When Russia invaded Ukraine in late-February, the value of oil was just a little greater than $90 a barrel.
It mainly went straight up from there to nicely over $120 a barrel in a few week and a half.
Gasoline costs shortly moved up as nicely, getting as excessive as greater than $5 a gallon by early summertime.
The power image felt bleak on the time and it appeared prefer it was solely a matter of time till we broke by all-time highs in power costs.
Simply take a look at the entire headlines from March of this yr:
We spent the whole lot of the 2010s underinvesting in our power infrastructure after which one of the necessary power sources on this planet mainly received reduce off due to the conflict.
Issues felt bleak contemplating inflation was already on the highest ranges in 4 many years.
I particularly recall listening to an Odd Heaps podcast in March that laid out the case for $200/barrel oil in March when tensions have been excessive:
Tracy: I imply, how excessive do you assume it might go? And what degree can be worrying to you by way of demand destruction?
Pierre: Effectively, I believe, like near $200 a barrel — a lot increased than at this time. I really feel like there’s no demand destruction at $110 a barrel and we’ll need to go considerably increased earlier than demand can go down by sufficient. However that’s additionally assuming there’s no authorities mandate and a few form of confinement, the place let’s say two days a month, we’re not doing something. And we’re in confinement for 2 days a month. I imply, there may very well be some options like that to convey demand down, but when there’s no authorities mandate, then I believe that round $200 oil shall be sufficient to convey demand to stability the market.
Joe: Might we see $200 oil this yr?
Pierre: Sure, I believe so. Sure.
It certain felt prefer it was solely a matter of time.
Nevertheless, the alternative occurred.
Oil costs have crashed from these March highs.
Right here’s a narrative from Reuters this week about the place issues stand:
Oil costs fell near their lowest this yr on Monday as avenue protests towards strict COVID-19 curbs in China, the world’s largest crude importer, stoked concern over the outlook for gas demand.
Brent crude dropped by $2.67, or 3.1%, to commerce at $80.96 a barrel at 1330 GMT, having dived greater than 3% to $80.61 earlier within the session for its lowest since Jan. 4.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slid $2.09, or 2.7%, to $74.19 after touching its lowest since Dec. 22 final yr at $73.60.
Each benchmarks, which hit 10-month lows final week, have posted three consecutive weekly declines.
Not solely are oil costs decrease than they have been earlier than the conflict broke out in Ukraine, however they’re mainly flat on the yr:
I convey this up to not dunk on these forecasts.1
These forecasts all made sense given the knowledge we had on the time.
This yr is stuffed with stunning outcomes within the markets however this one is likely to be probably the most stunning to me.
And the loopy factor is it’s laborious to discover a good motive for oil costs coming down a lot.
Certain, the White Home launched the strategic oil reserves and China continues to have its Covid lockdowns. Perhaps the market is looking forward to demand destruction from a possible recession. Or perhaps the treatment for prime costs was excessive costs?
It certain doesn’t really feel like there was a obviously apparent catalyst for the transfer increased in oil costs to reverse.
The factor that’s laborious about markets is you can be utterly proper in regards to the geopolitics and nonetheless be incorrect in regards to the worth motion.
Or you can be utterly proper in regards to the macro and nonetheless be incorrect in regards to the worth motion.
As an example, let’s say I’d have advised you earlier than the beginning of the yr that oil costs can be flat by the tip of November.
How would you assume power shares would do in that scenario?
I assume power shares2 don’t want increased oil costs to outperform:
Vitality is much and away the best-performing sector within the S&P 500 this yr and there isn’t an in depth second place.3
Markets are filled with contradictions, surprises, overreactions, underreactions and head-scratching strikes.
It’s at all times been this manner however the extra I be taught in regards to the markets the extra I understand how tough they are often.
Humility needs to be your default setting when attempting to determine what comes subsequent.
Additional Studying:
Markets Are Onerous: Seth Klarman Version
1And who is aware of — perhaps we’ll nonetheless see $200/barrel for another motive.
2My guess as to why power shares are performing so nicely whereas oil costs have crashed is twofold: (1) Vitality shares have gotten crushed for years earlier than the previous 18 months or so and (2) It looks as if traders now understand the significance of this sector going ahead in order that they’ve bid up share costs. Perhaps I’m incorrect.
3In truth, power is the one constructive sector on the yr. As of this writing, the following greatest performer is client staples, which is down 20 foundation factors or so. Utilities, healthcare and industrial shares are additionally holding up nicely, all down lower than 5% on the yr.