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OIL PRICES SCRUTINY (3#) -

What's a Dark Market?

Demand for oil increased only 2 percent in the past year, but the price of oil has doubled on the international market. The airlines, which are having a financial crisis, have begun to focus on oil speculators as a key factor. They want Congress "to close oil pricing loopholes," according to Ted Jackovics at the Tampa Tribune.

# Patrice Hill explains the "Enron loophole" and how some speculation escapes regulation via overseas electronic exchanges.

# More about loopholes and fixes
:::: reported by Gail Russell Chaddock.

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