Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have collapsed to just 3% of normal levels, according to Goldman Sachs, as tanker attacks continue to pile up, though futures markets are still pricing in a relatively short disruption. The effective closure of the key shipping lane has led to Middle East crude production shut-ins reaching 6.3 million barrels per day across Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and smaller Gulf producers, the investment bank's analysts noted In its latest oil tracker, published Tuesday night, Goldman put the total hit to Persian Gulf exports at 15.4 million barrels per day on a four-day moving average, a disruption it describes as 15 times larger than the peak impact of Russia's oil production cuts following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Where the S&P 500 goes next is clearly hinging on oil prices and the Strait of Hormuz. Here's a fresh line in the sand.
Oil futures rose on Wednesday as traders awaited what could be a historic release of emergency government reserves to counter the disruption to supplies from the attack on Iran.
WTI rebounds 2% to $86 as Hormuz tensions slash 6M bpd supply. Can oil break $88 while Brent tests $90 and natural gas holds $3.02 support?
A Chinese oil terminal sanctioned by Washington in October has resumed operations after a logistics unit of state refiner Sinopec
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices rose by $2.90 per barrel, or 3.5%, to $86.33 in early trade on Wednesday as supplies from the Gulf remain constrained amid the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran.
The Trump administration's second sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico in three months attracted far less industry interest than the auction it held in December, according to a sale document posted on a government website on Tuesday.
Panic in the oil market has calmed down, with prices pulling back from the week's highs near $120 a barrel after a group of wealthy nations said they will consider a coordinated release of emergency global crude reserves
Potential mining of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is emerging as the next scare to the oil market as President Donald Trump threatens fresh consequences for Tehran.
Crude oil faces short-term resistance after a volatile rally, with support at the 10-day and 200-week moving averages, while long-term trend reversals remain intact.
The United States Brent Oil Fund (NYSEARCA: BNO) has gained 50.85% year-to-date, climbing from $ 28.32 to $43.60.
Opinions on where oil prices are headed from here could be an important decision driver.