First off, be sure to read the prior post if you didn’t already, since it covers a variety of improvements here on good ol’ Slope of Hope.

I’ve made no secret of my long-term bearishness on crude oil and the energy sector in general. Manipulation of markets comes in all forms, but crude is special, in that its price is artificially elevated by a successful global cartel. Crude is about $35/bbl right now, where economic reality should be placing it at, oh, say, about $10/bbl. Thus, there is a persistent tension between natural market price and synthetic cartel-sanctioned price. Observe how this strain is getting severe in the form of this absolutely gorgeous rounded top.