United States Oil Fund

Update: WTI Oil Plunges Following Reports the U.S. and Iran May Be Close to a Peace Deal

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil plunged 7% on Wednesday following reports the United States and Iran are close to an agreement to end their war, offering the possibility the Strait of Hormuz could soon reopen.WTI crude oil for June delivery closed down US$7.19 to settle at US$95.08 per barrel after touching US$88.66 in Asian trade, while July Brent oil was last seen down US$9.13 to US$100.74.The drop came as Axios overnight reported the two countries were close to a negotiated deal to end hostilities, which was later confirmed by U.S. President Trump. In a social media post, Trump said the war "will be at an end" and the Strait of Hormuz will reopen to traffic if Iran agrees to a U.S. peace proposal, while threatening to resume bombing if its terms are rejected.Citing Iran's state media, Reuters reported Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is claiming the Strait, the chokepoint for exports from Persian Gulf nations supplying 20% of daily oil demand, could reopen if a deal is reached.Oil prices have climbed by more than half since Iran closed the Strait when the war began on Feb. 28, trapping exports of oil, LNG, fertilizers and other commodities in the Persian Gulf. However an end to the war is unlikely to see a quick return to normal. Iranian attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in neighboring countries and restarting production from shut-in oilfields will limit a quick return to pre-war operating levels."If Hormuz were to be reopened, it would take an additional seven months at minimum to fully restore upstream production, assuming no permanent damage and supply chains operate smoothly. A recovery could take longer if there is damage to ports or other transport and loading infrastructure," S&P Global Energy noted.The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported another drop in U.S. commercial oil inventories, saying stocks fell by 2.3-million barrels last week, under the consensus estimate for a drop of 3.3-million barrels among analysts polled by Reuters.

June WTI Crude Oil Contract Closes Down US$7.19; Settles at US$95.08 per Barrel

Sector Update: Energy Stocks Fall Pre-Bell Wednesday

Energy stocks were lower premarket Wednesday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) retreating by 4%.The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 7.5%, while The United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.4% lower.Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 10% at $91.80 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil fell 9.6% to $99.34 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 2.5% lower at $2.72 per 1 million British Thermal Units.TotalEnergies (TTE) shares were down more than 4% before the opening bell, reversing the 1.4% gain from the prior session. The company said it signed an agreement with Dell Technologies (DELL) and Nvidia (NVDA) to design and install its next high-performance supercomputer, called Pangea 5, in southern France.Equinor (EQNR) shares were down more than 8% premarket after the company reported lower Q1 revenue.Select Water Solutions (WTTR) stock was up over 4% after the company reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings and revenue.

Oil Prices Plunge Following Reports the U.S. and Iran May Be Close to a Peace Deal

Oil prices plunged early Wednesday following reports the United States and Iran are close to an agreement to end their war, offering the possibility the Strait of Hormuz could soon reopen.West Texas Intermediate crude oil was last seen down $8.63 to US$93.64 per barrel after touching US$88.66 in Asian trade, while July Brent oil was down $8.64 to US$101.23.The drop came as Axios overnight reported the two countries were close to a negotiated deal to end hostilities, which was later confirmed by U.S. President Trump. In a social media post, Trump said the war "will be at an end" and the Strait of Hormuz will reopen to traffic if Iran agrees to a U.S. peace proposal, while threatening to resume bombing if its terms are rejected.Citing Iran's state media, Reuters reported Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is claiming the Strait, the chokepoint for exports from Persian Gulf nations supplying 20% of daily oil demand, could reopen if a deal is reached.Oil prices have climbed by more than half since Iran closed the Strait when the war began on Feb. 28, trapping exports of oil, LNG, fertilizers and other commodities in the Persian Gulf. However an end to the war is unlikely to see a quick return to normal. Iranian attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in neighboring countries and restarting production from shut in oilfields will limit a quick return to pre-war operating levels."If Hormuz were to be reopened, it would take an additional seven months at minimum to fully restore upstream production, assuming no permanent damage and supply chains operate smoothly. A recovery could take longer if there is damage to ports or other transport and loading infrastructure," S&P Global Energy noted.A big drop in U.S. oil inventories limited oil's retreat Wednesday. In its weekly survey, the American Petroleum Institute reported domestic oil stocks dropped by 8.1-million barrels last week, well above consensus estimate for a 2.8-million draw, according to Investing.com. The Energy Information Administration will release official inventory data later Wednesday morning.

Sector Update: Energy

Energy stocks were lower premarket Wednesday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) retreating by 4%.The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 7.5%, while The United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.4% lower.Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 10% at $91.80 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil fell 9.6% to $99.34 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 2.5% lower at $2.72 per 1 million British Thermal Units.TotalEnergies (TTE) shares were down more than 4% before the opening bell, reversing the 1.4% gain from the prior session. The company said it signed an agreement with Dell Technologies (DELL) and Nvidia (NVDA) to design and install its next high-performance supercomputer, called Pangea 5, in southern France.

Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Wednesday Amid Potential US-Iran Truce

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 1% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 1.7% higher in Wednesday's premarket activity amid news of a potential US-Iran truce.US stock futures were mixed, with S&P 500 Index futures up 1%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures falling 1.2%, and Nasdaq futures advancing 1.6% before the start of regular trading.US mortgage applications fell in the week ended May 1 amid higher mortgage rates, according to data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association early Wednesday.ADP's monthly measure of private payrolls showed a 109,000 increase in April, below expectations compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:20 am ET for an increase of 120,000.State-level unemployment data for March is slated for a 10 am ET release, followed by the weekly petroleum stocks at 10:30 am ET.Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee is due to speak on Wednesday.In premarket activity, bitcoin was down by 1.3%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.3% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 2%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) fell over 14%.Power Play:FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.6%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 2%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 1.9% lower.Hut 8 (HUT) shares were up more than 24% pre-bell after the company reported higher Q1 revenue.Winners and Losers:TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 2.1%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 2.4% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 2.3%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) rose 3.6%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) increased by 4.3%.Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) shares were up more than 18% in premarket activity after the company overnight posted stronger-than-expected fiscal Q1 results and issued an upbeat Q2 revenue outlook.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.1%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.3%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 1% higher.Novo Nordisk (NVO) stock was up more than 6% premarket after the company posted higher-than-expected Q1 earnings and revenue in addition to raising its 2026 adjusted sales growth guidance.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was down 4.2%, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) fell by 4.8%.Equinor (EQNR) stock was down more than 9% before Wednesday's opening bell after the company reported lower Q1 revenue.IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 1.8%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was up 2.3%, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.Ametek (AME) stock was up more than 2% before the opening bell after the company agreed to acquire Indicor Instrumentation from Indicor in an all-cash deal valued at about $5 billion.ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was down 0.4%, and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.2%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was flat. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 1.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 1.2% lower.Amazon (AMZN) shares were up more than 1% a day after The Information reported the company-backed Anthropic will pay Alphabet's (GOOG, GOOGL) Google Cloud about $200 billion over five years for computing capacity and processors.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 10% to $91.80 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down by 2.5% at $2.72 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) fell by 9.6%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 1.6% lower.Gold futures for May rose by 3.1% to $4,711.90 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures advanced by 5.7% to $77.79 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 3% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) rose by 5.4%.

Brent Crude Down 9.6% and Under US$100 and NY Crude Down 10.4% at Near US$91.60

Crude Oil Exports from Other Producing Countries Rise Amid Middle East War, Commerzbank Says

Amid production losses due to the war in the Middle East, crude oil exports from other producing countries are rising, Commerzbank said in a Tuesday note.Venezuela's oil exports climbed to 1.23 million barrels per day in April, up 150,000 barrels per day from the previous month and the highest level since the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela's energy industry at the end of 2018, the bank noted.Nearly 450,000 barrels per day went to the U.S., which is the main buyer of Venezuelan oil. However, exports to India also rose to 374,000 barrels per day and exports to Europe increased to 165,000 barrels per day, Commerzbank said.The U.S. also boosted its oil exports in April to a record high of 5.2 million barrels per day, the bank said, citing data analysis firm Kpler. This was up from 3.9 million barrels per day in March.Meanwhile, at the Corpus Christi oil port in Texas, 240 tankers were recorded in March, up from the rough average of 200 tankers, according to Commerzbank.

Brent Crude Down 7.3% at US$101.85 and NY Crude Down 8.25% at Near US$93.80

Crude Oil Prices Drop as U.S. Reportedly Nears Deal with Iran to End War

Crude oil prices plummeted on Wednesday on reports that the U.S. is nearing an agreement with Iran to end the war.Brent crude at last look dropped 6.8% to US$102.40/barrel and West Texas Intermediate crude fell 7.5% to $94.58/barrel. The reported one-page framework was the closest the parties have come to an agreement since the war began, Reuters said in a Wednesday report, citing Axios.The price hikes have been driven by oil supply losses from disruptions in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, the report said. The closure has resulted in a drawdown in global oil and fuel inventories in efforts to offset production shortfalls.American Petroleum Institute figures showed a drop in U.S. crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories, Reuters reported, citing market sources. The U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled to report official figures on Wednesday.

Update: WTI Crude Oil Falls as the Iran War Ceasefire Holds After Monday's Attacks

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil fell 3.9% on Tuesday with the ceasefire between the United States and Iran seen holding, calming Monday's gains as violence in the Persian Gulf eased.WTI crude oil for June delivery closed down US$4.15 to settle at US$102.27 per barrel, after rising 4.4% on Monday, while July Brent oil was last seen down US$4.24 to US$110.20.Hostilities in the Iran war picked up on Monday as Iran attacked the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah oil port on the Gulf of Oman, which had been continuing to export oil since the Feb. 28 start to the war, even as Persian Gulf supply remains trapped behind the Strait of Hormuz. It also fired on U.S. warships, claiming to have struck one naval vessel with two missiles, which was denied by the U.S. military.The United States responded by attacks on Iranian fast boats while President Trump said the United States will begin guiding ships through the Strait. Reuters reported the Alliance Fairfax, a U.S.-flagged vehicle carrier, transited the Strait on Monday accompanied by the U.S. military.Still, despite the strikes, reports said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at a Tuesday morning press conference, said the ceasefire remains in effect while promising to continue to press to open the Strait of Hormuz.Still, the war has produced the largest-ever oil supply shock as the closure of the Strait blocked exports from the Persian Gulf, which supplied 20% of daily oil demand, keeping oil prices near four-year highs, with any relief unlikely until a peace deal is reached despite U.S. efforts to reopen the waterway."Despite US plans to restore shipping, security risks may keep the route closed until a US-Iran deal, sustaining concern over energy prices," Saxo Bank wrote.

June WTI Crude Oil Contract Closes Down US$4.15; Settles at US$102.27 per Barrel

Sector Update: Energy Stocks Lean Lower Pre-Bell Tuesday

Energy stocks were lower premarket Tuesday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) retreating 0.2%.The United States Oil Fund (USO) fell by 1.8%, while The United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.5% lower.Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 2.4% at $103.85 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil declined 1.6% to $112.63 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 1.3% lower at $2.83 per 1 million British Thermal Units.Enlight Renewable Energy (ENLT) stock was up over 4% before the opening bell after the company reported higher-than-expected Q1 earnings and revenue.Kosmos Energy (KOS) stock was down more than 6% before the opening bell after the company reported a Q1 adjusted loss versus analysts' expectations of earnings.Peabody Energy (BTU) shares were 5% lower in premarket activity after the company swung to a Q1 loss.

Oil Prices Ease as the Iran War Ceasefire Holds After Monday's Attacks

Oil traded lower early on Tuesday with the ceasefire between the United States and Iran seen holding, calming Monday's gains as violence in the Persian Gulf eased.West Texas Intermediate crude oil for June delivery was last seen down US$3.48 to US$102.94 per barrel, after rising 4.4% on Monday, while July Brent oil was down US$1.85 to US$112.59.Hostilities in the Iran war picked up on Monday as Iran attacked the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah oil port on the Gulf of Oman, which had been continuing to export oil since the Feb. 28 start to the war, even as Persian Gulf supply remains trapped behind the Strait of Hormuz. It also fired on U.S. warships, claiming to have struck one naval vessel with two missiles, which was denied by the U.S. military.The United States responded by attacks on Iranian fast boats while President Trump said the United States will begin guiding ships through the Strait. Reuters reported the Alliance Fairfax, a U.S.-flagged vehicle carrier, transited the Strait on Monday accompanied by the U.S. military.Still, despite the strikes, reports said U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at a Tuesday morning press conference, said the ceasefire remains in effect while promising to continue to press to open the Strait of Hormuz.Still, the war has produced the largest-ever oil supply shock as the closure of the Strait blocked exports from the Persian Gulf, which supplied 20% of daily oil demand, keeping oil prices near four-year highs, with any relief unlikely until a peace deal is reached despite U.S. efforts to reopen the waterway."Despite US plans to restore shipping, security risks may keep the route closed until a US-Iran deal, sustaining concern over energy prices," Saxo Bank wrote.

Sector Update: Energy

Energy stocks were lower premarket Tuesday, with the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) retreating 0.2%.The United States Oil Fund (USO) fell by 1.8%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) fell by 0.5%.Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 2.4% to $103.85 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil declined 1.6% to $112.63 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 1.3% lower at $2.83 per 1 million British Thermal Units.Enlight Renewable Energy (ENLT) stock rose more than 4% before the opening bell after the company reported higher-than-expected Q1 earnings and revenue.

Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Tuesday Amid Corporate Earnings Rush

The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.4% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) advanced 0.6% in Tuesday's premarket activity amid a rush of corporate earnings.US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.4%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.6% before the start of regular trading.International trade data for March will be released at 8:30 am ET, followed by S&P global services data for April at 9:45 am ET.ISM manufacturing data for April, job openings data for March, and new home sales data for March are all due at 10 am ET.Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman and Fed Governor Michael Barr are slated to speak on Tuesday.In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 1.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 1.3% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) advanced 1%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) was flat.Power Play:IndustrialThe State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.3%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) rose 1.7%, and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was inactive.Sterling Infrastructure's (STRL) stock was up more than 25% before the opening bell after the company overnight reported a stronger-than-expected rise in Q1 earnings and sales, and guided fiscal 2026 sales above analyst expectations.Winners and Losers:ConsumerThe State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) gained 0.01% and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.6%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) advanced 0.3%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) was inactive, while the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) was 0.7% higher.Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) shares were up more than 6% pre-bell after the company reported higher fiscal Q1 underlying earnings and revenue.EnergyThe iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was inactive, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) was up by 0.1%.Kosmos Energy (KOS) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell after the company reported a Q1 adjusted loss versus analysts' expectations of earnings.Health CareThe State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.1%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) gained 0.5%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) was flat. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.2% higher.IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) stock was up more than 3% premarket after the company reported higher Q1 comparable earnings and revenue.FinancialThe State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.4%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.5%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.2% lower.HSBC (HSBC) shares were down more than 3% pre-bell after the company reported lower-than-expected Q1 earnings.TechnologyThe State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 0.8%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was flat, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.3%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) was 1.9% higher, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 1.4%.Leidos Holdings (LDOS) shares were up more than 2% in Tuesday's premarket activity after the company reported higher Q1 non-GAAP earnings and revenue.CommoditiesFront-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil retreated by 2.4% to $103.92 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was down by 1.3% at $2.83 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) fell by 1.1%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.8% lower.Gold futures for May gained by 0.9% to reach $4,573.50 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures advanced by 0.9% to $74.20 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 1% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) rose by 1.1%.

Brent Crude Down 1.4% at Near US$112.80 and NY Crude Down 2.2% at Just Over US$104

U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Likely Dropped 5 Million Barrels in Week Ended May 1, Macquarie Says

U.S. crude oil stocks are forecast to have dropped 5.0 million barrels in the week ended May 1, adding to a decline of 6.2 MM BBL in the prior week, Macquarie said in a Monday note.Crude runs at refineries are expected to have slightly increased by 0.1 million barrels per day. Net imports are projected to have risen, with exports down 0.4 MBD and imports up 0.4 MBD, Macquarie said.Implied domestic supply is expected to have declined 0.3 MBD. Strategic petroleum reserves are forecast to have decreased 5.2 MM BBL, according to Macquarie.Gasoline inventories are projected to have fallen 0.4 MM BBL. Distillate stockpiles are forecast to have fallen 3.8 MM BBL. Jet stocks are expected to have gained 0.2 MM BBL. Implied demand for these three products are expected at 14.6 MBD, Macquarie noted.

Crude Oil Prices See Volatility Amid Renewed Hostilities Between U.S. and Iran

Crude oil prices fell on Tuesday but remained elevated amid volatility driven by renewed hostilities in the war between the U.S. and Iran.Brent crude at last look lost 1.2% to US$113.12/barrel and West Texas Intermediate crude declined 1.9% to $104.40/barrel. This comes as the U.S. and Iran launched new attacks in the Gulf in efforts to gain control over the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters said in a Tuesday report.Analysts said the easing of prices in recent sessions are not due to improvement in fundamentals but represented a temporary relief, the report said. However, limited safe passage appears to be possible, helping drive away worst-case supply scenarios, analysts noted."Prices continue to trade in a highly volatile range, driven largely by ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz," Reuters quoted Phillip Nova's senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva as saying.

Update: WTI Oil Moves Higher on Escalating Middle East Violence

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil closed higher Monday in volatile as traders eye escalating violence in the Persian Gulf.WTI oil for June delivery closed up US$4.48 to settle at US$106.42 per barrel, while July Brent oil was last seen up US$6.53 to US$114.70.Iran attacked the United Arab Emirates oil port of Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman, which has allowed the country to continue exporting oil while the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. The Wall Street Journal reported Iran also fired missiles at U.S. warships and commercial vessels.Iran's Fars News Agency also reported Iranian forces struck a U.S. warship with two missiles to prevent it from moving into the Strait, which Iran blocked at the Feb. 28 start of the war, cutting off 20% of the world's oil demand supplied by Persian Gulf nations. However, The Guardian reported U.S. Central Command dismissed the report, while continuing the blockade of Iranian ports.U.S. President Trump in a weekend social media post said the U.S. would begin escorting ships trapped in the Gulf through the Strait, but offered no details on the scheme. The Wall Street Journal reported Trump "intends to use countries, insurance companies and shipping organizations to move traffic through the strait. It doesn't currently involve U.S. Navy warships escorting vessels through the waterway", citing two U.S. officials. The uncertain details of the plan has done little to lower prices, which have climbed by about half since the conflict began."The market remains fragile because the plan's implementation is uncertain, and Kuwait's oil exports reportedly falling to zero underlines how severe the regional supply disruption has become," Saxo Bank wrote.