Word: benchmark
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...true that Gorbachev will ultimately be rejected by his nation in a free election, and that Russian Republic President Boris N. Yeltsin, emerging as the hero of a new Russian Revolution, could easily take over. Yet while Yeltsin performs a useful function as a radical benchmark against which Gorbachev's reforms can be measured, it is far from clear what his popular brand of leadership and his simplistic platform could do to meet the country's needs at this critical juncture. Yeltsin's rash behavior and undemocratic instincts could turn out to be huge obstacles as he prepares to face...
Saturn officials have said their benchmark is the popular Honda Civic. Does Saturn make the grade? We will have to wait to see if Saturn is as durable, but I have driven the Civic and my impression is that the Saturn's performance, handling and amenities all measure up to its Japanese rival. The Saturns have been designed for easy servicing too, right down to the transparent, easy-to-read fluid reservoirs under the hood and the clearly labeled fuse boxes and dipsticks. Someone at Saturn has been doing a lot of thinking about what the buyer wants, and that...
...price of West Texas Intermediate crude, the benchmark for trends in the U.S. oil market, ended the week at $24.49, an increase of $3.51 in two days. In Tokyo the Nikkei stock index plummeted 729.42 yen, closing the week at | 29,515.76 yen. The market drop reflected concern that Japan, which depends on imported oil for 57.9% of its energy needs, might face tougher economic times. In Europe, which also relies heavily on Middle East oil, stock and currency markets gyrated nervously...
...price of OPEC oil to $16.25 per bbl., from less than $14 per bbl. at the end of June. But because buyers have stocked up on cheap fuel in recent months, it will take some time before the new production cap shoves prices as far as the new $21 benchmark. That level may be difficult to sustain beyond the winter, when fuel demand rises naturally, as OPEC members with spare capacity are likely to press for new, higher quotas...
...since the oil glut of 1986 have petroleum prices gone on such a wild ride. During trading last week, the futures price of crude fell below $16.50 per bbl. for the benchmark West Texas Intermediate, down more than $2 from the previous week and $5 since early March. While demand for oil usually softens during springtime, new calculations of the world's oil production have stunned commodity traders. Total output by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries exceeds 24.5 million bbl. per day, or 2 million beyond its agreed ceiling. At the same time, Saudi Arabia said it had discovered...