WTI rebounds above $79.00 as Middle East war disrupts global energy flows

WTI holds gains after recovering from daily losses on Friday.
WTI heads for over 17.5% weekly gain as Middle East conflict halts shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump administration weighs options to address the recent surge in Oil prices.

Akhtar Faruqui FXStreet

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price holds gains after recovering daily losses, trading around $78.80 during the Asian hours on Friday. However, Crude Oil prices faced challenges after the US President Donald Trump administration signaled it is weighing several options to address the recent price surge caused by supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Bloomberg reported on Friday that US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the administration is reviewing multiple measures before announcing plans to provide insurance guarantees and naval escorts to ensure safe passage for Oil tankers and other vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Potential measures include releasing crude from US emergency reserves, granting waivers on fuel-blending requirements, and the US Treasury trading oil futures.

WTI price is on the path of gaining over 17.5% this week as the Middle East conflict disrupted global energy flows by effectively halting shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump said he should have a role in selecting Iran’s next leader.

The Iran war entered its seventh day, with Iran launching missiles and drones across the Gulf on Thursday, striking an oil refinery in Bahrain, while Israel continued airstrikes on Tehran, and the US suspended operations at its embassy in Kuwait.

US President Donald Trump said that Iranian officials reached out to him in an attempt to reach an agreement to end the war, but he insisted it was too late and that the US is pushing to destroy Iran.

WTI Oil FAQs

What is WTI Oil?

WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.

What factors drive the price of WTI Oil?

Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.

How does inventory data impact the price of WTI Oil

The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.

How does OPEC influence the price of WTI Oil?

OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.

Author

Akhtar Faruqui

FXStreet

Akhtar Faruqui is a Forex Analyst based in New Delhi, India. With a keen eye for market trends and a passion for dissecting complex financial dynamics, he is dedicated to delivering accurate and insightful Forex news and analysis.

EUR/USD: Cautiously optimistic near 1.1550 ahead of the ECB

EUR/USD extends its weekly recovery for the third day in a row on Wednesday, navigating in a sidelined fashion around 1.1550 on the back of humble losses in the US Dollar. In the meantime, market participants continue to closely follow developments in the Middle East while slowly gearing up for the ECB gathering on Thursday.

GBP/USD recedes from tops, hovers around 1.3400

GBP/USD could not sustain the initial bull run and is now slipping back toward the 1.3400 neighbourhood on Wednesday. Cable’s continuation of the ongoing leg higher follows mild selling pressure on the Greenback, despite steady uncertainty on the geopolitical front and elevated US inflation.

Gold bleeding continues as Middle East crisis escalates, Fed hike coming

Gold is accelerating its downward trends and approaches the area of $4,100 per troy ounce on Wednesday, where the 2026 bottom sits so far. The persistent decline in the precious metal almost exclusively follows the swelling opinion that the Fed will keep a cautious stance in H2, a view that was reinforced following earlier US CPI data.

$1,500: Why Ethereum just crashed 20% despite spot markets barely selling

Ethereum (ETH) recently suffered one of its sharpest declines of 2026, dropping more than 20% and briefly testing the $1,500 area. While the sell-off appeared to reflect broader market fears, derivatives and on-chain data suggest a more complex story may be unfolding beneath the surface.

Brutal sell-off: Silver deepens months-long slide, refocusing on $60

Silver has never been known for its calm temperament. The precious metal can spend weeks grinding higher before suddenly giving back months of gains in a matter of days. That volatile reputation has been on full display in recent weeks.

The US economy defies the rules: 100 days into the Oil shock and the recession signal is still missing

More than three months after the start of the Iran war and the resulting disruption to global energy markets, the US economy continues to display remarkable resilience. The conflict has triggered a sharp rise in Oil prices, reignited inflationary pressures and fueled widespread concerns about a potential economic slowdown.