This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-12784532
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Libya no-fly resolution keeps oil prices volatile | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Oil prices have fluctuated on Friday after the United Nations authorised a no-fly zone over Libya. | |
Brent crude earlier rose above $117 a barrel after the resolution, but suddenly dropped more than $3 to around $113 a barrel after Libya declared an immediate ceasefire. | |
US light, sweet crude was also higher, but then fell 1.6% to $100.38 a barrel. | |
Fighting in Libya has caused a rally in oil over the past few weeks. | |
The battles between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and rebels have come after a series of popular uprisings across the Arab world, which also pushed up oil prices. | |
Libyan oil production - which goes predominantly to the European market, for which Brent is the leading price benchmark - is near zero. | Libyan oil production - which goes predominantly to the European market, for which Brent is the leading price benchmark - is near zero. |
Colonel Gaddafi's forces have recently retaken several towns seized by rebels in an uprising, but Western leaders had been talking on Friday about how to enforce the no-fly zone. | |
'Extended uncertainty' | |
However, analysts said the situation was still uncertain, despite news of a ceasefire. | |
"This does not mean we near a resolution of the situation in Libya," said Harry Tchilinguirian, an analyst at BNP Paribas. | |
"We may be facing the possibility of an entrenched status quo between pro and anti Gaddafi groups. | |
"This only maintains the uncertainty in terms of when we will eventually have a full resumption of production in Libya," he said. | |
Financial markets have been jittery all this week as events in the Middle East and Japan threatened to take a turn for the worse. | Financial markets have been jittery all this week as events in the Middle East and Japan threatened to take a turn for the worse. |
In Bahrain, a clampdown on protesters earlier this week raised concern that unrest could spread to neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude producer. | In Bahrain, a clampdown on protesters earlier this week raised concern that unrest could spread to neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude producer. |
Protests by a few hundred people in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday were put down by security forces. | Protests by a few hundred people in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday were put down by security forces. |
The continuing nuclear crisis in Japan also continued to prey on the minds of investors, with concerns that the country is set to increase energy imports. | The continuing nuclear crisis in Japan also continued to prey on the minds of investors, with concerns that the country is set to increase energy imports. |
Japan's nuclear capacity - which accounts for nearly 30% of electricity generation - has been crippled following a devastating earthquake and tsunami. | Japan's nuclear capacity - which accounts for nearly 30% of electricity generation - has been crippled following a devastating earthquake and tsunami. |
Eleven of its 54 nuclear reactors are not operating. | Eleven of its 54 nuclear reactors are not operating. |