KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia ended flat on Friday amid concerns over rising US Treasury yields and escalation in West Asia. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 0.69 points, or 0.04 per cent, to 1,671.62, from Thursday’s close of 1,672.31. The benchmark index, which opened 2.56 points higher at 1,674.87, moved between 1,666.99 and 1,675.47 during the day. Market breadth was nearly even, with decliners outnumbering gainers 590 to 575. A total of 534 counters were unchanged, while 1,224 were untraded and 43 suspended. Turnover widened to 4.07 billion units worth RM2.69 billion from 3.32 billion units valued at RM2.74 billion on Thursday.
It was difficult to imagine that the oil price will be at 70 per barrel 6 months ago but today, the oil price has plunged to $70.15 per barrel.
OPEC's decision not to cut production is indirectly a declaration of price war in the crude market and the challenge to US shale drillers.
Here is a look at why the sharp drop in the oil price.
First, US production has nearly doubled in recent years to 9 million barrels a day and analysts expect the production to rise by more than 1 million next year. And like all commodities and trades, an oversupply will drive the prices down. With this supply, Saudi Arabia and OPEC have essentially surrender to the inevitability of the lower prices from the exploding improvement in the US energy production.
As OPEC maintained their output target, the oil price plunged to a point where some of the shale projects may lose money.
This is a new era, where the market itself will manage supply. Saudi Arabia and OPEC knew it and their decision is a sign of surrender. The markets have changed for many years to come.
To a certain extend, this is a victory to the US energy independence. It is also a victory for the workings of the free market. Greater supply and not government cartel that drives the price down.
The next question that comes into mind is this: HOW LOW CAN THE OIL PRICE GO?
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