-- 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.