How hyperactive policy makers become when the price of oil starts to haunt their dreams. Three weeks ago, the Group of Seven leading industrial countries demanded that oil-exporting nations be ready to pump more of the stuff. That was after a rise in the price from $90 a barrel to $115. This week Saudi Arabia appeared to oblige, amid signs that it had lifted production to 10m barrels a day from about 9.9m. That combined with a fresh stimulus package in Japan to bring the price down towards $110 yesterday. Then there was the oil-price “flash crash” – a $4 plunge in 30 minutes on Monday. If this was any other commodity, an insider trading inquiry would already be under way.
当油价开始成为政策制定者的梦魇，他们会变得何其活跃。三周前，由主要工业化国家构成的七国集团(G7)要求石油输出国准备生产更多石油。在那之前，油价从每桶90美元涨到了每桶115美元。本周，沙特阿拉伯似乎出手帮忙了：有迹象显示，沙特石油日产量已从990万桶提高到1000万桶。这个因素与日本的新一轮刺激计划结合在一起，导致油价在昨日跌向每桶110美元。而且，油价还出现了“闪电暴跌”：本周一，油价在30分钟内暴跌4美元。如果这里说的是其他任何一种大宗商品，有关部门恐怕早就已经展开内幕交易调查了。