|

WTI rises toward $82.00 due to supply threats over escalated Middle East tensions

  • WTI continues its winning streak due to supply concerns amid Middle-East tensions and weather-related disruptions.
  • Escalated tensions between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah could potentially involve Iran, a major Oil exporter.
  • Over the past week, Ecuador's production has decreased by 100,000 barrels per day due to heavy rains.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude Oil price extends gains for the third successive day, trading near $81.80 during the Asian session on Friday. Crude Oil prices are set to advance for the third straight week due to supply threats, which could be attributed to an escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah have escalated as Hezbollah has intensified rocket and drone attacks in northern Israel in recent weeks. A broader conflict in the Middle East could potentially involve countries like Iran, a major Oil exporter in the region.

On Thursday, the French foreign ministry expressed concern over the situation in Lebanon. Earlier, Turkey declared its solidarity with Lebanon and called for support from regional governments, according to Reuters.

Reuters also cited FGE Energy on Friday, stating that Oil supplies have been pressured by weather-related disruptions, which could worsen in the coming weeks. Heavy rains have caused Ecuador's production to decline by 100,000 barrels a day over the past week.

The US National Hurricane Center is currently tracking at least one weather system that has the potential to develop into a cyclone and head toward the US Gulf Coast. This could negatively impact a significant portion of the country's energy and export infrastructure.

Author

Akhtar Faruqui

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.

More from Akhtar Faruqui
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD drops to daily lows near 1.1630

EUR/USD now loses some traction and slips back to the area of daily lows around 1.1630 on the back of a mild bounce in the US Dollar. Fresh US data, including the September PCE inflation numbers and the latest read on December consumer sentiment, didn’t really move the needle, so the pair is still on course to finish the week with a respectable gain.

GBP/USD trims gains, recedes toward 1.3320

GBP/USD is struggling to keep its daily advance, coming under fresh pressure and retreating to the 1.3320 zone following a mild bullish attempt in the Greenback. Even though US consumer sentiment surprised to the upside, the US Dollar isn’t getting much love, as traders are far more interested in what the Fed will say next week.

Gold makes a U-turn, back to $4,200

Gold is now losing the grip and receding to the key $4,200 region per troy ounce following some signs of life in the Greenback and a marked bounce in US Treasury yields across the board. The positive outlook for the precious metal, however, remains underpinned by steady bets for extra easing by the Fed.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP pare gains despite increasing hopes of upcoming Fed rate cut

Bitcoin is steadying above $91,000 at the time of writing on Friday. Ethereum remains above $3,100, reflecting positive sentiment ahead of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) monetary policy meeting on December 10.

Week ahead – Rate cut or market shock? The Fed decides

Fed rate cut widely expected; dot plot and overall meeting rhetoric also matter. Risk appetite is supported by Fed rate cut expectations; cryptos show signs of life. RBA, BoC and SNB also meet; chances of surprises are relatively low.

Ripple faces persistent bear risks, shrugging off ETF inflows

Ripple is extending its decline for the second consecutive day, trading at $2.06 at the time of writing on Friday. Sentiment surrounding the cross-border remittance token continues to lag despite steady inflows into XRP spot ETFs.