Brent Oil Price in 2015

The brent oil price fell 35.0% in 2015, from $57.33 at the end of 2014 to $37.28. Its highest close was $67.77 on May 6, and its lowest $36.11 on Dec 22. The biggest one-day fall was −8.9% on Jul 6 and the biggest rise +10.2% on Aug 27. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 35.4%.

Change in 2015

−35.0%

$57.33 → $37.28

High

$67.77

May 6

Low

$36.11

Dec 22

After inflation

−35.4%

US CPI

Up days

111 of 252

longest run 7 up, 7 down

Below record

-74.1%

at the end of 2015

Brent Oil Price, daily closes 2015

Numbers mark the events below

Key Events in 2015

What happened, and how the Brent oil moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.

1
Tuesday, January 13 From the data

Bear market low: $46.59, 60.8% below the peak.
2
Thursday, January 22

ECB announces quantitative easing with combined asset purchases of 60 billion euros per month. Source

Brent oil: −1.0% that day · +22.8% a month later
3
Sunday, July 5

Greek voters reject the bailout terms of international creditors in a referendum, 61% to 39%. Source

Brent oil: −8.9% next trading day (Jul 6) · −20.2% a month later
4
Monday, July 27 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $67.77 (May 6, 2015).
5
Tuesday, August 11

People's Bank of China devalues the yuan by 1.86% against the dollar. Source

Brent oil: −2.4% that day · −5.6% a month later
6
Monday, August 24 From the data

Bear market low: $42.69, 37.0% below the peak.
7
Thursday, August 27 From the data

Biggest one-day rise of the year: +10.2%.
8
Wednesday, December 2 From the data

Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $54.15 (August 31, 2015).
9
Friday, December 18

President Obama signs legislation ending the 40-year US ban on crude oil exports. Source

Brent oil: −0.8% that day · −25.0% a month later

Biggest days of 2015

Best days		Worst days
Aug 27	+10.2%	Jul 6	−8.9%
Feb 17	+9.0%	Sep 1	−8.5%
Aug 31	+8.2%	Feb 4	−6.5%
Jan 30	+7.9%	Aug 24	−6.1%
Feb 3	+5.8%	Apr 8	−6.0%

Volatility: 44.2% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

Month	Close	Change	High	Low
Jan	$52.99	−7.6%	$56.42	$46.59
Feb	$62.58	+18.1%	$62.58	$54.16
Mar	$55.11	−11.9%	$61.02	$53.43
Apr	$66.78	+21.2%	$66.78	$54.95
May	$65.56	−1.8%	$67.77	$62.06
Jun	$63.59	−3.0%	$65.70	$62.01
Jul	$52.21	−17.9%	$62.07	$52.21
Aug	$54.15	+3.7%	$54.15	$42.69
Sep	$48.37	−10.7%	$50.68	$46.37
Oct	$49.56	+2.5%	$53.05	$46.81
Nov	$44.61	−10.0%	$50.54	$43.57
Dec	$37.28	−16.4%	$44.44	$36.11

Other Markets in 2015

Change over the calendar year.

Market	Change	Year-end
Brent Oil Price	−35.0%	$37.28
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2015	−2.2%	17,425.03
S&P 500 in 2015	−0.7%	2,043.94
Nasdaq Composite in 2015	+6.6%	5,047.04
Russell 2000 in 2015	−5.7%	1,135.89
Nikkei 225 in 2015	+9.1%	19,033.71
Gold in 2015	−10.4%	$1,060.80
Silver in 2015	−11.3%	$13.84
WTI crude oil in 2015	−30.7%	$37.04
US 10-year Treasury yield in 2015	+0.10 pp	2.27%

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Brent Oil Price in 2015: FAQ

How much did the brent oil price fall in 2015?

What were the highest and lowest closes of the brent oil price in 2015?

Highest: $67.77 on May 6, 2015. Lowest: $36.11 on December 22, 2015. It closed higher on 111 of 252 trading days.

What happened to the brent oil price on July 5, 2015?

Greek voters reject the bailout terms of international creditors in a referendum, 61% to 39%. The brent oil price fell 8.9% on the next trading day (July 6, 2015), and was −20.2% a month later.

Data: Europe Brent spot price (EIA) from 1987, ICE Brent futures closes after that. Inflation: US CPI-U. Events marked "From the data" are found automatically from the closing prices; the others are researched, with the source linked. Not investment advice.