Why the oil futures curve is not a crystal ball
Lower prices for crude to be delivered at a later date do not mean traders are predicting a sharp fall
Lower prices for crude to be delivered at a later date do not mean traders are predicting a sharp fall

And the worst-case scenario for oil

Traders warn of further jump in prices and ‘huge pain’ as economies cut consumption

Test your knowledge of how oil prices have been affected by previous crises in the Middle East

Measures undertaken by vulnerable economies may be only the start of things to come

If supply disruptions persist, holders of stockpiled reserves can’t be relied on to fully cushion the impact

Governments and central banks are out of policy ammunition to contain the economic fallout