Oil prices extended hefty gains today as hopes for a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz fade, fanning fresh inflation fears and ramping up bets on at least one US interest rate hike this year.
Crude has surged around 10 per cent over the past week, with the United States and Iran appearing no closer to a deal on the crucial waterway despite upbeat comments from the White House earlier in the month, reports AFP.
Brent crude futures fell 10 cents, or 0.11%, to $87.62 a barrel by 0405 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 5 cents, or 0.06%, to $82.08 a barrel.
In the latest blow, Donald Trump said yesterday he would seek conflict compensation from Iran as part of any peace negotiations, citing attacks and killings stretching back decades allegedly backed or perpetrated by Tehran.
The US president’s announcement was a direct response to Tehran’s demand for US war reparations as a precondition to any resolution of the crisis.
Trump’s remarks came a day after he said he was “low-keying” his approach to the conflict, suggesting he was prepared to let economic pressure mount in place of further military strikes.
However, the latest back and forth risks putting a quick agreement further out of reach, and yesterday both main crude contracts jumped around five per cent. They extended the gains today.
“In the absence of any positive headlines on negotiations to reopen the strait, pressure on oil prices has been upward,” wrote Jason Wong at BNZ.
And Stephen Innes, global strategist at Quintex Intel, said: “In effect, both sides are trying to weaponise the oil barrel without firing another shot. Washington is trying to choke Iran’s ability to get its crude out, while Tehran is squeezing the artery through which everybody else’s crude gets through.
“It is quite the game of chicken.”
The prospect of oil prices remaining elevated for the time being has revived concerns over inflation and boosted the chances of interest rate increases.
While a surprise loss of more than 20,000 jobs in the US economy last month eased fears of a Federal Reserve hike, a spike in price pressures could force the bank’s hand.
Cleveland Fed boss Beth Hammack told Yahoo Finance on Monday: “I would say in general, one 25-basis-point move probably doesn’t do a whole lot for the economy.
“So it’s probably some number of (movements). But I don’t want to prejudge what that number is going to be.”
The US-Iran deadlock and rising crude costs come as traders await the release of consumer price data on Wednesday, which could play a key role in guiding the Fed on its next move.
Asian equities were mixed following a tepid day on Wall Street.
Shanghai, Wellington, Taipei and Manila all edged down, but there were gains in Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore and Seoul.
Tokyo was closed for a holiday.
Key Figures Around 0215 GMT
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.1 per cent at 25,946.16
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.5 per cent at 3,948.19
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for holiday
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.3 per cent at $82.40 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.3 per cent at $87.97 per barrel
Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1546 from $1.1543 on Monday
Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3512 from $1.3508
Dollar/yen: DOWN at 159.18 yen from 159.31 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 85.46 pence from 85.45 pence
New York – DOW: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 53,975.98 (close)
London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 per cent at 10,862.50 (close)
