursday: Jobless Claims, Philadelphia Fed Survey


Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized. Sources: Yahoo! Finance and Treasury.gov. International performance is represented by the MSCI EAFE Index. Corporate bond performance is represented by the DJCBP. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.

HEADLINES:

Congress passes $1.1 trillion spending bill. After weeks of closed-door haggling and bitter partisanship, Congress passed a budget bill, funding most government agencies through September 2015 and avoiding a government shutdown.[12]

Retailers bounce back from Black Friday. Despite a slow Thanksgiving shopping period, new data shows that November sales increased by 5.4% over last year for brick-and-mortar stores.[13]

China's economy may slide to 7.1% growth in 2015. The Chinese central bank announced that a slack domestic real estate sector could cause China to miss growth forecasts. Though China's export sector is still growing, it's not enough to offset the weak property sector.[14]

Weekly jobless claims fall. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell again, though continuing claims increased. The four-week moving average edged upward, though it remained below 300,000 for the 13th straight month.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, Broker dealer or Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.


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The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.

The Dow Jones Corporate Bond Index is a 96-bond index designed to represent the market performance, on a total-return basis, of investment-grade bonds issued by leading U.S. companies. Bonds are equally weighted by maturity cell, industry sector, and the overall index.

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  1. http://www.cnbc.com/
  2. https://www.google.com/
  3. http://www.cnbc.com/
  4. http://www.eia.gov/
  5. http://uk.businessinsider.com
  6. http://www.bloomberg.com/
  7. http://www.bloomberg.com/
  8. http://www.bloomberg.com/
  9. Calculation assumes average annual consumption of 1,000 gallons of gasoline. Peak average gas price of $3.788/gal (EIA weekly average 4/28/14) and $2.600/gal (AAA daily average 12/12/14).
  10. http://www.economist.com/news/
  11. http://www.eia.gov/
  12. http://www.eia.gov/
  13. http://www.cnbc.com/
  14. http://www.cnbc.com/
  15. http://www.cnbc.com/