Ed Maran Quotations

Everyone is wondering whether the increased quotas will translate into actual new production. Many members of OPEC don't have excess production capacity.

Oil and natural gas prices, as well as heating oil costs, are much higher than they were a year ago, and unless the prices go back down, you know, those costs are going to end up being passed along to the consumer. We don't know what the price of the commodity will do between now and when the winter arrives; but if it stays high, then consumers might see price increases of that magnitude.

The oil markets appear very nervous about the Iranian situation. Iran's production is essential for meeting world demand. There is not enough excess capacity within OPEC to make up for the lost supply if Iran were to stop selling oil.

The oil markets appears very nervous about the Iranian situation. Iran's production is essential for meeting world demand. There is not enough excess capacity within OPEC to make up for the lost supply if Iran were to stop selling oil.

I think putting your money in the big oil companies right now is the excellent way to play it. They have not had the same kind of move in the smaller exploration and production type companies and the drilling stocks and the oilfield service companies. Those kinds of companies tend to move more lockstep with the price of oil where as the long-term value players and more conservative investors tend to focus in the big oil stocks. So since they haven't made the move it's a great value opportunity.

Their smaller size gives them less diversification, less geographic spread. So you have a little bit more risk with them. Those companies are about $16 billion market cap companies, whereas BP Amoco is a $200 billion company. So you can compare BP Amoco to a GE in terms of its size and diversification.

It would see to me the downstream assets of Texaco in the United States are the major issue here. Generally speaking, the upstream generation and production company doesn't have any FTC concern.