

<head> Tipster Topic Description


<num> Number: 088


<dom> Domain: International Economics 


<title> Topic: Crude Oil Price Trends


<desc> Description:

Document will provide quantitative data usable in charting international
crude oil price trends.


<smry> Summary:

Document will provide quantitative data usable in charting international
crude oil price trends.


<narr> Narrative:

To be relevant, document must contain international crude oil production and
price data in at least two out of the three following categories: reported
daily output by any member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) or the larger non-OPEC producers (e.g. U.S., USSR, Mexico,
Norway, and Great Britain); the official production quota set by OPEC for any
of its members; and, prices in at least one of the so-called "benchmark" crude
oil markets (specifically, West Texas Intermediate, North Sea Brent, Rotterdam
crude oil spot market, and crude oil futures on the New York Mercantile
Exchange).  Documents referencing OPEC and its members likely will report or
speculate about political and diplomatic moves related to the "official" OPEC
price, but such information by itself is not directly relevant.  The best
documents would be those which summarize and statistically analyze crude oil
production and price data over a period of time, rather than those which
simply report daily market numbers.


<con> Concept(s):

1.  Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC

2.  Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait,
    Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), 
    Venezuela.

3.  U.S., USSR, Mexico, Norway, Great Britain

3.  West Texas Intermediate, North Sea Brent, Rotterdam spot, New York
    Mercantile Exchange.


<fac> Factor(s):


<def> Definition(s):