Jerome Corsi in "Black Gold Stranglehold: The Myth of Scarcity and the Politics of Oil" stated that the futures market takes into account all factors that can affect the market - instantly and efficiently.  IMHO this is yet another of his major BS statements that leads to a greater truth.  In fact the opposite is true:  The short-term futures market is highly manipulated and the "reasons" for price movements are only given by the "experts" AFTER said movements, not before.  

Many of us have guessed at the reasons that PO has been kept secret for so long, and I believe that the trashing of the oil prices (even by OPEC) is along the same lines. When you have trillions of dollars at stake, how much would you spend to plunge oil prices, especially if you know that you will make significant bucks from said plunge?  I have read many times that even the most extreme price movements can be caused by a relatively small amount of money.  All you need is a lack of buyers (bulls warn out by having their stops continually tripped) and a few sellers (the Conspiracy with billions of loose bucks to spend) and you can take the price down to any level you want.  News - spews.  Fundamentals - grundimentals. Peak oil - freak oil.  "They" control the vertical.  Do not try to adjust your dial.  I'm afraid that the natural and positive "Golden Hand of the Marketplace" is being held off by these people.  Just another indicator of how the people will be blindsided by the most nasty energy shock possible (I predict....)

Check this out for an example of how governments can manipulate gold prices to protect their paper currencies http://www.fgmr.com/manipulate.htm while "we the people" get moved further out on the limb that will inevitably break!  Get Ready!!!

I truly believe in the positive power of a truly free marketplace - I just don't believe that this world has ever had such a thing.