[Oilguy]

As markets continue to yo-yo and commentators deliver mixed forecasts, investors are faced with some tough decisions and have a number of important questions that need answering. On a daily basis we are asked what’s happening with oil prices alongside questions on China’s slowdown, which commodities or instruments will provide safety in the current environment, will the Euro-zone split in the future and what impact the presidential election is going to have on the economy and markets?

To help Oilprice.com look into these issues and more we were fortunate enough to speak with the award winning economic commentator Mike “Mish” Shedlock.

In the interview, Mish discusses:

• Why global trade will collapse if Romney wins
• Why investors should get out of stocks and commodities
• Why we have been oversold on shale gas and renewable energy
• Why oil prices will likely fall in the short-term
• Why the Eurozone is doomed
• Why there may soon be an oil war with China
• How government interference is ruining the renewable energy sector
• Why we need to get rid of fractional reserve lending

Oilprice.com: With oil prices now in the high 80's and news out of Europe getting worse every day, do you expect prices to stay in this range, or do you see them dropping in the short term?

Mish: There are two conflicting forces here. One of them is oil prices over the long-term and the other is oil prices over the short-term.

Even in the short-term you will find there are conflicting forces at play. For example, stress in the Middle-East puts an upward pressure on oil prices. However, economic problems in Europe, a slow-down in Asia and a slow-down in the United States put downward pressure on oil prices. New orders are falling at a staggering rate across the board in Asia, China, Japan, Europe, and the United States which also puts further downward pressure on oil prices.

Long-term, forces such as peak oil and population growth in China are putting pressures to the upside.

One needs to balance all of those factors out when they are about ready to give a prediction on oil prices. My opinion is that over the short to mid-term, oil prices will go down. Long-term, energy is a good place to invest.

Oilprice.com: If your prediction is correct and oil prices do go down – what sort of impact do you see this having on the U.S. economy, if any?

Mish: That's an interesting question. However, the question puts the cart before the horse.

Looking at prices in a vacuum is a mistake. One also has to look at why prices are doing what they're doing. For example, falling oil prices that happen when supply shocks are alleviated are a positive thing. Falling oil prices because of falling demand is another. You seldom see this kind of distinction in mainstream media.
Full interview at: http://oilprice.com/Interviews/Global-T ... dlock.html

[ColossalContrarian]

I'm pretty sure global trade will collapse regardless of who wins...

[dorlomin]

Obama has better rhetoric about the poor and comes from the 'borrow' wing of the republicrats but its much of a muchness. Oh and is less likely to openly dispute science as he is less dependent on the creationist wackos.

[SeaGypsy]

Oilprice.com is a commercial site with no evidence of accurate prediction unless you are willing to open your wallet, even to look at historical data. My predictions the last 2 years(I guessed the current year low WTI with a 9 cent miss/ around $5 total off on high low and close 2010 and 2011) have been the most accurate in the world and they are available free here on peakoil.com

"Mish" is wrong.

[vision-master]

Obama has better rhetoric about the poor and comes from the 'borrow' wing of the republicrats but its much of a muchness. Oh and is less likely to openly dispute science as he is less dependent on the creationist wackos.

Creationist wackos? Sounds like evolution wacko's - both believe in linear time, a begining and a end.

Ape -> -> Jesus

[peripato]

I'm pretty sure global trade will collapse regardless of who wins...

And you can take that to the bank!