Price fluctuation

President Donald Trump warned OPEC about its "artificially very high" oil prices Friday, saying they are "no good and will not be accepted!" His warning came in an early morning post to Twitter. Looks like OPEC is at it again. With record amounts of Oil all over the place, including the fully loaded ships at sea, Oil prices are artificially Very High! No good and will not be accepted! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2018 Trump's rebuke of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries came after Saudi Energy Minister Khaled al-Faleh said the global market has the capacity to absorb higher oil prices, after crude hit the highest level in more than three years. "I have not seen any impact on demand with current prices. We have seen prices significantly higher in the past — twice as much as where we are today," Faleh told reporters ahead of an oil producers' meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "Energy intensity as you know has declined significantly ... this … [Read more...] about Trump Warns OPEC on ‘Artificially Very High’ Oil Prices

On May 4, 2015, the National Development and Reform Commission (“ NDRC ”) and seven agencies including the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly published Opinions on Promoting Drug Price Reform (the “ Opinions ”).  The NDRC also issued a Notice on Strengthening Monitoring of Drug Prices (“ Notice ”) and a press release on the same day.NDRC OpinionsThe Opinions focus on removing the government drug prices for most drugs; improving the system for drug purchase; strengthening the effect of cost reduction provided by medical insurance; reinforcing the regulation of healthcare activities and pricing behavior; and ultimately establishing a price determination scheme that is predominantly market-based. The new drug pricing scheme shall be as follows:Drugs paid by healthcare funds: The healthcare authorities shall coordinate with other relevant … [Read more...] about NDRC Issued Opinions and Notice on Drug Price Reform: National Development and Reform Commission

IntroductionIn January 2015 the price of a barrel of Brent crude slipped below $50 for the first time since May 2009. A surprise surge in global production and weaker than anticipated global demand upset what had been a fairly stable market with oil prices trading around the $100 - $120 per barrel range for the last three years, despite a number of significant geopolitical events affecting petroleum producing countries.The industry is awash with speculation about the forward price curve for oil: will the fall in oil prices be short lived or is this the beginning of a new world order of materially lower oil prices? While speculating as to why the market is as it is - or where it is going - is a natural reaction, prudent oil companies would be wise to take stock of prevailing market conditions and to realign their business strategies to address the new challenges and risks posed by lower oil prices.Organise Rather Than AgoniseIn order to effectively manage the risks of lower oil prices, … [Read more...] about Preparing for and Adapting to Lower Oil Prices: Reducing Risk, Mitigation Loss and Capitalizing on Opportunities in Today’s Market

Growth in health care costs has long been a source of political and administrative tension for public health agencies across the country. More and more, health officials, legislators, patient advocacy groups, and third-party payors blame budgetary constraints and patient dissatisfaction and poor outcomes on high prices for once affordable medications. The issue of drug pricing has generated intense interest among federal regulators, the Department of Justice, Congress, and now, state legislatures. Legislative Responses As complaints about drug price fluctuations grow louder, legislatures in Massachusetts, New York, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Vermont, and Colorado have introduced “drug pricing transparency” bills. The bills, if passed, would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to disclose a variety of confidential, nonpublic drug cost information. Proponents argue that access to such information will enable policymakers to better understand and … [Read more...] about State Efforts to Combat Drug Price Increases

VietNamNet Bridge – Many pineapple farmers in Tien Giang Province’s Tan Phuoc District, the largest pineapple planting area in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, are taking losses because of fluctuating prices caused by an oversupply. A farmer in Tien Giang Province harvests pineapples. — VNA/VNS Photo Nam Thai Nguyen Xuan Hai, deputy head of the district’s Agriculture and Rural Development, said that pineapples were selling for VND2,000–3,000 a kilo. Since mid-year, the price has ranged from VND1,500–5,500 a kilo. With the decline in price, farmers are now suffering a loss of VND10-15 million (US$440-$660) per ha per crop. The fruit has helped many farmers escape poverty in recent years. Tan Phuoc’s Queen pineapples, one of the main varieties in Tien Giang, are well-known for high quality. The district has about 16,500ha of pineapples with an average yield of 20 tonnes per ha per crop. A pineapple crop lasts between 12-15 months. … [Read more...] about Delta pineapple farmers suffer losses due to fluctuating prices