{chart} Crude oil price action climbed 5.7% this past week. The latest advance solidified three consecutive weeks of gains, extending the month-to-date rally to an impressive 18.5%, and propelling the commodity to its highest close since early September. Oil prices have broadly benefited from encouraging vaccine results and corresponding improvement in market sentiment. This is because the direction of crude oil broadly tracks global GDP growth expectations, and optimistic covid vaccine headlines have reinforced prospects for future economic activity. {chart} Following the sharp ascent over recent trading sessions, ... (full story)