Crude Oil

Taiwan's economy minister announced on Saturday that the energy minister of a "major country" producing liquefied gas had given Taiwan assurances about supply. He was speaking in relation to the?impact of the Iran War on Middle East energy imports. Taiwan, which is a major producer of semiconductors, relied on Qatar to supply around a third its LNG prior to the conflict. It has now said that it has secured alternative supplies from countries such as Australia and the United States for the months ahead. Kung Ming Hsin, Taiwan's Economy Minister, told reporters in Taipei that Taiwan enjoys good relations with...

Oil prices soared on Thursday, and equity markets around the globe were volatile as traders weighed contradictory developments and remarks related to Iran war. As some major Wall Street indices and U.S. Bond prices retraced gains after news broke that Iran and Oman were drafting a protocol to monitor traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The day after U.S. president Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will "hit Iran extremely hard" over the next few weeks, and "bring [them] back to the Stone Ages," the U.S. oil prices soared by nearly 8%. Wall Street's stocks finished mixed on the last...

Oil prices surged Thursday, and equity markets around the world fell after U.S. president Donald Trump's remarks dashed expectations of a "quick resolution" to the Iran War. Still, European'shares' trimmed their losses and U.S. bonds clawed back any gains on rekindled hopes of a reopening of Strait of Hormuz. Iran's foreign ministry announced that it was working on a protocol to monitor the traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which is used by a fifth or global oil and LNG. Brent crude jumped more than 7% per barrel after Trump stated in a prime time address on Wednesday, that the...

A law firm representing Venezuelan oil businessman Wilmer?Ruperti said that the country's intelligence police had released him from a detention, after a video was posted on social media of him at his home. Ruperti attended a meeting on March 19, which was organized by the authorities. Ruperti's security detail was arrested and released soon after. Winston & Strawn, a law firm, said in an email that "he was released from the Sebin police detention but we have no explanation or charges from the Government stating the reason for his detention." "We find his detention to be inappropriate and are concerned...

On Thursday, traders scrambled to get barrels after U.S. president Donald Trump pledged to continue his attack on Iran. Investors may perceive that supplies will be limited in the short-term if they see a widening backwardation. This is the term used to describe immediate deliveries which are trading at a higher price than barrels due for delivery in a future month. WTI crude futures?May delivery traded around $15.70 higher per barrel than the June contract during the session. The U.S. and Israeli war against?Iran is nearing its fifth week. This has caused millions of barrels of oil to be removed...

On Thursday, oil prices spiked and U.S. bonds yields spiked. Global equity markets also gave back gains following remarks by U.S. president Donald Trump that dashed hope for a quick resolution of the Middle East conflict. Brent crude soared by more than 7%, to $110 per barrel. This was after Trump announced in a prime-time speech on Wednesday that he would "hit Iran extremely hard" over the next few weeks and "bring [them] back to the Stone Ages". Stocks on Wall Street opened lower in the final trading day of the previous week as markets were closed for Good Friday....

A spokesperson from India's Foreign Ministry said that the Maldives was seeking fuel supplies. India?is still shipping fuel to its neighboring countries?, she added. Randhir Jaiswal, at a press conference, stated that India is the world's?fourth largest refiner? and supplies fuel to Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. The government of Maldives also contacted us to supply petroleum products on a short-term as well as long-term basis. Jaiswal stated that the request from Maldives is being evaluated in light of our own needs and availability. According to World Bank statistics, the Maldives sources most of its fuel from Oman. The...

By Mike Dolan April 2 - What's important in U.S. and Global Markets Today By Mike Dolan - Editor-at-Large at Finance and Markets. Market hopes that Trump would signal an end to the conflict with Iran were dashed after his prime time address spoke of two to three more weeks of war and offered little new information. Oil prices pushed higher and global stocks retreated, while the dollar edged up. Below, I will go into more detail. Check out my most recent column about the apparent resilience of the real economy to the oil crisis so far, plus an in-depth...

In a televised address on Wednesday, Donald Trump said that the U.S. Military had almost completed its goals in the war against Iran and that it would be over soon. He also said that the U.S. will continue to strike targets in the Islamic Republic for the next two or three weeks. After Trump's speech, stocks fell, the dollar strengthened and oil prices rose. Here are some comments from analysts and investors: RUSSEL CHESSLER, HEAD, INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MARSKS, VANECK AUSTRALIAN, SYDNEY "The markets are not taking the speech positively. He has failed to instill confidence in the market if...

The Chicago Board of Trade corn, soybean, and wheat futures all rose on Thursday after U.S. president Donald Trump's televised speech, where he stated that the?"war with Iran" would soon be over, but without giving a specific timeline. Trump stated on Wednesday that the U.S. would carry out aggressive attacks on Iran in the next two-three weeks, and was nearing completion of the main strategic objectives. Grain prices rose in tandem with crude oil, recovering from losses earlier when markets had expected a more dovish tonality from the president. As of 0209 GMT, the most active soybean contract was up...

In a televised address on Wednesday night, U.S. president Donald Trump said that the U.S. armed forces had almost completed the goals they had set for themselves in their war against?Iran. He also stated that the conflict would be over soon. He also said that the U.S. will continue to strike targets in the Islamic Republic for the next two or three weeks. After Trump's speech, stocks fell, the dollar strengthened and oil prices rose. Here are some comments from analysts and investors -- JON WITHAAR, SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER, PICTET ASSET MANAGEMENT, SINGAPORE: The market wanted more clarity and certainty...

The 'dollar strengthened and oil prices rose after U.S. president Donald Trump stated that Washington's "core tactical objectives" in the Iran war are?nearing their completion. However, he stopped short of stating a specific date for the end of the conflict. After a bruising March, when soaring oil costs sent risk assets into a tailspin, the prospect of an end to the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran in its month-long phase has lifted global shares. Trump said in his primetime speech that the U.S. will strike Iran "extremely" hard over the next 2 to 3 weeks, and bring the country...

Asian governments spend billions in subsidies to protect consumers from rising oil prices due to the U.S. - Israeli war against Iran. Here are some steps that governments in Asia have taken to reduce the amount of oil coming from the Middle East. The Japanese government is 'using 800 billion yen (5.02 billion dollars) from reserve funds to finance subsides aimed at maintaining gasoline prices at around 170 yen per litre. This would cost up to 300 billion yen a month. SOUTH KOREAN In late March, the South Korean?budget?ministry proposed a supplementary budget of $26.2 trillion won to help low-income...

Sources familiar with the issue said that China's state planner had told independent refiners to not reduce their?run rates? below the average of the past two years. This was done to protect domestic fuel supplies. This move is in line with what smaller refiners were expected to do following a sharp rise?in oil due to U.S. Israel's war against?Iran and a persistently low domestic fuel demand. Sources said that the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)?sent the message to independent refiners? this week at a meeting?. The NDRC didn't immediately respond to a faxed comment request. Sources added that if...

Oil prices rose more than $4 on Thursday, after President Donald Trump announced that the United States will 'continue to strike iran in the coming weeks, including energy and oil targets, but did not give a timeline for the end of the war. Brent crude futures increased by $4.88 or 4.8% to $106.04 a barrel at 0200 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures rose $4.17 or 4.2% to $104.29 per barrel. Both benchmarks fell by more than $1 on Thursday, before Trump's speech. They also settled lower the previous session. Trump stated in a televised address?to the country that?the...

Fatih Binol, the head of the International Energy Agency, said that oil supply disruptions from the Middle East would?rise? in April. They will begin to?impact? the European economy because the Strait of Hormuz is closed. He added that more than 12 million barrels have been lost due to the attacks by Iran on energy?assets and the restrictions on shipping through Strait since the U.S./Israel war against Iran began. "The loss of oil in April will be double the loss of oil in March. On top of that, the loss of LNG... The loss of?oil in April will be twice as...

Who needs to "search for another safe place" if Warren Buffett doesn't mind Berkshire Hathaway piling up more cash? Berkshire reported ending 2025 as having a massive $373 billion in cash. However, this cash pile appears to be largely intact and legendary chairman of the conglomerate claims that they have moved more money into the cash?pile during the past week. Buffett said on CNBC that they had bought T-bills worth $17 billion this week. He added that, beyond the "one tiny purchase," there was not much else to buy and their cash position was "somewhere near $350 billion." He dismissed...

Brent futures extended gains following a'record monthly % increase in March. Middle East volatility continued to keep markets jittery, despite reports suggesting that the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran could be coming to an end. Brent front-month contract for June rose $1.40 or 1.4% to $105.37 a barrel at 0430 GMT. Brent logged a monthly gain record of 64% in march, according to LSEG's data dating back to June 1998. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), crude futures for the month of May increased by $1.59 or 1.6% to $102.97 per barrel. Brent futures for June delivery recovered some...

Early Wednesday, oil prices rose, as Brent front-month contracts?extended a record rally in March, despite reports suggesting that the U.S., Iran, and other Middle East countries may be moving closer to a negotiated settlement of the 'war. Brent front-month contract for June delivery rose?66cents or 0.63% at $104.63 per barrel by 0010 GMT. According to LSEG, the front-month Brent contract for June?delivery hit a monthly record gain of 64%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures (WTI) for May increased by 96 cents, or 0.95%, to $102.34 a barrel. WTI futures in June rose by 46?cents, or 0.49%, to $93.62 a...

A senior government official from the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said that India has adequate fertilizer stocks and is relying on 'alternative sources' to increase supplies for summer-sown crop plantings. Aparna Sharma, an additional secretary at the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, said that the Gulf region was responsible for 20%-30% of India's imports of urea, as well as 30% of Diammonium Phosphate before the Iran War. She said that India will need to purchase 39 million metric tonnes of fertiliser for the summer crop planting season. Current stocks are 18 million tons, compared to 14.7 millions tons last...

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Saturday that Australia would amend its export finance laws to "bolster fuel security" as the Iran War continues to affect 'the nation's supply chain. Since the U.S., Israel and others began their war on Iran in August, Australia has seen localised fuel shortages. This is part of a wider conflict that has disrupted the global fuel supply. Albanese announced?in televised comments that Australia will?establish new powers in order to bring fuel here for Australians. "New fuel security power will allow the government to underwrite private sector fuel purchases." Albanese stated that the powers would...

Oil prices dropped in the early morning trade of Friday, and have been down for a volatile week after U.S. president Donald Trump announced that talks with Iran on ending the war are going "very well", and that he will pause his attacks on Iran's energy facilities for 10 days. Brent futures dropped 90 cents or 0.8% to $107.11 per barrel as of 0024 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate futures also fell 83 cents or 0.88% to $93.65 a barrel, reducing gains from a previous bullish session. Brent gained 5.7% on Thursday while WTI gained 4% on fears of a...

Donald Trump is weighing up whether to use ground troops to take Iran's strategic oil center of?Kharg Island. Analysts say that this operation could be accomplished quickly but would leave the?U.S. The war will be prolonged and troops put in danger. Where is Kharg Island and why? Kharg Island is located 16 miles (26 kms) off the coast of Iran in the northern end of the Gulf. It's about 483 kilometers (483 miles) north of the Strait of Hormuz. The island is located in water that is deep enough for tankers to dock, even if they are too big to...

South Korea's stock market has become Asia's most volatile due to the Iran war. Fears of massive value destruction are probably unfounded, but the panic is real. The benchmark KOSPI index dropped over 18% in the two days following the start of the conflict on February 28. This was its worst ever daily drop. The next day, it recovered almost 10%. The market has been struggling with volatility for more than three weeks. The 'KOSPI' is partly to blame for its own success. It had risen sharply in the year before the conflict began, and was up more than 100...