Oil prices climbed nearly 2% on Wednesday as renewed US airstrikes on Iran and fresh sanctions on Tehran's oil exports reignited concerns over supplies from the Middle East after attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices fell sharply on Monday after the United States and Iran halted hostilities over the weekend, raising hopes that a diplomatic breakthrough could ease tensions in the Middle East. However, shipping through the region's two critical maritime chokepoints – the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait – remains severely disrupted, keeping concerns over global energy supplies alive.
Oil topping $100 amid Red Sea attacks is rattling markets, affirms the CEO of a top independent financial advisory organisation. Brent crude touched $100.64 a barrel on Thursday, a jump of 7%, while US crude rose to $91.83, up 5.8% after Houthi rebels claimed to have struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea
Oil prices climbed for a second straight session on Wednesday, with Brent crude rising above $92 a barrel, as investors weighed the risk of widening supply disruptions from the escalating Middle East conflict.
Oil prices rose more than 4% at settlement on Friday, hitting their highest levels in over a month amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Brent Crude futures surged by $3.87 (4.59%) to settle at $88.10 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures surged by 4.48% to $82.49.
Oil prices settled lower on Friday after the latest round of US-Iran fighting as traders grew hopeful that shipping would eventually resume in the Strait of Hormuz, but prices finished with sharp weekly gains. Brent crude futures fell by 29 cents to close at $76.01 a barrel.
Oil prices rose on Friday, but Brent crude remained on track for a weekly loss of nearly 8% amid continued market volatility. Brent crude futures soared to $80.38 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 1.2% to $77.54 a barrel.
Global oil prices declined during Friday's trading session, reaching their lowest levels since early March. Kuwait's crude oil too fell by 6.1% to $94.84 per barrel on Friday, down from $101.04 per barrel the previous day, according to data from Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC).
Oil prices climbed more than 2% on Monday as investors reassessed expectations for a breakthrough in US-Iran negotiations, with renewed regional tensions highlighting the fragility of efforts to secure a broader peace agreement and restore stability to Middle East energy supplies.
Oil prices extended their rally on Friday as geopolitical tensions around Strait of Hormuz remained unresolved, with both Iran and the United States showing no signs of de-escalation.
