World market prices for oil on July 22, 2008 at the leading oil exchanges declined significantly. Official oil futures prices coming month deliveries were: at the InterContinental Exchange Futures – 129,55 US$/bbl. (IPE Brent Crude); at the New York Mercantile Exchange – 127,95 US$/bbl (Light, Sweet Crude Oil).
The price of oil began the session mildly lower on expectations that Tropical Storm Dolly wouldn’t disrupt oil operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The advance increased after comments from a Federal Reserve official sent the dollar higher against major currencies, a trend that in turn sends commodities lower.
Lower oil prices are diverting attention from earnings for the moment. There’s no questions about some negative earnings reports coming out, but we’re starting to think some of them might be company specific and not broader.