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GRAPHIC-What the fresh march higher in oil implies for world markets

Oil costs are up around 16% so far this year near $90 a barrel, with supply worries high given intensifying Middle East tensions and titfortat attacks on energy facilities between Ukraine and Russia.

Financiers are focusing. After all, it was an energy cost rise two years ago that helped drive inflation and interest rates higher on a scale not seen in decades.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday explained an adverse circumstance in which an escalation of conflict in the Middle East would cause a 15% jump in oil costs and higher shipping expenses that would hike international inflation by about 0.7 portion points.

The tightness in oil supplies, and higher costs, has actually been underpinned by oil producing group OPEC and other big oil producers curbing their output.

Morgan Stanley has raised its third quarter Brent crude oil forecast by $4 per barrel to $94. With oil prices expected to stay high, we look at the fallout for world markets.

1/ INFLATION SEE

After U.S. inflation can be found in higher than anticipated for a. 3rd straight month in March, the spectre of inflation staying. greater has actually returned with bets on rate of interest cuts scaled back. greatly.

Softening energy costs have been a principal chauffeur of. lower inflation expectations just recently. Greater oil prices are. viewed as a threat to this trend.

A crucial market gauge of long-lasting euro zone inflation. expectations, which generally track oil, on Tuesday struck its. highest since December at 2.39%. The European. Reserve bank has a 2% inflation target.

ECB chief Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday fresh turbulence. in the Middle East had up until now had little impact on product. costs. Oil, while near recent highs, has reduced a bit this. week.

Still, the ECB has stated it is extremely mindful to the impact. of oil, which can hurt financial growth and improve inflation.

Zurich Insurance Group primary markets strategist Guy Miller. said economies can make it through, and manufacturers are reasonably happy,. when oil is around $75-$ 95 a barrel.

However were we to see this to break higher then, yes, that. would be an issue both from a development and inflation. point of view, he said.

2/ GO ENERGY STOCKS

Energy stocks are a clear winner from higher oil costs. The. S&P 500 oil index and European oil and gas stocks. stay near tape-record highs.

U.S. oil stocks have actually jumped almost 13% up until now this. year, exceeding the more comprehensive S&P 500's 6% gain.

Ed Yardeni, founder of Yardeni Research, said an increase in. Brent crude to $100 in coming weeks was a possibility,. recommending an obese position on energy stocks.

Oil was last above $100 in 2022. It briefly increased to around. $ 139 after Russia got into Ukraine, its highest because 2008.

I think you need to obese energy as a minimum of a shock. absorber in your portfolio on the occasion that oil rates continue. to go higher, said Yardeni.

Barclays head of European equity method Emmanuel Cau has. had an obese position on Europe's energy stocks given that. October, saying the sector tends to carry out well in inflationary. and stagflationary environments.

In contrast, Nordea CIO Kasper Elmgreen said he was unfavorable. on energy stocks because the expenses connected with an energy. transition were not properly priced yet.

They (energy firms) are going to need to bring a much. higher problem for the drive to net zero, which's not being. reflected in the share price, said Elmgreen.

3/ ROBUST DOLLAR

2024 began with expectations the dollar would decrease. as inflation weakens and enables the Federal Reserve to start. cutting rates.

Instead, the greenback is up 4.7% this year as. rate-cut bets are slashed.

Higher oil prices could feed dollar strength.

Bank of America said that while it remained negative on the. dollar over the medium term, raised oil prices meant the U.S. currency had upside risks.

That exacerbates pressure on economies such as Japan. battling currency weakness, keeping traders nervy over possible. intervention to support a yen languishing at 34-year lows.

The yen and the euro will see their terms of trade worsen. as energy prices increase. This implies they will be weaker if. energy rates increase, stated Mizuho Corporate Bank senior economic expert. Colin Asher.

4/ FRESH EM DISCOMFORT

Greater for longer oil prices will also sting many emerging. market economies, such as India and Turkey, that are net oil. importers.

India's rupee hit record lows against the dollar this week .

With oil priced in dollars, many importers are also exposed. to higher costs brought on by currency fluctuations.

Even in Nigeria, normally Africa's biggest oil exporter, a. plunging naira currency has struck government coffers due to capped. gas pump rates and a lack of regional oil refining.

(source: Reuters)