Update: WTI Oil Falls to Prewar Levels as Trapped Tankers Begin Leaving Persian Gulf

(Updates prices in the second paragraph and adds the latest US inventory data in the final paragraph.)

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil fell for a fourth straight session on Wednesday as tankers trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the U.S-Iran war continued to move through the Strait of Hormuz

WTI crude oil for August delivery closed 4.9% lower to settle at US$70.34 per barrel, the lowest since Feb. 27, while August Brent oil was last seen down 4.4% to US$73.71.

The International Marine Organization on Tuesday launched an evacuation plan for ships that have been trapped in the Gulf in cooperation with Iran, Oman and other Persian Gulf coastal states region, the US and the maritime industry, with ships being notified of their place in the queue.

Sanctions on Iran have been lifted by the US, freeing full production from OPEC's No.3 oil producer and reassuring traders that the largest-ever supply shock is ending as output from the Persian Gulf nations that supplied a fifth of the world's energy demand begin to return to market.

"The market is increasingly pricing a steady return of stranded supply following one of the most severe disruptions in recent history," Saxo Bank said. "UAE exports have already recovered to around 85% of pre-war levels, adding to expectations of improving supply availability in the weeks ahead."

Still, US inventories continue to fall.

The Energy Information Administration said domestic commercial oil inventories fell by 6.1 million barrels last week, leaving stocks 7% below the five-year average, while the Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by 9.1 million barrels.

Sector Update: Energy Stocks Rise Late Afternoon

Energy stocks rose late Tuesday afternoon with the NYSE Energy Sector Index increasing 0.3% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 0.8%.The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index eased 0.1%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index gained 0.9%.West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 0.7% to $73.31 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent declined 1% to $77.13 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures dropped 3.2% to $3.15 per 1 million BTU.In corporate news, the US Supreme Court reversed and remanded rulings by lower courts, reviving Exxon Mobil's (XOM) lawsuit seeking more than $1 billion in damages from Cuban government-owned companies over assets confiscated after Fidel Castro seized of power in 1959. Exxon shares rose 1.2%.Petrobras (PBR) signed a memorandum of understanding with Petroleos Mexicanos to cooperate in areas of exploration and production, and industrial processes. Petrobras shares were little changed.Walmart (WMT) will buy nuclear power from Constellation Energy (CEG) under a long-term agreement split into two 15-year terms. Constellation shares fell 1.6%.Energy Fuels (UUUU) agreed to acquire Germany-based magnetics manufacturer Vacuumschmelze and related entities, collectively known as VAC, from private equity firm Ara Partners in a deal with an equity value of $1.9 billion. Energy Fuels shares fell 3.9%.

$CEG$PBR$UUUU$XOM

Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Higher Late Afternoon

Healthcare stocks rose late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index adding 1.5% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) increasing 1.3%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) advanced 0.7%.In sector news, the US Justice Department is expected to charge about 450 defendants in alleged healthcare fraud schemes worth more than $6.5 billion, marking its largest coordinated antifraud operation to date, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing federal officials.In corporate news, AbbVie (ABBV) shares gained 1.8% after it said Tuesday that the European Commission approved its therapy Maviret to treat acute hepatitis C virus infection in adults and children aged three years and older.Merck (MRK) shares rose 3.1%. The company said Monday its investigational antibody tulisokibart met primary and secondary endpoints in a phase 3 trial of people with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.GE HealthCare Technologies (GEHC) is positioned for accelerating growth, driven by improving innovation, order momentum, and backlog, RBC Capital Markets said in a note. RBC started coverage of the company with an outperform rating and an $80 price target. GE HealthCare shares climbed 4.8%.Boundless Bio (BOLD) shares surged 80% after the company said it signed a definitive merger agreement with privately held biotech firm Serapha Bio.

$ABBV$BOLD$GEHC$MRK

Sector Update: Financial Stocks Advance Late Afternoon

Financial stocks were increasing in late Tuesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Financial Index and the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) each adding 0.2%.The Philadelphia Housing Index was down 0.2%, and the State Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE) gained 1.5%.Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was falling 3.3% to $62,249.7, and the yield for 10-year US Treasuries decreased 1.2 basis points to 4.50%.In economic news, the June flash reading of manufacturing conditions from S&P Global rose to a 49-month high of 55.7 from 55.1 in May, in contrast with an expected decrease to 54.6 in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.Redbook US same-store sales surged 10% from a year earlier in the week ended June 20 after a 9.4% year-over-year increase in the previous week.In corporate news, Goldman Sachs' (GS) equities business is on track to generate more than $5 billion in revenue in Q2, Bloomberg reported. Goldman shares were down 1%.Apollo Global Management (APO) has restricted investor redemptions for its private credit fund, Apollo Debt Solutions, following a surge in share repurchase requests from stakeholders. Apollo shares fell 2.9%.Korn Ferry (KFY) on Tuesday reported higher fiscal Q4 results, although the consulting firm issued an outlook calling for lower earnings in the current quarter. Its shares rose 5.1%.Blackstone (BX) is preparing to invest $30 billion in AI data centers in Japan within the next three to five years, Nikkei Asia reported, citing an interview with Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Gray. Blackstone shares declined 2.9%.

$APO$BX$GS$KFY

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