Several weeks ago we wrote to our LPs that we believed the oil markets were transitioning from 40 years of having a firm ceiling and no floor towards having a firmer floor and a vastly diminished ceiling.
This week's Saudi comments support that view.
Historically, OPEC increased production into economic downturns. The resulting downside volatility discouraged western investment.
Their willingness to reduce supply to make room for Iranian barrels indicates they no longer need to, as decarb/ESG sentiment achieves same goal.
If correct, energy equities current status as effectively short-duration options on crude prices with negative skew may well evolve into something more akin to longer-duration options with flat or positive skew (extended duration = realization we still need it for next 15+ years)
More thoughts on complacency in the Agriculture markets, resource policy impacts on trade/currency markets and other topics.
Accredited/Qualified investors interested in reading the full letter can DM or request at mrafunds.com
Why is it that the global reaction in the first days after the invasion of Ukraine was limited to toothless sanctions, sending “hopes and prayers,” and bathing buildings in blue and yellow light?
Why can’t we help them? 1/12
2/12 The answer is simple:
The western world has spent the last two decades making short-sighted energy and resource policy decisions that gave our adversaries substantial geopolitical leverage over us.
3/12
In an effort to go green (a noble goal disastrously executed), Germany shut down an efficient, lower carbon, reliable domestic energy systems-
in exchange for a more expensive, inefficient and weather dependent one that left them utterly reliant on Russian natural gas.