- WTI price edges lower after Israel’s series of strikes in Gaza's southern city of Rafah.
- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed his intention to escalate the military operation into Rafah.
- IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva highlighted that Middle Eastern economies were underperforming compared to growth projections.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price halts its five-day winning streak from the previous week, trading slightly lower to around $76.30 per barrel during the Asian session on Monday. The decline in Crude oil prices comes as Israel concluded a series of strikes in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, alleviating concerns about oil supply disruptions in the Red Sea region.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed his intention on Sunday to escalate the military operation into Rafah. However, US President Joe Biden cautioned Netanyahu against proceeding with a ground operation in Rafah without a "credible and executable" plan to ensure the safety of the people sheltering there. Hamas also warned Israel that a ground offensive in Rafah could jeopardize future hostage releases.
However, oil prices surged last week on heightened concerns about a potential escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East following Netanyahu's rejection of a proposal to halt the conflict in the Palestinian enclave.
During the Arab Fiscal Forum in Dubai on Sunday, Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), highlighted that Middle East economies were underperforming compared to growth projections. Factors contributing to this included oil production cuts and the Israel-Gaza conflict. Despite this, Georgieva noted that the global economic outlook remained resilient. In its regional economic report last month, the IMF revised its GDP growth forecast for the Middle East and North Africa down to 2.9% for the year, falling below previous projections from October.
On Friday, Baker Hughes released its US Oil Rig Count data, indicating no change in the active rig count, which remained steady at 499. Additionally, the OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) is scheduled for publication on Tuesday. This report covers significant issues impacting the global oil market and offers insights into developments in the Crude oil market.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD rises to near 1.1750 due to uncertainty over Fed rates, tariff concerns
EUR/USD appreciates after registering mild losses in the previous session, trading around 1.1730 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The pair appreciates as the US Dollar loses ground following the latest Federal Open Market Committee Meeting Minutes and developments on US tariffs.
Cardano bulls eye for a rally as Bitcoin hits new record highs
Cardano price stabilizes trading at around $0.62 on Thursday after breaking out of a falling wedge pattern the previous day. This bullish breakout comes as Bitcoin reaches new all-time highs, fueling a wave of optimism for ADA and the overall cryptocurrency market.
GBP/USD gathers strength above 1.3600 on softer US Dollar
The GBP/USD pair gains ground around 1.3605 during the Asian trading hours on Thursday. The Greenback softens against the Pound Sterling amid the prospects for more interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year. Traders await the US weekly Initial Jobless Claims data later on Thursday.
Gold price trades with a positive bias above $3,300 but bullish conviction lacking
Gold price ticks higher for the second straight day amid a combination of supporting factors. Trade jitters act as a tailwind for the safe-haven XAU/USD pair on the back of a softer USD. Declining US bond yields and Fed rate cut bets further benefit the non-yielding yellow metal.
New US tariffs target Asia, but some countries stand to gain
President Trump’s new tariffs are higher than expected for most Asian economies. Moreover, most countries will face additional tariff rates on transshipments. The new announcements are silent on Singapore, India and the Philippines, which might stand to benefit from tariff concessions if negotiations progress favourably.
Best Brokers for EUR/USD Trading
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.