(The opinions expressed here are those of the authors.)

Aug 14 (Reuters) - Every Friday, Reuters Open Interest (ROI)

distills the financial week into five key charts, spotlighting

the major trends, surprises and overlooked moves that defined

the past five days.

1. HORMUZ REALITY CHECK

CLYDE RUSSELL, ROI Asia Commodities and Energy Columnist: Middle

East crude oil exports, including flows through the Strait of

Hormuz, have remained depressed over the summer, according to

commodity analysts Kpler. Its data tallies with that from other

vessel-tracking companies, but stands in direct contrast to

claims this week by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright that

about 15 million barrels per day are leaving the region,

including 9 million bpd through Hormuz.

2. WORKERS LOSE OUT

JAMIE MCGEEVER, ROI Markets Columnist: Workers' share of the

U.S. economy continues to slide, hitting a record low of 52.9%

of GDP in the second quarter. This comes as the Q2 earnings

season has shown eye-watering U.S. corporate profit growth of

over 50%. With companies already enjoying a record share of the

national economic pie, the Main Street-versus-Wall Street gap

seems to be getting wider.

3. INVENTORY DRAIN

ANDY HOME, ROI Metals Columnist: Aluminium inventories at the

London Metal Exchange have slumped to their lowest level since

1990. A market that has historically been characterised by

oversupply is being drained by the supply-chain shocks rippling

out from the Iran war.

4. AUTOMATION SHIFT

GAVIN MAGUIRE, ROI Global Energy Transition Columnist:

Automation in transport could have far-reaching repercussions

for the U.S. energy market, as the sector is the country's

largest fuel consumer. From driverless trucks and smart tugs on

the Mississippi River to real-time rail optimization, automation

could reduce energy inefficiencies and reshape fuel demand

across U.S. and global logistics chains.

5. EURO BANKS BEAT MAG7

MIKE DOLAN, ROI Finance & Markets Columnist: Goldman Sachs

strategists this week took a stab at busting myths underpinning

negative views of European equities. Their most eye-catching

observation was that boring old euro zone bank stocks have

substantially outperformed the U.S. "Magnificent Seven" megacap

tech giants since early 2023 - before the moniker for the Wall

Street high-flyers had even been coined.

Since the launch of the Roundhill "Magnificent Seven"

​exchange-traded fund, it has risen 182%. But the main euro zone

bank index is up almost 210% over the same ⁠period, driven less

by AI than by the return of durably positive interest rates

after more than a decade.

Opinions expressed are those of the authors. They do not reflect

the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is

committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

(Editing by Marguerita Choy)