Oil prices rise as hostilities worsen in the Middle East


By Helen Clark and Jeslyn Lerh

SINGAPORE, July 15 (Reuters) – Oil extended gains on Wednesday as President Donald Trump reimposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports and Tehran launched ‌strikes on U.S. infrastructure in the region.

Brent futures climbed 99 cents, or 1.2%, to $85.72 a ‌barrel at 0400 GMT. West Texas Intermediate futures gained 64 cents, or 0.8%, to $79.98 a barrel.

Oil prices closed up 2% at ​a one-month high on Tuesday as attacks exacerbated a supply disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed prior to the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

“While the physical oil market remains adequately supplied, any further escalation involving the Strait ‌of Hormuz or additional sanctions on ⁠Iranian exports could quickly tighten market sentiment and add further risk premiums,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

Early on Wednesday, the U.S. also began ⁠a fresh round of strikes “to continue degrading Iranian capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the U.S. military said.

Tehran says it has again closed the strait after hostilities between Iran and the U.S. ​reignited ​last week, fraying an already fragile truce reached in ​June after several months of fighting.

“I’ll save ‌the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,” Trump told Fox News in an interview aired Tuesday night on “Special Report with Bret Baier”.

Iran’s army said early on Wednesday that it had launched drone attacks against U.S. positions at Jordan’s Azraq base. There was no immediate comment from the Pentagon.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said they targeted weapons and storage facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. Reuters could ‌not immediately verify the reports.

The flare-up over the last few ​days has heightened doubts that a memorandum of understanding signed ​last month would lead to a permanent ​halt to the war, which has engulfed Iran’s neighbors.

“The chances of oil moving ‌back toward $100 in the reasonably near term are ​still meaningful if hostilities intensify ​which damages energy infrastructure around the Gulf,” Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade said, noting Brent prices could remain at $75-$80 a barrel if diplomatic efforts helped reopen the strait.

“For ​now, the risk premium is ‌still embedded, but it’s not a one-way bet given that there remain incentives for both ​sides to find a diplomatic solution.”

(Reporting by Helen Clark in Perth and Jeslyn Lerh ​in Singapore; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Thomas Derpinghaus)



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Pilots at Flair Airlines ratify three-year contract

    EDMONTON — The union representing pilots at Flair Airlines says they ratified a three-year contract that gives them compensation gains and scheduling improvements. Source link

    Bed Bath & Beyond Outdoor Rug Sale

    When it comes to interior design, rugs are one of the best ways to express your style. But they aren’t just limited to indoors — outdoor rugs are a great…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    I Went Inside Samsung’s Secret Display Lab and Saw Its Wildest Phone Concepts

    I Went Inside Samsung’s Secret Display Lab and Saw Its Wildest Phone Concepts

    Pilots at Flair Airlines ratify three-year contract

    Pilots at Flair Airlines ratify three-year contract

    United Ordered 45 A350s… Then Walked Away

    United Ordered 45 A350s… Then Walked Away

    England collapse from 61-0 to 80-5

    England collapse from 61-0 to 80-5

    Expelled from China – The New York Times

    Expelled from China – The New York Times

    Bed Bath & Beyond Outdoor Rug Sale

    Bed Bath & Beyond Outdoor Rug Sale