"I felt like finally I could say what I've wanted to say," declared Kira Qao, a Shanghai resident who attended a candlelight vigil and protest there for the victims of the Urumqi apartment building fire. Lockdown policies that made many millions of Chinese into virtual prisoners, sometimes for weeks or months, had recently produced angry protests in Guangzhou and battles between workers and security forces at the Foxconn IPhone plant in Zhengzhou.
Many thanks Ruth, for sharing this informative information. Protests in many parts of the world have become increasingly violent and deadly! Stay safe!!
Intolerance of dissent is an indicator of authoritarian leadership. Unfortunately, we have seen some of this in the US as well. The Kent State anti war protests were met with violence during the Nixon administration. Trump was wondering if he could shoot protestors during the George Floyd protests.
I keep thinking about China still being the world’s largest crude oil importer and oil prices in China are at their lowest levels for this year. The protests have also affected oil demand significantly so I think China will ultimately lift the COVID restrictions but what happens after that is anyone’s guess.
Then there is also the related issue of OPEC plus Russia and the EU and their oil production. OPEC plus Russia have already agreed to decrease oil production by 2 million barrels (i.e. make a cut but they don’t want oil prices to fall) through 2023. But some analysts feel that the price of oil will still fall as they won’t sufficiently make the needed cuts. China as an oil importer and would welcome the falling oil prices. And there is the issue of the EU wanting to limit the Russian offensive in Ukraine without disrupting oil markets. And then finally investors are waiting for the FED to ease up on increasing interest rates which is what I was trying to follow yesterday but was so busy with other end of semester things and couldn't……..but if the FED eases up on interest rates then we should see increases in the following:
**inflation
**consumer spending
**employment
So then >>>>>>>> Crude oil prices go up and China is the largest importer and would not be so welcoming of higher oil prices!!!
Many thanks Ruth, for sharing this informative information. Protests in many parts of the world have become increasingly violent and deadly! Stay safe!!
Intolerance of dissent is an indicator of authoritarian leadership. Unfortunately, we have seen some of this in the US as well. The Kent State anti war protests were met with violence during the Nixon administration. Trump was wondering if he could shoot protestors during the George Floyd protests.
I keep thinking about China still being the world’s largest crude oil importer and oil prices in China are at their lowest levels for this year. The protests have also affected oil demand significantly so I think China will ultimately lift the COVID restrictions but what happens after that is anyone’s guess.
Then there is also the related issue of OPEC plus Russia and the EU and their oil production. OPEC plus Russia have already agreed to decrease oil production by 2 million barrels (i.e. make a cut but they don’t want oil prices to fall) through 2023. But some analysts feel that the price of oil will still fall as they won’t sufficiently make the needed cuts. China as an oil importer and would welcome the falling oil prices. And there is the issue of the EU wanting to limit the Russian offensive in Ukraine without disrupting oil markets. And then finally investors are waiting for the FED to ease up on increasing interest rates which is what I was trying to follow yesterday but was so busy with other end of semester things and couldn't……..but if the FED eases up on interest rates then we should see increases in the following:
**inflation
**consumer spending
**employment
So then >>>>>>>> Crude oil prices go up and China is the largest importer and would not be so welcoming of higher oil prices!!!
So who knows?
??????????????????
Not I!