http://blogs.wsj.com/energy/2007/09/17/goldman-calls-for-95-oil/ September 17, 2007, 4:53 pm
Goldman Calls for $95 Oil
Posted by Mark Gongloff
Goldman Sachs, which in 2005 famously suggested crude oil could spike to $105 a barrel before demand destruction kicked in, on Sunday raised its target for Nymex crude-oil prices for year-end 2007 and 2008, saying crude could end that two-year run as high as $95.
Goldman projected oil would end this year at $85 a barrel (it’s not far from that today, having set a new intraday record of nearly $81) and would end next year at $95. Goldman analysts warn oil could spike above $90 this year and expect it to average $85 next year. That’s right, average $85.
Goldman’s thesis is that oil is in a “cyclical” bull market caused by tight supply and OPEC production cuts, at the same time it’s in a longer-term, “structural” bull market caused by inadequate production capacity — a “bull-bull” market, or double-bull market, which is sort of like being on double-secret probation, only with fewer togas.
The analysts go on to say that high prices and a slowing U.S. economy could hurt demand for a time next year, but that supply constraints will likely gain the upper hand and drive prices higher again. “It is important to emphasize that the current market deficit is being driven more by supply shortages than by excess demand, which is why upside price risks are so high despite significant economic growth concerns,” they write.