Jordan
Long-Term Stock Investor, Compounding & Portfolio Construction
Renewed Ukraine and Iran tensions should push oil higher again. The Kobeissi Letter reports a Ukrainian strike on a major Russian oil terminal. Higher oil adds to last week's financing worries; even slight earnings weakness in the next few weeks could be disastrous for markets. A rally at the open would not surprise, though, as headlines shift quickly. x.comÂ
Oil transport and refining face renewed disruption risk, making crude oil look ready for another leg up. The Hormuz Letter relays an Iranian announcement that a tanker hit a naval mine while leaving the Strait of Hormuz; @news_9x says Ukraine vowed to destroy all Russian refineries. AP reports an official said a missile struck a passenger terminal in Riyadh. x.comÂ
An imminent Israeli strike on Iran puts Gulf oil infrastructure at unusually high risk over the next three months, supporting a near-term rise in crude oil. Large trades are betting on oil reaching $115 again. x.comÂ
Sustained high energy prices strain US farming, logistics, manufacturing and consumers, so crude oil should fall dramatically from its elevated level. Middle East and Russia tensions are lifting WTI, shown near $103, while Trump will likely step in at some point to reduce uncertainty. x.com x.comÂ
A possible US strike on Iran poses near-term upside risk for crude oil. If Trump expects to lose the midterms, he may act between Israel's October 27 election and the November 3 US vote. Crude has filled the $101 gap and reached the rising channel's midpoint; if it keeps breaking higher, the next levels are $105, $110 and the channel top near $115. x.comÂ
Crude oil looks set to rally sharply because yesterday's Russia-Ukraine deal was not the price-lowering move expected before the midterms. Trump's plans are unclear, but the anticipated pre-election relief now seems less likely; premium gasoline cost over $5 at one Texas pump yesterday. Middle East peace could still avert the rally. x.com x.comÂ
Crude oil's latest drop reflects real Gulf export capacity coming back, which erodes Iran's Hormuz leverage. Saudi Arabia resumed loadings at Yanbu, with the East-West Pipeline at 2-2.65m barrels a day and seen by Kpler rising to 3-4m soon. Saudi and UAE shuttle tankers under US escort have restored at least 60% of pre-war flows. The risk: Qatar's mediation is stuck, per Axios, and a squeezed Iran may escalate against ports, refineries, pipelines or Red Sea shipping. x.comÂ
Fears of US strikes on Iran could send crude oil to $200 quickly. FinanceLancelot reports that the USS Theodore Roosevelt is heading to the Middle East and says the move has revived concern that Trump will follow through on threats to hit Iran after the midterm elections. x.comÂ
Crude oil's supply damage would persist even if the wars in Russia and Iran ended, because infrastructure is destroyed and tankers are damaged. Diesel has broken resistance alongside US 30-year yields; without a collapse in diesel driven by a severe stock-market drop and unemployment, both are expected to keep rising, setting up a harsher eventual downturn. x.comÂ
Extreme bullishness about an oil shortage is a warning because oil has tended to return to around $50 within 12-18 months after such talk. Calls for a 'great oil repricing' appeared today, though they may not be widespread enough yet to mark the same setup. x.com x.comÂ
Oil stays above $80 well past the midterms because the supply problem persists despite peace headlines. Ships are still attacked near Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the UAE; a reported US strike on Iran's Konarak Naval Base ended nearly seven weeks without US strikes. There is nobody in Iran who can sign a deal and end the conflict. x.comÂ
