http://yahoo.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_20/b3984001.htmWho blaming who for what here??
You'd think the Apr. 26 oil summit in Qatar would have been an occasion for the industry to celebrate. The world's top energy executives were there, and they could all point to record profits and record demand. But rejoice? John Browne, CEO of London giant BP PLC, (BP ) says instead that the atmosphere was strangely glum. "There wasn't anyone smiling," he says. "They were worrying that the price was too high."
In the long run, the big oil companies that can't find a way to invest profitably in their industry could find themselves vulnerable. "Companies can't go on returning cash to shareholders. Otherwise they might as well give the assets to someone else," says Mark Bentley, head of global energy investment banking at HSBC (HBC ). Bentley says hedge funds and investors are closely scrutinizing oil company performance. Consumers take note: Big Oil has a future. But despite that gusher of profits, it's not an easy one.