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.
1,046 total articles
China’s semiconductor sector is accelerating as global demand for AI infrastructure raises capital expenditure and pressures production capacity. Executives at Semicon China 2026 in Shanghai report faster-than-expected growth, rising requirements for testing and interconnects, and a near-term squeeze on raw materials and high-end components. Indust…
UBS economist Arend Kapteyn says the global economy today is considerably less exposed to an oil price shock than during the 1970s. Despite elevated crude prices and recent supply disruptions, oil spending as a share of GDP has declined markedly since 1974, reducing potential macroeconomic strain even if prices rise to $100 per barrel.
Markets showed tentative relief after Iran signalled it would permit some non-combatant ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, helping push Brent and U.S. crude lower and lifting equity benchmarks in Asia and Europe. Reports of a reported 15-point plan including a month-long ceasefire have circulated alongside official denials from Iran and ongoing…
A Blue House official said South Korea can sustain a stable liquefied natural gas supply through the end of 2026, as the country brings in LNG from non-Middle Eastern sources and prepares contingency measures in case of disruptions to shipments from Qatar, a principal supplier. Officials report no formal force majeure declaration from Qatar to date…
Gulf Arab delegations told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 25 that Iranian attacks on their infrastructure represent an existential threat to regional and international security. The council is set to vote on a motion condemning Iran's strikes, seeking reparations and requesting monitoring by the U.N. rights chief, who warned that …
U.S. suppliers have routed about 30,000 barrels of fuel to privately owned Cuban firms so far this year, according to shipping documents and tracking information reviewed by the author. The flows - small relative to national needs but growing week by week - reflect an exception to a broader U.S. policy that has sought to choke off state-run fuel su…
Gold climbed in Asian trade as UBS reiterated a year-end price target of $5,900 per ounce, saying recent weakness is temporary and presents a buying opportunity. The bank points to easing monetary conditions over time, persistent structural demand drivers and central bank purchases as reasons the metal should recover, even as near-term headwinds in…
Major financial houses have raised their 2026 oil-price forecasts after recent fighting involving the United States, Israel and Iran pushed crude prices higher. Morgan Stanley lifted its 2027 Brent outlook to $80 a barrel, while spot Brent traded above $100 and U.S. WTI near $89 as airstrikes continued and Tehran denied talks to end the conflict.
Efforts by Western nations to secure the Strait of Hormuz for energy shipments confront realities that made a similar Red Sea operation costly and inconclusive. The Red Sea campaign against Yemen’s Houthi militants expended more than $1 billion in munitions, saw four ships sunk and pushed commercial shippers to reroute. The Strait of Hormuz, a narr…
An Iranian military spokesman mocked U.S. policymaking as internal bargaining, responding to U.S. comments that Tehran seeks a deal to end Middle East hostilities and reports that Washington sent a 15-point plan to Tehran. The spokesman said regional stability rests with Iran's armed forces and warned that U.S. investments and pre-war energy price …
Gold prices rose sharply in Asian trading after reports that the United States had delivered a 15-point plan to Iran aimed at ending the Middle East war. A retreat in oil and a softer U.S. dollar eased inflation concerns, supporting demand for non-yielding assets. Volatility remains a risk as diplomatic messages from both sides contain mixed signal…
Oil prices plunged in Asian trade as reports that the United States transmitted a 15-point peace proposal to Iran raised hopes of reduced supply risk. Brent futures for May slipped below $100 a barrel, while WTI also posted sizable losses amid lingering uncertainty from conflicting statements by U.S. and Iranian officials.
Roughly 300 protesters assembled in a park across the street from a Houston hotel hosting the largest annual energy industry conference, chanting slogans criticizing industry leaders and calling for cleaner air. The demonstration involved members from 45 organizations and occurred as top energy executives and federal officials attended the event.
Federal officials are preparing to temporarily suspend seasonal smog-related requirements for summer gasoline blends and permit year-round sales of E15, measures expected to reduce retail fuel costs by a few cents per gallon. The change, driven by supply pressures from the Iran conflict and steep crude and gasoline price gains, is intended to provi…
U.S. crude futures dropped about 4% in early trade after reports that Washington had sent Tehran a 15-point settlement plan that could lead to a ceasefire in the Middle East and ease disruptions to global oil supply. Prices pared recent gains amid conflicting statements from Iranian officials denying direct talks.
At the CERAWeek conference in Houston, senior executives from major and private U.S. shale operators said oil trading above $100 a barrel would not automatically translate into a meaningful increase in U.S. crude production unless those price levels persist beyond a single quarter. Companies have largely fixed plans and budgets for the year, are fo…
Iran has informed members of the International Maritime Organization that vessels it deems 'non-hostile' may transit the Strait of Hormuz provided they coordinate with Iranian authorities, according to a letter circulated among IMO members. The communication states that Tehran has taken measures to prevent parties involved in military actions again…
President Donald Trump told reporters on March 24 that U.S. officials are in contact with 'the right people' in Iran as part of efforts to negotiate an agreement to end hostilities. Speaking in the Oval Office, he said 'we're in negotiations right now' but declined to provide specifics, including whether envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner plann…
Israel's defence minister announced plans for Israeli forces to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, designating the area a "security zone". Lebanon's Hezbollah said it would resist any occupation, while the United Nations voiced concern over the rhetoric. The announcement comes amid continued strikes, bridge demolitions and growing civi…
President Trump halted planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure after warnings from Gulf Arab states and growing regional concern that the United States had misjudged Iran’s willingness to escalate. Gulf capitals privately told U.S. officials that strikes on Iranian power plants would provoke Iran to retaliate against critical Gulf energy a…
Participants in a prediction market are placing low odds on the Strait of Hormuz returning to normal shipping levels in the near term, even as talk continues about possible diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran. Market prices on Kalshi show probabilities climbing across the spring months but remain below even odds for a reopening b…
A Reuters/Ipsos four-day nationwide poll found President Donald Trump’s overall approval rating at 36%, down from 40% a week earlier. The decline coincides with rising gasoline prices since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and wider public disapproval of those strikes. The survey also shows fraying confidence among Republicans on Tru…
Pakistan has been quietly building direct lines to both Washington and Tehran and may host talks to try to end the Iran war. Its recent outreach to U.S. officials, ongoing backchannel exchanges with Iran, and a reputation for relative neutrality underpin its potential mediator role. Islamabad also stands to gain from an end to the conflict amid dom…
Turkey's central bank is reportedly considering tapping part of its large official gold holdings to stabilize the lira as the currency comes under renewed pressure linked to the war in Iran. Discussions include potential gold-for-foreign-currency swap transactions in the London market. The country faces rising import costs and high inflation, and a…
Stifel's analysis finds UK North Sea gas production trimmed the country's 2025 gas import bill by roughly £2.5 billion compared with buying liquefied natural gas at prevailing global prices. The firm anticipates larger savings in 2026 if upward pressure on LNG prices from the Persian Gulf conflict persists, while highlighting the role of tax policy…
