- WTI surged over 5%, trading at $90.87 per barrel, in response to escalating military actions between Israel and Palestine.
- Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip triggers a risk-off market mood, boosting safe-haven assets and oil prices.
- Iran’s Oil Minister predicts crude prices could hit $100 per barrel due to the intensifying geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, soars more than 5% on a risk-off impulse due to escalations of the conflict between Palestine and Israel, with the latter beginning its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. Therefore, WT is trading at $90.87 per barrel after bouncing from daily lows of $86.32.
Geopolitical strains and supply concerns boost WTI above $90.00, stirred by potential production disruptions
Israel's announcement of ground raids sparked flows to safe-haven assets, mainly Gold and the US Dollar (USD). Oil remains bid on fears the escalation would hit supplies from nearby countries in the world’s central crude-producing region.
In the meantime, Iran’s Oil Minister Java Owji noted that crude prices are projected to reach $100 per barrel due to the ongoing geopolitical developments in the Middle East, as reported by Reuters.
Chances of the conflict are spreading after Ran’s linked group Hezbollah launched cross-border attacks on Israel. That could spur a reaction by the United States (US), which could reimpose sanctions on Iran’s exports, which would likely hit global Oil supplies.
Another reason behind the WTI jump was the US imposing sanctions on owners of Oil tankers carrying Russian crude priced above the $60 a barrel cap accorded by the Group of Seven.
Aside from this, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) kept its forecast for growth in global Oil demand, spurred by a resilient world economy so far this year and further demand gains in China.
WTI Technical Levels
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD: The hunt for the 0.7000 hurdle
AUD/USD quickly left behind Wednesday’s strong pullback and rose markedly past the 0.6900 barrier on Thursday, boosted by news of fresh stimulus in China as well as renewed weakness in the US Dollar.
EUR/USD refocuses its attention to 1.1200 and above
Rising appetite for the risk-associated assets, the offered stance in the Greenback and Chinese stimulus all contributed to the resurgence of the upside momentum in EUR/USD, which managed to retest the 1.1190 zone on Thursday.
Gold holding at higher ground at around $2,670
Gold breaks to new high of $2,673 on Thursday. Falling interest rates globally, intensifying geopolitical conflicts and heightened Fed easing bets are the main factors.
Bitcoin displays bullish signals amid supportive macroeconomic developments and growing institutional demand
Bitcoin (BTC) trades slightly up, around $64,000 on Thursday, following a rejection from the upper consolidation level of $64,700 the previous day. BTC’s price has been consolidating between $62,000 and $64,700 for the past week.
RBA widely expected to keep key interest rate unchanged amid persisting price pressures
The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to continue bucking the trend adopted by major central banks of the dovish policy pivot, opting to maintain the policy for the seventh consecutive meeting on Tuesday.
Five best Forex brokers in 2024
VERIFIED Choosing the best Forex broker in 2024 requires careful consideration of certain essential factors. With the wide array of options available, it is crucial to find a broker that aligns with your trading style, experience level, and financial goals.