Following record low interest rates and fast depreciating U.S. dollar, crude oil prices became under rising pressure and seemed boundless. Oil price process parameters changed drastically in 2003M5-2007M10 toward consistently rising prices. Short-term forecasting would imply persistence of...

Intro -- Content -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. OIL PRICE VOLATILITY -- III. THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF CRUDE OIL -- IV. ROLE OF MONETARY POLICY IN THE OIL MARKETS -- V. SOLUTION OF THE SEM -- VI. CONCLUSIONS -- APPENDIX -- REFERENCES.