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WITH the euro crisis in abeyance, high oil priceshave become the latest source of worry for theworld economy. Oil is the new Greece is a typicalheadline on a recent report by HSBC analysts. Thefear is understandable. Oil markets are edgy;tensions with Iran are high. The price of Brent crudeshot up by more than $5 a barrel on March 1st, to$128, after an Iranian press report that explosionshad destroyed a vital Saudi Arabian oil pipeline. Itfell back after the Saudis denied the claim, but at$125, crude is still 16% costlier than at the start ofthe year. 随着欧元危机的缓解，高油价成了世界经济的新忧虑之源。石油就是新的希腊这一代表性的题目出现在了汇丰的分析员最近的一份报告中。恐慌是可以理解的，伊朗局势很紧张，原有市场命悬一线。三月一号，伊朗媒体报道了爆炸摧毁了沙特阿拉伯一条重要的输油管道后，布伦特原油价格窜升到了128美元，每桶涨了5美元多，之后沙特否认了该说法，油价又跌到了125美元，不过这仍比年初贵16%。 Assessing the dangers posed by dearer oil means answering four questions: What is drivingup the oil price? How high could it go? What is the likely economic impact of rises so far? Andwhat damage could plausible future increases do? 评估油老大的风险敞口意味着回答四个问题：什么推高了油价?它能涨多高?目前可能的经济影响有什么?还有未来不确定的增长会造成什么危害? | 
