A roller-coaster week for oil

The price of oil has alternately surged and plunged this week, buffeted by a sharp (but probably temporary) fall in US stocks and speculation about prospects for supply. Indeed, stability in prices could remain elusive, at least until the OPEC meeting at the end of the month. Meanwhile, all commodities received a boost mid-week when a disappointing US ISM reading added weight to the scaling back of expectations of Fed rate hikes and led to downward pressure on the US dollar.