Crude Oil

Oil prices rose on Friday as faltering negotiations to end the Iran war pushed global stocks higher. As the impasse in the peace talks continued, oil and gas prices are still expected to make a significant weekly gain. Investors are not showing any signs of panic. This week, short-dated bond rates have increased, but modestly. Meanwhile, several market-based inflation expectations measures have continued their downward trend. Gold, which is hurt by rising interest rates, has reached two-month highs. The focus is now on AI as a whole, following strong earnings which have helped to calm investor concerns about massive AI...

Asian stocks rose on the Friday as they prepared to?have their strongest week in 2 months, as benign inflation data dented expectation of an imminent U.S. interest rate hike. However,?failing talks to end?the war in 'the Middle East will likely keep risk sentiment under control. Brent?futures remained at $87.03 a barrel, following a decline on Thursday, but were on track for a weekly gain of 4%, ending a two-week loss streak. This was after the U.S. warned to increase economic pressure against Iran, including by extending a navy blockade. The markets have, so far, shrugged off the lackluster progress made...

Prices of oil?inched up on Friday, after the United States threatened an indefinite naval blockade against Iran. This rekindled concerns about supply after the previous session's drop on a weakened outlook for demand as well as a large build-up of U.S. stockpiles. Brent futures were up 1 cent or 0.1% to $87.08 per barrel at 0247 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures increased 6 cents to $81.00 a bar. Brent rallied for six sessions and WTI rose for five, putting the benchmarks on course for a weekly increase of around 4%. Susan Bell, senior Vice President for Oil Commodity...

After falling in the previous session due to a weaker global demand outlook, oil prices climbed a little bit on Friday. The U.S. had threatened to?maintain a naval blocade against Iran indefinitely. Brent futures were up 9 cents or 0.1% to $87.16 per barrel at 0130 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 4 cents at $81.29. Both benchmarks dropped more than 2% the previous session, paring their gains after a six sessions rally for Brent, and a five sessions rise for WTI. However, they were still on track to achieve a weekly rise of about 4%. The...

How much crude oil leaves the Strait of Hormuz each day? The U.S. Energy Sec. Chris Wright claims that almost nine million barrels of crude oil are exported every day. However, companies tracking vessel movements claim it's only about half. Wright said on social?media platform X that "thanks to the coordinated efforts of the U.S. military?and?our gulf allies, the seven-day average for oil leaving the Strait of Hormuz is currently up to almost 9 million bpd." This oil goes into Asia, which has been the hardest hit since the U.S. Wright stated on the social?media platform X that the U.S....

What's important in U.S. and Global Markets Today By Mike Dolan, Editor at Large, Finance and Markets The July consumer inflation report was not spectacular, but it did offer some relief to the markets who were worried about a surprise on the upside. The annual headline and core rates were lower than expected. However, the core price increase for July was higher than forecast. Below, I will get to that and more. Check out my latest article, which explores AI's impact on inflation and employment so far. Listen to the most recent episode of Morning Bid, the daily podcast. Subscribe...

Prices of oil rose on Wednesday, as concerns over a Middle East supply disruption were fueled by doubts regarding a U.S. Iran peace deal. Industry data also showed that U.S. crude inventories had risen. Brent futures rose 75 cents or 0.84% to $89.66 per barrel at 0553 GMT. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), climbed 72 cents or 0.87% to $83.92. Both contracts rose more than $1 in the previous session. The highest closing prices of both contracts were recorded on Tuesday, with an increase of over $1. Prices rose by 5% Monday, as hope for a peace deal...

As geopolitical tensions increased ahead of the?important U.S. Inflation data, oil and gold prices rose on Wednesday. The yen fell against the dollar after Japan and the United States intervened in the currency market. South Korean stocks led the regional benchmark to rise. The U.S. Yemen's Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, and the U.S. reported separate attacks on shipping. Meanwhile, Asia was shaken by a missile launch early in the morning from North Korea. The markets remained focused later in the day on U.S. Consumer Price Index data for any indications of timing for an upcoming Federal Reserve rate...

What's important in U.S. and Global Markets Today By Mike Dolan, Editor at Large, Finance and Markets Brent crude traded at almost $90 per barrel on Tuesday, after a 5% increase yesterday. The U.S.'s and Iran's hard-line positions on any potential deal have shattered hopes that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen. Below, I will go into more detail. Check out my column about Trump's latest attack on the independence of the Federal Reserve - and how it comes at a nervous time for bond markets. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast where we talk about Nvidia's $500 Billion AI...

The oil prices increased on Tuesday, as the negotiations between the United States and Iran on a peace agreement and the reopening of Strait of Hormuz reached an impasse. Meanwhile, Asian shares fell on the back of persistent uncertainty about the outlook for global inflation. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, responded on Monday with his own conditions to?Iran?s terms for a deal. He demanded that Iran pay compensation to those who died in wars and attacks, as well as protests. This rhetorical escalation is likely to complicate attempts to reopen this vital waterway. Brent crude futures climbed to $88.09 a...

Rae Wee gives us a look at what the European and global markets will be like tomorrow. The oil prices rose again on Tuesday, reaching their highest level this month as Washington and Tehran continue to 'trade' demands for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump's response to Iran’s demands for a deal on peace was to demand that Iran pay compensation to those killed in wars and attacks, as well as protests. This dimmed the prospects of an imminent agreement to reopen this key waterway. Trump has repeatedly vacillated between threatening escalation or claiming that...

Saudi Aramco has ?postponed the restart of its ?400,000-barrel-per-day ?Jazan refinery to August 30 after two Houthi attacks since late July, according to an alert from industry monitor IIR seen by . The extended outage may further disrupt global fuel markets, already affected by the Iranian war and refinery failures in the Middle East. Ukrainian attacks against Russian refineries could also boost refining margins. Yemen's Houthi fighters claimed on Sunday that they had attacked the refinery. The refinery has been closed since July 27, following an earlier Houthi attack, according to previous IIR alerts seen by. The previously planned restart...

The global?stocks were hovering around record highs Friday. They are set to make a third consecutive weekly gain, after benign inflation figures tempered expectations of a 'U.S. Rate hikes are expected to take place next month despite the faltering of talks to end the Middle East war. The price of oil and gas was still on track for a large weekly gain, as the impasse in the peace talks continued, while the U.S. threatened a stepped-up economic pressure against Iran, which included extending the naval blockade. Investors are not showing any signs of panic. This week, short-dated bond rates have...

China's?exports of electric trucks to other Asian nations have soared. This is in addition to an increase in domestic sales, as the?higher fuel costs as a result of the Iran War accelerate regional electrification. China's rapid adoption of etrucks - from lighter vehicles to tractors-trailers - has shielded the 'world's largest auto market' from the conflict. Other countries are now scrambling for a chance to catch up. China's heavy etruck exports have more than doubled in the last four months since the U.S. and Israel started the war, on February 28. They now total 16,823 vehicles. The majority of the...

Oil prices and global equity markets increased after the talks to end Iran's war reached an impasse. The markets then turned to the U.S. inflation data later that day. The?U.S. Consumer prices data will provide signals about the timing of a Federal Reserve rate increase. The data may not reflect the latest rise in oil price, but it can still be used to set expectations for next month's Fed meeting when the money markets predict a roughly 50/50 chance of an increase. According to a survey, consumer prices are predicted to rise by 0.1% in the month of July after...

The oil prices rose and global stocks were up on Tuesday as traders focused on the negotiations between the United States and Iran on a peace agreement and the reopening of Strait of Hormuz. Gains were tempered by uncertainty over the?global inflation forecast. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Pakistan's defence minister stated that the U.S. is close to a "sort of arrangement" between Iran and Pakistan. The MSCI index of world stocks rose 0.10% to 1,154.40. The escalating tensions between the two countries have been a focus of attention. Oil prices jumped 5% Monday as a result. Donald Trump,...

The oil prices increased on Tuesday as the United States and Iran negotiations over a deal to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz reached a stalemate. Meanwhile, uncertainty about the outlook for global inflation dampened global stock markets. U.S. president Donald Trump responded on Monday with his own 'demands' to Tehran’s conditions for a deal. He called for Iran to compensate those who died in wars and attacks, as well as protests. This could complicate efforts to reopen this crucial waterway. Brent crude futures rose 5% over the past two days and last traded at $88 per...

Asian share markets followed Wall Street's lead on Monday, after a weak U.S. employment report reduced the risk of an increase in borrowing costs near-term. However, a lackluster progress in Gulf peace negotiations saw oil prices rise. Iran said?on Sunday? that an agreement with Oman to define new shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz is in its final stages. However, it reiterated that this waterway will only be reopened once the United States meets other conditions. Brent crude increased 0.6% to $84.04 per barrel, as the shipping volume through this vital waterway was minimal. U.S. crude climbed 0.5% to...

The Asian share market matched Wall Street's gains on Monday, after a weak U.S. employment report reduced the risk of an increase in borrowing costs near-term. However, a lack progress?in Gulf Peace talks led to oil prices?creeping?higher. Iran announced on Sunday that it was nearing the final stages of a deal that would define new shipping lanes for the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Iranian government reiterated that this waterway will only be reopened once the United States meets other conditions. Brent crude increased by 0.9% to $84.32 per barrel, as the shipping volume through this vital waterway was minimal....

The Asian stock market waited with bated breath for the U.S. employment data, which could be pivotal in determining if Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next month. Meanwhile, rising oil prices reminded investors that Middle East tensions are far from being resolved. The broadest MSCI index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan was flat for the week and down by 0.4%. Japan's Nikkei fell 0.9%, despite being set to rise by 1.2% on a weekly basis. South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.5%, and was down by 5.0% for the entire week. This is the seventh consecutive week that KOSPI has declined....

According to multiple trade sources and ship tracking information, China's state owned?Sinopec Corp., the world's largest refiner, increased purchases of Far East Russian Oil to compensate for Middle East oil supplies that were reduced by the Iran War. Sinopec has been able to maintain a relatively stable output and export fuel surpluses on a strong margin due to its purchases of Russian oil, which is cheaper than competing grades from Brazil and West Africa. This was despite China's decision in March of limiting the overseas sale of fuel products, as a way of protecting domestic supply during trade disruptions caused...

The Asian stock market soared?on a Wednesday, as Wall Street reached record highs on the back of robust earnings and a renewed interest in tech. Meanwhile, hopes of progress regarding?opening of the Strait of Hormuz drove down oil prices and bonds yields. South Korea's Nikkei added 4.1% to its wild swings. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan rose by 2.4% while Chinese blue chip stocks gained 0.7%. The rally in tech came despite AMD's setback. AMD fell 8.8% following hours, as its earnings exceeded Street expectations but fell short of the sky-high investor expectations. SpaceX, a satellite company and...

The Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday, as Wall Street reached record highs on the back of strong earnings and a renewed demand for technology. Meanwhile, hopes of progress in opening the Strait of Hormuz had a negative impact on oil prices and bond yields. South Korea's Nikkei added 3.4% to its wild swings, while Japan's Nikkei gained 3.0%. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan rose by 1.5%. Some tech companies have benefited more than others. Even though AMD's results exceeded expectations, investors appeared to be taking profits. After the bell, shares of the chipmaker fell 9%. SpaceX, a...

Asian markets were volatile on Tuesday as investors assessed whether the strong earnings of U.S. corporations would help AI-related stocks to rise in the region. Oil prices also rose after the attacks on shipping along the Strait of Hormuz. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan fell 0.1% as volatile South Korean stocks fluctuated between gains and losses. The last gain was 1.2%. Japan's Nikkei225 slid 0.2% higher, while S&P500 e-minis futures were up 0.3%. Societe Generale's analysts stated in a report that "the AI trade has matured". Investors are increasingly focused on?the sustainability? of margins after 2026, they stated....