This past Friday, after market close, I received notification from a metals company in China that I hold shares in, that due to two circumstances (pollution during the Olympics and Coal shortages), they were being required to cut back on their operating hours approximately 35%. And their ops are 500 miles from Beijing. This obviously does not bode well for Chinese energy consumtion during the Olympics. Does this sound like a perfect storm being taken advantage of by the Chinese and US in the ongoing battle between high commodity prices and the two governments. If so, wont do anything good for the price of oil over the balance of the month.

On the positive side for oil price is the current conflict between Russia and Georgia. Though war is never a hoped for cause of higher energy prices!

Brian