**[IMF Predicts High Oil Prices to Persist Until Next Year]** Golden Finance reports that Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stated in Singapore on the 7th that even if the current conflict in the Gulf region ends soon, high energy prices are likely to persist for some time. Speaking at a pre-event for the IMF and World Bank Group 2026 Annual Meetings, Georgieva said that based on the current trend of Brent crude oil futures prices, high oil prices are expected to continue until 2027. She remarked: "So far, while the energy price shock has been significant in scale, it remains generally within a controllable range. This is mainly due to energy efficiency, diversification of fuel sources, reserve releases, supply chain flexibility, and normal market supply-demand adjustments." She noted that although energy supplies in the Gulf region are gradually recovering, international oil prices remain at around $100 per barrel due to factors such as high transportation costs. Additionally, retail prices for refined products like diesel are at historic highs due to insufficient global refining capacity. (Xinhua News Agency)