十二月，原油價(jià)格走勢(shì)出現(xiàn)了兩種截然不同的格局。 歐佩克參考籃子在12月中旬跌至兩個(gè)月低點(diǎn)$ 70.7 / b之后，在積極的經(jīng)濟(jì)氣氛和北半球天氣轉(zhuǎn)冷的推動(dòng)下反彈，引發(fā)了投機(jī)活動(dòng)的激增。 結(jié)果，12月份的籃子價(jià)格平均為74.01美元/桶，是2009年11月之后的第二高月度價(jià)格。 新年籃子價(jià)格在1月7日進(jìn)一步上漲至$ 80.29 / b，為2008年10月上旬以來(lái)的最高水平。此后，由于經(jīng)濟(jì)擔(dān)憂，天氣溫和和庫(kù)存增加而使價(jià)格發(fā)生逆轉(zhuǎn)，1月18日價(jià)格為$ 75.79 / b。

Crude oil price developments saw two distinct patterns in December. After falling to a two-month lowof $70.7/b in mid-December, the OPEC Reference Basket rebounded on the back of positiveeconomic sentiment and colder weather in the Northern Hemisphere, which triggered a surge inspeculative activity. As a result, the Basket price averaged $74.01/b in December, the secondhighest monthly figure in 2009 after November. The Basket increased further in the New Year to hit$80.29/b on 7 January, the highest since early October 2008. Since then, prices have reversed oneconomic concerns, milder weather and inventory builds to stand at $75.79/b on 18 January.