The Few Bets That Matter
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Crude oil is set to stay more expensive for longer because the supply chain disruption from the Iran conflict is real and will not be fixed soon. Its effects are already visible in Europe and likely in Asia. Even a supply shock lasting only a few weeks would take months or quarters to reverse, feeding global inflation and possibly rate hikes. The longer the situation lasts, the more pain and the longer the repair. x.comÂ
Crude oil should stay elevated until there is a firm deal on the Strait of Hormuz, because a war, unlike tariffs, cannot be undone with a single social-media post. A deal may come soon but could take a while. Meanwhile bond markets are pricing higher inflation and no Fed cuts for much of 2026; only a peace deal with Iran and the strait's reopening would change that backdrop. x.com 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
Crude oil should fall back into the $60s and likely well below over time once the Iran war is resolved. Middle East producers are overproducing but cannot export the barrels, so when the Strait fully reopens they will flood the market. Oil tried to break down from its trend line but was rejected, and bigger resolution news is likely needed to push it much lower. Cheaper oil would remove current inflation fears, setting up a deflationary boom. x.com x.comÂ
Crude oil's safety buffer is draining at a record pace, so the next supply shock will hit a market with far less protection. The Iran war and near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz have removed over 1 billion barrels of supply, and Morgan Stanley estimates stockpiles fell about 4.8 million barrels a day from March 1 to April 25, a record. A record 400 million barrels of emergency reserves have been pledged, and inventories are near 2018 lows. Even if Hormuz reopens, restocking will add demand. … Show more
Crude oil should stay severely elevated into 2027 because the Iran war is expected to run well into spring with no deal. That outlook comes with expected Fed hikes of 50bps, more chop or another deep correction in stock indexes in 2026 and an even bigger selloff in high-beta names. These predictions could be wrong. x.comÂ
Oil will come down significantly, because Trump will eventually make a deal with Iran and put the conflict to bed. 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
Crude oil could climb past $150 because the Strait of Hormuz closure is blocking 20 million barrels a day and Iran is more determined than Trump assumes. Oil has already gone from $70 to $120 in three weeks, gasoline is up $1 a gallon in four weeks, and fertilizer is up 43%. The Fed cannot cut and might even hike, and Goldman puts recession odds at 25% and climbing. x.comÂ
Oil prices should drop further as the Iran conflict winds down, which will likely make the Fed more dovish. x.comÂ
Oil should already be near $120 because Saudi Arabia, Europe's major oil source, is going offline for an indefinite period. Houthi strikes have repeatedly hit Aramco's facilities at Yanbu, per a report, and it is naive to think Saudi can repair the damage without being attacked again. x.comÂ
