financetom
World
financetom
/
World
/
Oil seen opening up after Iran's attack on Israel, but further gains may depend on response
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Oil seen opening up after Iran's attack on Israel, but further gains may depend on response
Apr 14, 2024 5:22 AM

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices are expected to rise on Monday after Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend, analysts said on Sunday, but further gains may depend on how Israel and the West choose to retaliate.

Iran launched explosive drones and missiles at Israel late on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected Israeli attack on its consulate in Syria on April 1, a first direct attack on Israeli territory that has stoked fears a wider regional conflict.

Concern of a response from Iran to the strike on its embassy compound in Damascus supported oil last week and helped send global benchmark Brent crude on Friday to $92.18 a barrel, the highest since October.

It settled that day up 71 cents at $90.45, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 64 cents to $85.66. Trading is closed on Sunday.

"It is only reasonable to expect stronger prices when trading resumes," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. "Having said that, there has been no impact on production so far and Iran has said that 'the matter can be deemed concluded'.

"However fierce and painful the initial market reaction will be, the rally could prove to be short-lived unless supply from the region is materially disrupted."

U.S. President Joe Biden said he would convene a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven major economies on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response to the Iranian attack.

"Oil prices might spike at the opening as this is the first time Iran has struck Israel from its territory," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

"How long any bounce will last will... depend on the Israeli response," Staunovo added. "Also today's G7 virtual meeting needs to be monitored, with an eye on if they target or not Iranian crude exports."

Iran has steeply raised oil exports - its main sources of revenue - under the Joe Biden administration. Exports were severely reduced under Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, who will face Biden in a presidential election rematch in November.

The Biden administration has argued it is not encouraging Iran to raise exports and is enforcing sanctions.

Lower Iranian exports would lead to a further rise in oil prices and the cost of gasoline in the U.S., a politically sensitive subject ahead of the elections.

Another factor to watch will be any impact on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the volume of the world's total oil consumption passes daily.

The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard's navy said on Tuesday Tehran could close the strait if deemed necessary, and earlier on Saturday, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported a Guards helicopter had boarded and taken into Iranian waters a vessel, the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries.

"Crude prices already included a risk premium, and the extent to which it will widen further almost exclusively depends on developments near Iran around the Strait of Hormuz," said Ole Hansen at Saxo Bank.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
Oil prices trim Middle East war risk-gains, China demand remains a worry
Oil prices trim Middle East war risk-gains, China demand remains a worry
Oct 22, 2024
TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Tuesday, paring the previous day's nearly 2% rise as the top U.S. diplomat renewed efforts to push for a ceasefire in the Middle East, and as slow demand in China, the world's top oil importer, continued to weigh on the market. Brent crude futures for December delivery were down 26 cents, or 0.3%,...
Dow, S&P 500 Retreat From Record Highs Ahead of Major Earnings
Dow, S&P 500 Retreat From Record Highs Ahead of Major Earnings
Oct 22, 2024
04:54 PM EDT, 10/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 retreated from Friday's record-high closings as markets awaited the latest financial results from major companies due later in the week. The Dow fell 0.8% to 42,931.6 on Monday, while the S&P 500 dropped 0.2% to 5,854. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.3% to 18,540. Barring...
TSX Closer: The Market Closes Down From a Record Ahead of an Interest-Rate Cut and Corporate Results
TSX Closer: The Market Closes Down From a Record Ahead of an Interest-Rate Cut and Corporate Results
Oct 22, 2024
04:26 PM EDT, 10/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The Toronto Stock Exchange fell off a record high on Monday, dropping the first time in four sessions ahead of this week's expected cut to interest rates from the Bank of Canada and the start of the third-quarter corporate reporting season. The S&P/TSX Composite Index close down 99.21 points to 24,723.33, down from...
GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks lose ground amid cautious trading with gold at record high
GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks lose ground amid cautious trading with gold at record high
Oct 22, 2024
* S&P 500, Dow end lower * European shares finish down * Gold prices reach new highs * Brent crude settle nearly 2% higher * Dollar index gains (Updates with U.S. market close, recasts headline and first paragraph, adds new analyst quote) By Chibuike Oguh NEW YORK, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Global equity markets lost ground on Monday as traders...
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved