World Bank raises oil price forecast for 2015
世界银行提高2015油价预期
The World Bank has revised upward its oil price forecast for 2015, but said that the marginal rebound in the price of Brent crude at the start of the year, won't pull energy prices up to anywhere near the 2014 level.
The World Bank said in its "Commodity Markets Outlook" report on Wednesday that crude oil is expected to average 57 US dollars per barrel for the year, up from the bank's estimate of 53 dollars per barrel in April. This follows a greater-than-expected 17 percent rise in crude prices in the second quarter, even as prices for other energy commodities, such as natural gas and coal, declined.
Though the increase in oil prices more than offsets the natural gas and coal stumble, the World Bank expected energy prices to average 39 percent below the 2014 level. Geopolitical tensions and more closures of high-cost oils rigs could push the forecast even higher, the bank added.