FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Oil Price Ease, Falling Off Overnight Highs Despite Little Sign of Progress to End the Iran War

By

Oil prices eased early on Thursday, falling off four-year highs touched overnight during Asian trade on a report the U.S. may end the ceasefire with Iran as the largest-ever supply shock hits hardest for the continent that relies on Persian Gulf supplies now trapped behind the closed Strait of Hormuz.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil for June delivery was last seen down US$2.44 to US$104.44 per barrel after touching US$110.93 overnight, while June Brent oil was down US$4.01 to US$114.02 after it reached US$126.34 overnight, the highest since 2022.

WTI has now climbed 59% since the war began on Feb. 28, when Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil supply, following attacks by the United States and Israel. The United States is now blockading Iranian ports and Iran has demanded that they should be lifted before peace talks can resume, which the U.S. is refusing to do, continuing the largest-ever supply shock.

The shortage is hitting hardest in Asia, which buys 80% of Persian Gulf exports, with countries bidding up spot prices and increasingly looking to tap China's strategic stockpiles to avoid shortages.

"There continue to be reports of fuel shortages in rural communities in several (Asian) countries whilst fuel distribution appears to be a bit of hap hazard. We continue to see more and more essentially government to government deals with China allowing some exports to friendly countries and Thailand considering providing more support to neighboring countries," Vikas Dwivedi, Global Energy Strategist at Macquarie Group, wrote.

Still, there is little sign of any negotiations to end the war and reopen the blocked Strait. Talks scheduled between the United States and Iran expected to be held last weekend in Pakistan failed to take place after the U.S. refused an Iranian demand to lift a blockade of Iranian ports. The Wall Street Journal reported U.S. President Trump is asking other countries to join a coalition to reopen the Strait in what the American government is calling the "Maritime Freedom Construct" as it looks for its embassies to press allies to join, while Trump warned of an extended blockade of the Strait until Iran agreed to end its nuclear program.

Related Articles

Sectors

Sector Update: Energy Stocks Rise Wednesday

Energy stocks rose Wednesday with the NYSE Energy Sector Index adding 2% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) gaining 2.1%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index advanced 0.9%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index shed 1.2%.Oil prices rallied after US President Donald Trump reportedly rejected an Iranian proposal to lift the naval blockade. Trump told Axios he will maintain the US naval blockade of Iranian ports until Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal.West Texas Intermediate crude oil jumped 8% to $107.90 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent climbed 7.8% to $119.89 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures for May fell 1.7% to $2.65 per 1 million BTU.US crude oil stocks, including those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fell by 13.4 million barrels in the week ended Friday following a decrease of 2.2 million in the previous week. Excluding inventories in the SPR, commercial crude oil stocks dropped by 6.2 million-barrels after an increase of 1.9 million increase in the previous week, more than the drop of 190,000 expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.In corporate news, Phillips 66 (PSX) shares jumped 5%. The company reported Q1 adjusted earnings of $0.49 per diluted share, swinging from the loss of $0.90 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected a loss of $0.54.Entergy (ETR) reported Q1 adjusted earnings of $0.86 per share, up from $0.82 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $0.84. The stock rose 1.3%.Bloom Energy (BE) shares surged 27% a day after the company reported Q1 adjusted earnings $0.44 per diluted share, up from $0.03 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $0.12.TotalEnergies (TTE) shares rose 1.4% after the company posted higher Q1 adjusted earnings and revenue.

$BE$ETR$PSX$TTE
Sectors

Sector Update: Financial Stocks Mixed Late Afternoon

Financial stocks were mixed in late Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index decreasing 0.2% and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) up 0.1%.The Philadelphia Housing Index was falling 1.5%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) was down 0.9%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was declining 1.4% to $75,268.8, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries rose 6.2 basis points to 4.42%.In economic news, the Federal Open Market Committee maintained its federal funds rate target at 3.50% to 3.75%, as expected, but four officials dissented, its statement Wednesday afternoon showed.Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday at a press conference that he will remain on the Federal Reserve board for a period of time after his term as chair ends on May 15, noting the recent attacks on the Fed and saying that "the things that have happened really in the last three months I think left me no choice but to stay until I see them through at least that long."In corporate news, Blackstone (BX) is planning to integrate its growth business into a new West Coast-based unit that will focus on its AI portfolio and high-growth tech bets, Bloomberg reported, citing an internal company note. Blackstone shares were down 1.6%.PayPal (PYPL) Chief Executive Enrique Lores told managers this week that he is reorganizing the company to make Venmo its own standalone segment within PayPal, CNBC reported. PayPal shares rose 2.6%.Robinhood (HOOD) shares fell past 13% after it reported Q1 earnings and revenue that missed analysts' expectations.Visa (V) shares jumped more than 8% after it lifted its full-year growth outlook and reported better-than-expected fiscal Q2 results.

$BX$HOOD$PYPL$V
Sectors

Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Decline Late Afternoon

Consumer stocks were lower late Wednesday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) declining 0.4% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) down 0.3%.In corporate news, Wingstop (WING) reduced its 2026 domestic same-store sales outlook and reported weaker-than-expected Q1 revenue. Its shares fell 3.6%.Starbucks' (SBUX) fiscal Q2 financial results exceeded Wall Street's views, while the coffee giant raised its full-year outlook on the back of momentum in its turnaround efforts. Its shares jumped past 8%.Etsy's (ETSY) Q1 revenue rose more than Wall Street's expectations, helping the online marketplace swing to earnings. Etsy shares climbed more than 9%.Walmart (WMT) has opened its third owned-and-operated milk processing facility in the US, located in Robinson, Texas, and representing an investment of more than $350 million, the company said Wednesday. Its shares were up 0.1%.

$ETSY$SBUX$WING$WMT