In what feels like the middle of a multi-round heavyweight bout, the world financial markets continue to be buffeted tonight, following the recent trend of lower equities, stronger dollar (vs Euro, SF and Sterling), sinking energy and commodities prices and considerably less confidence in the overall system than in weeks prior. Theoildrum.com has historically focused on the biophysical aspects of a world economy based on energy (and occasionally the human aspects that impact energy demand). Most research here attempts to predict what world oil and gas production might look like in a future where depletion inexorably overtakes technology, and the costs of procuring large amounts of quality fuels continue to increase. However, the spiralling of recent events make it likely that, at least for a time, be it a week - or several years - oil and gas depletion might be more than offset by the reduction in demand due to the manifold implications of the reduction in global financial leverage and resulting credit contractions and dislocations in the real economy. The linkages between finance and energy are becoming more direct, but I'm quite certain there are many under the surface we are yet unaware of.

Below are a few article links followed by some open ended questions. Please deposit data, charts and links of relevance.