ZEEV-rise of crude oil prices above a calculated, known level will cause loss of control of the petro-trade by those who value that control, and its dominating leverage, beyond all other considerations.
The loss of control by fostering viable alternatives like shale/tarsands extraction or development of known, existing petro-deposits or growth of other energy sources is a most real threat to those already in the driver's seat, and daily causes those persons to sink deeper into their suppressive fixations.
Consider the anomoly that Saudi Arabia [and Kuwait] had [and still largely has] no military, apart from population-control forces, to logically balance the very real threat to its black-gold fortunes, which under any rational view are a prime target for any, hungry have or have-not. It is clear that a deal was long-ago made to guarantee, by force, the dominant Wahabee [Saud] family its throne, in exchange for ...you guessed it..the dollars, etc being vested in the USA and other, directed recipients.
Only one time that guarantee was called visibly into play. That was when the Sabah family of Kuwait, with a like arrangement, was forced to flee when S. Hussein walked-in. With the Saud family watching intently to observe the first, real test of the quid-pro-quo, Kuwait was most aggressively recovered for the Sabah family's safe return...recovered forcefully by the US military with the less obvious participation of others.
That test reassured the Saud family of the workability of its own, like deal.
The above scenario may account for seemingly irrational movements and trends in world and local "markets" of any kind.
So much for my blog. redhot
Governments lie. All governments.[I F Stone/Howard Zinn]