If Strait of Hormuz stays shut through March then a 2008-type price spike is possible
Denmark's energy minister called on citizens to reduce their energy use amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Oil prices jumped to over $100 a barrel on Thursday, raising fears of rising inflation.
Oil prices jumped early Thursday despite the record release of emergency reserves by the U.S. and other countries.
Prediction market bettors are placing strong odds on crude oil prices surging back to $100 a barrel before the end of March, even as prices pull back sharply from the highs reached last week following the outbreak of war between the US, Israel and Iran. Data from Polymarket, the decentralised prediction platform, shows traders pricing a 72% probability that NYMEX crude oil futures will hit $100 by 31 March, with a 48% chance of reaching $110 and a 36% chance of $120.
Oil markets hit a fever pitch as the Strait of Hormuz closure threatens 20% of global supply. Is Brent Crude destined for $109?
TotalEnergies said on Thursday it would cap the price of petrol at 1.99 euros ($2.30) per liter and the price of diesel at 2.09 euros per liter in France.
CF Industrials shares have been the S&P 500's biggest gainers since the Iran conflict began, as fertilizer prices have climbed more than oil futures prices.
Oil prices rose sharply on Wednesday despite a record release of global crude reserves, stoking inflation fears and lifting two-year Treasury yields to the highest since September. The weight on stocks was too much, and Wall Street ended mostly lower.
The oil market on Wednesday saw the strongest effort by far to ensure adequate global supplies of the commodity, but commodities guru Jeff Currie said the International Energy Agency's decision to release an unprecedented amount of crude from its reserve won't halt oil's climb.
Drugstore stocks, a car company and consumer stocks with low price-to-earnings ratios are all good bets.
Canada will look at ways to increase its crude production to help global efforts to stabilize oil prices in the face of the Iran war, Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said Wednesday.
Crude-oil prices haven't been this volatile in years — and individual investors can't seem to get enough.