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News Releases and Updates
7/21/2011 - Dating the Timeline of Financial Bubbles During the Subprime Crisis
Study by The present paper uses econometric methodology to test if and when bubbles emerged and collapsed in the real estate market, the commodity market, and the bond market over the period surrounding the subprime crisis.   Peter C. B. Phillips and Jun Yu
6/5/2011 - Price Formation in Financialized Commodity Markets – The Role of Information
A number of studies find evidence of commodity price bubbles. Analyses show that position-taking by index investors, that passively replicate the price movements of an index based on a basket of commodities, has an impact on price developments, particularly of crude oil and maize. The fact that these effects are persistent – especially in the case of crude oil – points to the presence of herd behaviour.  

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

3/28/2011 - Position Limits for Derivatives
Letter by Dennis M. Kelleher of Better Markets, Inc. This letter demonstrates, with extensive anaylsis and empirical data: 1) speculation in commodity markets has dramatically increased and is excessive; 2) excessive speculation has caused increased volatility and increased prices in the future markets; 3) price increases in the future markets directly affect physical market prices and, thereby, have increased prices in the underlying commodities.   Dennis M. Kelleher
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Articles of Interest
12/14/2011 - Explaining High Oil Prices
Whether it's emerging-market demand or speculation that's boosting prices, the end result doesn't bode well for a U.S. economic recovery.   Wall Street Journal
12/12/2011 - Fat-tail fears catch oil traders between $50 and $150 bets
Investors and traders are buying large numbers of oil contracts that would profit from a price super-spike – and a collapse.   Financial Times
10/19/2011 - CFTC Raises Bar on Betting
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Tuesday approved a much-debated, long-delayed rule designed to curb bets on oil, gold, sugar and other commodities.   Wall Street Journal
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Opinion Leaders Speak Out
3/17/2011 - Democrat Senators, United States Senate
"Speculators are seizing on recent political turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East to drive energy prices to unwarranted levels."  Orlando Sentinel
3/17/2011 - Representative Barney Frank (D-MA), United States House of Representatives
"There is no question that speculation is playing a role in the rise in gas prices."  New York Times
1/20/2011 - Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), United States Senate
"We know the damage that high gas prices do to the economy."  Columbus Dispatch
All Quotes | Financial and Energy Experts | Congress and Other Governmental Officials
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Happening Now
4/19/2011  Blame High Oil Prices on Speculators and Bernanke
Bloomberg
4/12/2011  Speculators Keep Up Bets that Crude and Heating Oil Prices Will Rise
HeatingOil.com
4/6/2011  Oil Speculation Continues Unabated -- $5 Gas Next?
Huffington Post
[see more]

What the Experts Say ...
"Speculators are seizing on recent political turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East to drive energy prices to unwarranted levels."
Democrat Senators, United States Senate, 03/17/2011
Orlando Sentinel