• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

3

Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
Oil

Oil Prices Just Hit a Seven-Year Low

By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 11, 2015, 12:28 PM ET
Workers perform maintenance on an oil pumping unit, also known as a "nodding donkey" at an oilfield operated by Embamunaigas, a unit of KazMunaiGas Exploration Production, in Akkystau village, near Atyrau, Kazakhstan, on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The majority Muslim country is central Asia's biggest oil producer. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
Workers perform maintenance on an oil pumping unit, also known as a "nodding donkey" at an oilfield operated by Embamunaigas, a unit of KazMunaiGas Exploration Production, in Akkystau village, near Atyrau, Kazakhstan, on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The majority Muslim country is central Asia's biggest oil producer. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/BloombergPhotograph by Andrey Rudakov — Bloomberg Finance LP
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Crude oil prices hit fresh seven-year lows on Friday as the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned global oversupply could worsen in the new year.

Brent slipped below $39 per barrel for the first time since December 2008 as the IEA, which advises developed nations on energy, warned that demand growth was starting to slow.

“The technicals and the fundamentals are singing from the same hymn sheet,” said Tamas Varga, oil analyst with PVM Associates. “We will not see support until we hit the lows of 2008.”

Brent crude futures were down 50 cents at $39.23 a barrel at 1334 GMT, bouncing slightly from a session low of $38.90.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) U.S. crude futures were at $36.41 per barrel, down 35 cents after touching $36.12, their lowest since February 2009. In 2008, Brent fell as low as $36.20 per barrel and $32.40 per barrel for WTI.

Prices have tumbled this month after OPEC failed to impose a ceiling on output. OPEC producers pumped more oil in November than in any month since late 2008, some 31.7 million barrels per day.

“Consumption is likely to have peaked in the third quarter and demand growth is expected to slowto a still-healthy 1.2 million bpd in 2016, as support from sharply falling oil prices begins to fade,” the IEA said in its monthly report.

Should sanctions on Iran be lifted, its exports could rise, adding to the market’s oversupply.

“The next quarter is going to be particularly tough as we go from a high-demand to a low-demand quarter,” said Richard Gorry, director of consultancy JBC Energy Asia.

“Can you rule out $20 per barrel? No, you can’t,” he said, although adding that prices would not likely fall that far.

Banks such as Goldman Sachs have said oil prices could fall to as low as $20 per barrel as the world might run out of capacity to store unwanted oil.

The IEA said the pace of stock-building should roughly halve next year and that it was very unlikely that global storage capacity would be filled.

“Concerns about reaching storage capacity limits appear to be overblown,” it said. The IEA said it expects a decline in non-OPEC production in 2016, as U.S. light tight oil shifts into contraction, and it that further spending cuts could spur deeper output declines.

“There is evidence the Saudi-led strategy is starting to work,” the IEA said, referring to the producer group’s decision to maintain high output to safeguard market share.

U.S. shale oil production, the main driver of non-OPEC supply growth, is expected to fall for a ninth consecutive month in January, a forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed this week.

About the Author
By Reuters
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Meet Micron, the under-the-radar chipmaker that just reported a 346% sales surge and helped stop a global AI selloff
AITech
Meet Micron, the under-the-radar chipmaker that just reported a 346% sales surge and helped stop a global AI selloff
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 26, 2026
1 hour ago
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 26, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 26, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 26, 2026
1 hour ago
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 26, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 26, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 26, 2026
1 hour ago
Mortgage rates today, June 26, 2026
Personal Financemortgages
Mortgage rates today, June 26, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 26, 2026
1 hour ago
Trump sits and shows a signed bill
PoliticsEducation
Washington gutted the office that manages your student loans. Next week, it has to reinvent them
By Jacqueline MunisJune 26, 2026
1 hour ago
p
Personal Financephilanthropy
American giving hit $617 billion in 2025 — and the Paul Allen effect exposes who’s really driving it
By The ConversationJune 26, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
1 day ago
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
2 days ago
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
Success
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 25, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 25, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 25, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
19 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Thursday, June 25, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Thursday, June 25, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 25, 2026
20 hours ago
Trump turns on Big Oil donors who spent nearly $100 million to get him elected—now he wants the DOJ to investigate them for price gouging
Economy
Trump turns on Big Oil donors who spent nearly $100 million to get him elected—now he wants the DOJ to investigate them for price gouging
By Tristan BoveJune 25, 2026
12 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.