Goldman Sachs predicts fall in oil prices to $45 a barrel

Julia Kollewe
London Guardian
Friday, December 12, 2008

Goldman Sachs has slashed its forecast for crude oil prices to just $45 a barrel next year as demand wanes – in a sharp U-turn from its prediction of a spike to $200 made earlier this year.

In May, the investment bank’s energy equity team led by Arjun Murti made headlines when it predicted oil could rise to $150 to $200 a barrel within two years. Oil prices peaked at $147 a barrel in July and have fallen sharply since then as a rapidly deepening global economic downturn reduced demand for energy.

(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)

The team, which also made waves in 2005 by calling crude’s rise to $100, cut its 2009 forecast to an average price of $45 a barrel. The analysts also think prices will bottom out early next year and that a shift from “demand destruction” to “supply destruction” will reignite the oil rally before long.

Murti’s team predicted a return to positive demand growth and shrinking non-Opec supply would lift prices to $70 a barrel by 2010 and to $105 by 2012.

FULL STORY CLICK HERE

• 
• Social bookmarks
• 
• Email this article
• 
• Print this page

Comment Terms Of Use

Comments are closed.