The story is not oil, the story is gas,

No government could survive without champagne. In the throat of our diplomatic people [it] is like oil in the wheels of an engine.

The combination of large deals and a decline in oil prices was the highlight of today's trading session. The week started on a more positive note, with good news on both corporate and economic fronts.

Oil prices are increasing and (US) consumer spending is strong.

We were told at the beginning of the war, 'a few billion dollars and then Iraqi oil will pay for everything.' We're now looking at $320 billion that have been spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Inflation is the wild card for 2006, with rising oil prices, an increase in commodity prices, slow productivity gains and rising interest rates.