WORLD NEWS: "Pirate Attacks Raise Risks for Oil Tankers," by Spencer Swartz, Wall Street Journal, 2-3 January 2010.

Chart says 9 attacks in 2006, 25 in 2007, 30 in 2008 and 42 in 2009. Most occur at the starting point around the Persian Gulf/Arabian Sea and--obviously--off the coast of Somalia.

Did the attacks have any impact on oil prices?

Not really. I mean, nothing in comparison to the global economic downswing.