|

Oil: Rising prices with Middle East risk – Rabobank

Rabobank’s Senior Macro Strategist Bas van Geffen notes that concerns over the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have pushed Oil prices higher, with Dated Brent moving above $111. He highlights that Iran’s control over energy flows and China’s diversification of Oil imports could prolong disruptions, keeping upward pressure on Oil in coming days.

Hormuz closure drives Brent higher

"Concerns about the Middle East continued to dictate markets yesterday. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and there were no signs that this will change soon. Oil prices rose further."

"Dated Brent jumped 5% on the day to top $111."

"Meanwhile, Iraq and Pakistan have reportedly made deals with Iran to safeguard oil and LNG shipments from the Gulf – underscoring that Iran is able to effectively control the flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz."

"China has also further diversified its oil imports."

"This may make China more resilient to prolonged disruptions in Hormuz, while it also cuts off more potential income for Iran."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD defends 0.7000 ahead of RBA on Tuesday

AUD/USD is defending 0.7000 at the start of a new week, trading near its lowest level since August 4 amid a bullish US Dollar. US yields hold near multi-year highs amid inflation risks from higher oil prices and rising bets on an October Fed rate hike. This, along with the US-Iran standoff, continues to underpin the safe-haven buck and weigh on the pair ahead of Tuesday's RBA policy announcements.

USD/JPY climbs back toward 158.00 after BoJ minutes amid firm USD

USD/JPY finds dip-buyers and reverses part of Friday's slide driven by speculation that authorities will step in again to prop up the Japanese Yen. However, the BoJ's dovish Minutes cap the JPY. Meanwhile, the US Dollar regains traction as the US-Iran standoff supports crude oil prices, fueling inflation fears and reaffirming bets for an October Fed rate hike. This further supports the pair, driving it back toward 158.00.

Gold tumbles further; focus shifts to $4,100

Gold kicks in the week on the back foot, selling off to the vicinity of the $4,100 mark per troy ounce, levels last traded back in early August. The resurgence of geopolitical concerns in combination with the firmer US Dollar and rising US Treasury yields keep the yellow metal under heavy pressure on Monday.

Bitcoin dips as ETF inflows meet Fed headwinds

Bitcoin trades below $82,800 at the time of writing on Monday after gaining over 4% last week, with the rally losing momentum near recent highs. Strong institutional demand, supported by spot Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund inflows, continues to drive demand.

The week ahead: A key moment for the global economy as threats rise

UK diesel hits a record, as economic concerns rise. The market expects an aggressive Fed rate hiking cycle, but is it necessary? Oil supply concerns ease, even as oil prices rise. What’s next for the AI trade.

Fed vs BoJ: Both hiked. The market only believes one of them – and the chart shows which

The Fed and the BoJ have just done something remarkably similar. Both central banks raised interest rates by 25 bps last week, both are confronting inflation risks, and both signal that future decisions will depend on incoming economic data.