Report Archive - PI: Reuters 3000 Xtra
Tracking Crack Spreads
Metric Suggests Gains Ahead for Oil Refining Equities- 16-Feb-2011
Crack spreads help explain the expected profit margin from refining, or “cracking,” crude. The most popular is the 3:2:1 crack, the spread of trading crude, gasoline, and heating oil at the aforementioned ratio. Refineries typically attempt to hedge their price risk using such a ratio, while speculators may use it to make directional price bets. There is a lead/lag relationship between the 3:2:1 crack spread and refining stock prices. Therefore, the recent rise in crack spreads may provide a bullish outlook for refiners. See Related Reuters Insider Video
- Regions: Global, United States
- Authors: Sunil Brahmavar , Mike Tarsala
- Products: Reuters 3000 Xtra, StarMine Professional, Thomson Reuters Spreadsheet Link
- Keywords: commodities, crack spread, oil
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