MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
US oil price falls below 50 dollars threshold, and markets decline sharply
US oil production has soared recently, as fracking has revolutionized oil production in the country 
The price of both Brent crude and US oil, West Texas Intermediate crude, have now lost more than half of their value since mid-2014 The US oil price fell below the symbolic threshold of $50 a barrel for the first time since April 2009, before finishing the day at $50.05. The price of Brent crude also fell on Monday, dipping 6% to $53 a barrel.
The price of both Brent crude and US oil, West Texas Intermediate crude, have now lost more than half of their value since mid-2014. Investors are worried that combination of a global supply glut and weak demand could cause prices to tumble further.
US oil production has soared recently, as fracking - or the process of extracting oil from shale rock by injecting fluids into the ground - has revolutionized oil production in the country, transforming US states such as North Dakota and Pennsylvania in the process.
However, the increase in production has come just as economies across the world - from Europe to China - have slowed their once voracious demand for oil. This, combined with Opec's decision to continue extracting oil at its current pace, has left many investors worried.
That has in turn led shares of many of the world's leading energy firms, from BP to Exxon Mobil, to decline sharply over the past few months.
In effect leading US stock indexes declined sharply on Monday, as plunging oil prices worried investors. The Dow Jones fell 331.34 points, or 1.86%, to close at 17,501.65. The broader S&P 500 index shed 37.62 points, or 1.83%, to 2,020.58, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq slipped 74.24 points or 1.57% to 4,652.57.
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Read all commentsAnd this is news?
Jan 06th, 2015 - 10:40 am 0Venezuela are really in trouble now and the Bus Driver is stuck in neatral with all the airbrakes locked on!
Roll on the civil unrest: it will takes many deaths on both sides to get rid of the Chavistas and obtain a moderate government.
Such a disaster.
I hope they all starve, they need to learn Socialism is a disease of the weak minded.
Jan 06th, 2015 - 12:45 pm 0Kill off the idiots.
You know the most satisfying means is with a good knife. Up through the solar plexis or down between the clevical and neck. Either way you get to hear their last gasps of life.
Jan 06th, 2015 - 03:49 pm 0What's you preference yb?.....for the idiots I mean?
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