Hedge Fund guru George Soros warned over the weekend, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, that " the crude oil market had been significantly affected by speculation." Because of all the speculators driving the price of crude higher and higher, Soros went on to say, "Speculation... is increasingly affecting the price, the price has this parabolic shape which is characteristic of bubbles."
While I tend to disagree with Soros when he predicts that we are headed for a very deep recession, I do think that there isn't much justification to $130+ per barrel of crude. After all, the continuing cry of increasing demand falls short, when the big consumers of oil, are experiencing slower economic growth. After the Olympics, I wouldn't be surprised to see Chinese growth take a sharp fall as well, as many of the public works projects come to an end.
I think that potentially, we will see crude oil fall back to the $50-60 per barrel level.
Aaron Katsman is Senior Portfolio Manager of the Israel Growth Portfolio, of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. and Senior Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com. DISCLOSURE: Writer's fund has no position in any stock mentioned, as of 5/27/08











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-27-2008 @ 5:04PM
Thinker said...
You must mean $50 per gallon not barrel. You need to crawl back under your rock and come out when you have somtthing useful to write.
5-27-2008 @ 5:47PM
william lindblad said...
Aaron, I would love to agree with you, but I am afraid that I take a more realistic view.
Soros and I have something in common as we both expect bad times ahead. Warren Buffet has recently chimed in and joined the group. Every day, more and more join and it's getting to be a large club. Soros and Buffet expect a recession - I expect a depression - possibly a new record. Yes, oil may come down a bit, but not to the 60 dollar range. Possibly the 100-110 range and I really doubt that this will be anytime soon. By the time it does come down everything about world economics will be in ruin and it won't make damn bit of difference. This is far from over and there is a great deal more to be revealed in the banking sector. Telll me about the good times at the end of July.
5-27-2008 @ 6:29PM
Karla said...
I think that these are the days of no return! I feel for the families with small children and trying to make ends meet. I feel we have been betrayed and have been sold out! How can our government just sit back and watch as this country falls to ruins and with a slim chance of bouncing back! Recession, depression and oppression perches on everyone's doorsteps..those who work hard everyday and don't own mansions! Give us your tired,poor and the weak and not in that order! Guess what? We have arrived and may God help us!
5-27-2008 @ 6:56PM
Robert Alexander said...
I expect crude prices to fall below all expectations, when we decide that we can do something about gas prices. First by conserving, which is already beginning to happen at an all time rate. Second by building new , clean, renewable energy industries to replace oil. This too is beginning to happen. By increasing our efforts along these lines, when gas prices begin to fall, instead of going back to it, we will once and for all be on the road to energy independence and cleaner air, water, and soil. Yes, we can change the way we do business.
5-27-2008 @ 6:56PM
Jeff said...
Wwahhhhhhh!!! Life ain't fair!!
5-27-2008 @ 7:23PM
LETSDOIT said...
Our gov wants to hand out BILLIONS of the tax payers hard earned money to other countries and sit back let the oil companies get away with this CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!> Time for a WAR not on drugs or on terrorism but on our own gov. CIVIL WAR,CIVIL WAR,CIVIL WAR I SAY.
5-27-2008 @ 7:27PM
REALBRIGHT said...
lINDBLAD, the people that are selling you this doom and gloom are all Democrates, its an election year and Soros is the big backer of the liberals, and they want the white house so bad they will do anything to get it, that is why they sell this doom and gloom. Do you ever hear any good news from these clowns, only if the Dems. say it is good news, they could care less about the American people they want to be in charge and will sell us down the tubes
5-27-2008 @ 9:24PM
tojfs7931 said...
you need to change the headline of this article... Olympics is spelled wrong.
5-27-2008 @ 9:25PM
Watching the naked ruler said...
The KING has NO CLOTHES !!!!!!!
5-27-2008 @ 9:32PM
The first thing first said...
Want oil to drop 1.00 or 2.00 overnight ? Demand that Oil futures speculators put up half or more of the money before they speculate .
Its' a gamblers market now with no real money driving it . Less speculators means less money making on overinflated speculation .And Oil prices will drop rapidly .....
5-28-2008 @ 1:51AM
Coach said...
Obama apparently hasn't noticed that the Dems took control of Congress in 2006 promising change, but the only change since then is we are free-falling into a depression. Can hit the backspace and change the Congress back to Republican control? We sure don't need any more of this kind of change, Congress hasn't done one thing to help our economy. They keep voting against drilling for more oil. Vote the bums out! All of them. Politicians are like diapers, they need changing regularly and for the same reason.
5-28-2008 @ 11:05PM
Bill HACKER said...
I was watching ceaspan and congressman had a point why are we not making gas from coal .The entire germany army ran on it in WWII. Would love to see the arabs having garage sails to buy thier wheat. To many powerful people making to much money for things to change.BUT people in power need to remember you are like ticks on a dog ,you can only suck so much before the dog dyes (and the dog aint looking good)
5-29-2008 @ 1:03AM
LETSDOIT said...
Cant wait for a trucker to park his rig in the front room of the white house
6-05-2008 @ 1:25PM
ssnake1952 said...
I have to agree with Coach and lets do it.. We need a change , a Big one.. and that needs to be Congress.. sick of them lining thier pockets with our money.. and see a fleet of trucks on the white house floor..When is enough , enough...They don't have enough money to send their kids to Ivory Schools..I LOVE My Country and served it. But,worry about the people running it..I don't think theirs a person in there that really cares..
6-07-2008 @ 9:04AM
Bruceb said...
Park a truck in the white house while he's shifting gears! not doubt. I cannot believe our Pres. is not doing anything about it. Oh, but wait, he is making a killing. If Soros is right, and I tend to think that he might be, investors in oil will lose their ass. Except Mr. Bush, who by then will have pulled all his profits out. Recesion? Depression? I think a liittle of both.