Price movements and fundamentals across major commodities.
Analysis and reporting on commodities such as oil, natural gas, gold, industrial metals, and agricultural products. Focuses on supply-demand dynamics, geopolitical risks, inventory trends, and macro drivers affecting commodity markets.
1,039 total articles
Crude prices jumped sharply this week, recording their largest weekly gains since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, after shipping and energy exports were halted through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent rose about 20% on the week and West Texas Intermediate gained about 25%, with both benchmarks trading at levels not seen since July 2024.…
Analysts at Bernstein say the Dutch TTF benchmark will probably need to jump about 40% to 50% from current levels if disruptions to Qatari LNG continue. The forecast reflects intensified competition for cargoes after QatarEnergy halted output at Ras Laffan and Mesaieed following a drone attack and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries …
UBS is urging clients to sell downside protection in gold and silver, citing supportive macro drivers and heightened option volatility that make put-selling strategies attractive. The bank projects a constructive outlook for gold and targets USD 6,200/oz in the coming months while suggesting selling downside exposure below USD 4,700/oz for gold and…
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports a rebound in world food prices in February, with the FAO Food Price Index rising to 125.3 points. Gains in cereals, meat and vegetable oils outweighed falls in cheese and sugar. The FAO also slightly raised its 2025 global cereal production forecast to a record 3.029 billion metric tons.
The administration has decided not to direct the Treasury Department to actively trade oil futures for the moment, concluding that the agency would have limited ability to change market dynamics. Officials are also hesitant to immediately tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, citing recent heavy use, reduced stock levels and maintenance needs at sto…
Senior U.S. officials have decided not to deploy the Treasury Department to execute oil futures trades at this time, according to a report citing an informed source. While the Treasury’s involvement was considered amid surging crude prices after the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, officials judged the department’s ability to move markets t…
Fuel oil supplies bound for Asia have been severely disrupted after shipments through the Strait of Hormuz declined sharply due to the Iran war. Traders are scrambling for replacement cargoes from the West and regional refiners, but high tanker rates, sanctions, and constrained volumes are limiting options. The shortfall is driving up bunker fuel p…
Residents of coastal Veracruz towns have found oil on beaches and in fishing gear, disrupting livelihoods and raising fears that a nearby lagoon used for fish and shrimp farming could be contaminated. Locals organized manual clean-up of hardened tar as the viscous substance spread along the Gulf of Mexico coastline. Authorities have not identified …
Oil prices retreated in Asian trade after five consecutive sessions of gains, but remain positioned for a steep weekly rise as escalating hostilities in the Middle East raise the prospect of supply disruptions. Traders took profits following a rapid rally, yet the market remains supported by ongoing attacks and infrastructure risks in the region. A…
Oil prices slipped for the first time in six trading days after U.S. officials signaled potential intervention in the oil futures market to dampen rising prices and issued waivers allowing purchases of sanctioned Russian crude held on tankers. Brent and West Texas Intermediate both fell, reversing a multi-session rally tied to disruptions in Middle…
Senate Democrats announced they will reopen negotiations on legislation intended to accelerate permitting for large infrastructure projects, citing recent federal action to review stalled renewable energy applications. The move follows concern from both parties about delays to projects already fully permitted and comes as the House-passed SPEED Act…
Gold held near recent lows in Asian trading on Friday, with a firmer U.S. dollar and climbing Treasury yields dampening demand for the metal despite escalating conflict in the Middle East. Spot gold traded around $5,080.37 an ounce by 20:25 ET (01:25 GMT), while U.S. gold futures rose 0.3% to $5,091.040. The metal slipped 1% in the prior session an…
A senior White House official indicated the U.S. Treasury could announce measures as soon as Thursday to address surging energy prices, and those actions might include direct engagement in the oil futures market. Market observers caution that such financial interventions could moderate speculative activity but cannot replace lost physical supply am…
After a two-day visit to Caracas, U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum expressed optimism that a forthcoming mining law and the issuance of licences will spur foreign investment in Venezuela’s mineral and oil sectors. Burgum said the interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez pledged to provide security for companies conducting due diligence and reop…
Escalation of conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and forced production cuts at regional fertiliser facilities, sending fertiliser and fuel prices sharply higher just as Northern Hemisphere farmers prepare for spring planting. The squeeze is prompting some growers to consider changing crop plans or cutti…
The U.S. Treasury Department is preparing to unveil measures as soon as Thursday designed to address rising energy costs, potentially including steps involving the oil futures market, a senior White House official said. The contemplated approach would represent an uncommon effort to influence fuel prices via financial markets rather than through ad…
President Donald Trump told Reuters he will not release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve despite a recent uptick in U.S. gasoline prices tied to the widening Iran conflict. He emphasized that the U.S. military operation takes precedence and expressed confidence that shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz will remain open.
Major maritime labour and industry groups have secured protections allowing seafarers to refuse to operate in the Middle East Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz, after the threat level for the region was elevated to its highest setting. The negotiated terms include company-funded repatriation, minimum compensation of two months' basic wage, highe…
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom and the United States continue to operate a close intelligence and defence partnership after U.S. criticism of his initial hesitation to allow use of British bases for strikes. Starmer defended withholding base access initially and later joining 'defensive' operations after Iranian retaliation, wh…
British Prime Minister reiterated that the UK is reinforcing its defensive posture in the Middle East by sending four more Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar. He defended the government's measured approach after criticism from international partners and a drone strike on a UK base in Cyprus, saying the UK had already been pre-deploying equipment across …
Israel has started to reopen its airspace following the outbreak of an Iran air war that began on Saturday, allowing a limited number of inbound flights to land at Ben Gurion International Airport. The Transportation Ministry reports that over 20,000 Israelis have returned since the conflict began, while about 120,000 remain abroad and are seeking …
Officials have signaled a preference for measures aimed at steadying shipping and oil markets as energy prices climb amid the Iran-related conflict. Wolfe Research, in a note led by Tobin Marcus, concluded a proposed government-backed maritime insurance program appears legally achievable under the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation,…
Israeli military operations against Iran have progressed into a second phase focused on underground facilities that store ballistic missiles and related equipment, according to two sources with direct knowledge of campaign planning. The joint U.S.-Israeli air campaign entered its first week after opening strikes killed Iran’s leadership and trigger…
Hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran expanded sharply after a U.S. submarine torpedoed an Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka, resulting in dozens of deaths and missing crew, while NATO air defences intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile fired toward Turkey. The developments coincide with leadership uncertainty in Tehran and continuin…
Global equity markets staged a broad rebound, led by a sharp recovery in South Korea and gains in Japan, while U.S. indexes advanced on upbeat macro prints. Energy markets moved higher on the prospect of continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, and investors are watching upcoming U.S. labor data and other economic releases for further directio…
