[SirKeats]

I'm confused as to how the stock market can dictate the price of a barrel of oil.

The oil itself is owned by someone else... like Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East. How is it that speculators can buy and trade (whatever it is that they're buying and selling) the cost of a barrel on the American market.

Aren't the owners of the oil (Canada, Mexico, Middle East) able to set their own price regardless of what it's traded at on the stock market?

I've always been way confused about how this whole thing works. Would love someone in the know to spell it out for me in VERY simple terms. LOL.

Thanks!