Know What's Happening in Commodities
Know What's Happening in Commodities
Spot oil prices hit record $144.46 as Brent futures tumble
Spot oil prices surged to a record $144.46 per barrel, the highest since the 2007‑08 rally, while Brent futures dropped to $95.20, a 13% decline. The spread between Dated Brent and futures widened to $35.87, reflecting tight prompt supply after Strait of Hormuz disruptions and optimism following a US‑Israel‑Iran cease‑fire.
Also developing:
By the numbers: IFC commits $5.25bn to back FQM's Taca Taca mining project
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the March Consumer Price Index at 8:30 a.m. ET, with analysts warning of a sharp rise driven by a 1% jump in oil prices to $98.6 per barrel amid fragile US‑Iran ceasefire talks. Futures markets are already reflecting the risk, while the Fed’s policy range stays at 3.50‑3.75%. The data could shape monetary policy and market sentiment this week.
U.S. headline inflation surged in March 2026, driven by a sharp rise in oil prices that lifted the all‑items CPI to its highest level since June 2022. Gasoline prices in Southern California peaked at $6.79 per gallon, a local record...
The Central Bank of Argentina’s latest REM survey lifted the median 2026 inflation forecast to 29.1%, a 3.1‑point jump driven by the Iran‑related oil price surge. The revision threatens the country’s recent disinflation gains and adds pressure on the peso,...
Italy's parliament voted to postpone the permanent shutdown of its last coal‑fired power stations until 2038, up from the 2025/2028 deadlines set in 2017. The move, tied to a confidence vote, reflects soaring gas prices and a desire to keep...
Investors sold roughly 8,600 Brent and U.S. crude futures contracts – a $950 million short position – just hours before President Trump announced a two‑week US‑Iran ceasefire. The trade helped drive crude prices down about 15%, sparking debate over market manipulation...
U.S. Gulf Coast crude exports are set to reach a record 5 million barrels per day in May, up sharply from roughly 3.97 million in March. Asian refiners are snapping up the cargoes to replace Middle Eastern supply disruptions, prompting a surge...
The April 2026 edition of the North American Oil Data Deck, a 47‑page subscription‑only report, details upstream and downstream activity across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The deck shows petroleum liquids output slipped more than 1 MMbpd month‑over‑month, pulling total production...
Base oil markets remain under pressure despite the US‑Iran ceasefire announced on April 7. Group III spot prices have more than doubled in the United States and risen 70 % in Europe, reflecting the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which blocks...
Petrol and diesel prices in the UK have surged as Middle East supply disruptions push global oil costs higher. Consumers face record pump prices, prompting accusations of profiteering and calls for government action. The article evaluates three policy options—price caps,...
Fastmarkets announced the launch of two new ex‑works China graphite‑flake price benchmarks after a one‑month consultation that closed on April 6. The indices cover 94% carbon flake at –100 mesh and +80 mesh, with a minimum reporting size of 20 tonnes. Prices...
The National Freshfood (NFF) Horticulture Council has sent an open letter to Australia’s major supermarket chains urging them to accept cost‑reflective price increases from fresh‑produce growers. Rising fuel, levy and freight surcharges – in some cases up to 65% of...
Gold’s price rally has dominated mining headlines over the past year, prompting heightened exploration and production activity across the sector. Mining Magazine’s weekly newsletter underscores this trend while promoting its suite of premium research, including the 2026 Future Fleets Insights,...
Corn, soybeans and wheat traded in mixed directions as market consolidation persisted, with traders positioning ahead of the upcoming monthly WASDE report and the weekend. Geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, especially the ongoing Israel‑Lebanon clashes and Iran’s actions, has...
Midas Discovery (MIDSX), a gold‑mining focused mutual fund, delivered a staggering 196% return in 2023 and is up 11.5% through March 2024 as gold prices surged. The metal has rallied 125% year‑to‑date, buoyed by geopolitical risk, a weakening dollar, record...
Oil prices surged toward the $100 level as doubts grew over a fragile cease‑fire between the United States, Iran and Israel. On April 9 U.S. crude jumped 6.8% to $100.79 a barrel while Brent rose 3.7% to $98.24, still well above...
China’s long‑haul trucking sector faces a sharp earnings squeeze as diesel prices jump 26% to about $4.60 per gallon. Drivers like Zhuang Wenxi say fuel alone now costs over $580 per fill, threatening the livelihood of the nation’s 38 million truckers...
European equities retreated Thursday, with Germany's DAX down 1.1% and France's CAC 40 off 0.2%, after doubts surfaced over the two‑week US‑Iran ceasefire. Traders cited the risk of renewed Strait of Hormuz closures, higher oil prices and lingering inflation pressures...
NORTH SEA FORTIES crude prices closed at a record $147 per barrel on April 9. Forties is one of the principal streams in the Brent complex and prices have doubled since before the war between the United States and Iran...
Oil prices surged toward the $100 mark after doubts resurfaced about the two‑week US‑Iran ceasefire, with Brent at $99.3 and WTI at $101.5 per barrel. Traders cite a still‑closed Strait of Hormuz, Israeli strikes in Lebanon and mixed signals from...
OP IS reported a modest dip in the FOB China TOPCon spot price to $0.119/W, down 0.83% amid post‑Lunar New Year slowdown. The decline follows China’s removal of export tax rebates on PV products effective April 1, prompting manufacturers to absorb higher...
A new analysis by Brown University researchers estimates that the Iran‑Israel war has cost the United States about $17 billion in higher gasoline and diesel prices. The price shock translates to roughly $129 extra per household, with diesel accounting for nearly...
Gold is poised for a third consecutive weekly gain after edging lower on Friday, with spot prices at $4,748.31 per ounce and June futures at $4,772.17. The rally is driven by a two‑week U.S.–Iran cease‑fire agreement and reduced expectations of...
Oil prices rose on Friday but remain on track for the steepest weekly decline since June 2025 as traders await U.S. rig‑count data and the outcome of U.S.–Iran diplomatic talks. Brent hovered near $98 a barrel and WTI at $99.85,...
Japan announced it will release an additional 20 days' worth of strategic oil reserves beginning in May, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at a cabinet meeting. The release follows earlier drawdowns aimed at stabilizing domestic fuel prices amid heightened global...
Zimbabwe’s lithium sector is losing $300‑$400 per tonne to Australian rivals because of under‑declared grades, undervalued shipments and transfer‑pricing that divert profits abroad. In February 2026 the Mines Minister imposed an outright ban on raw lithium concentrate exports, demanding verification...
U.S. diesel prices surged to an average $5.64 per gallon in April, up from $3.76 before the U.S.-Israel conflict, pushing fuel costs for truckers and freight carriers higher. The spike inflates per‑mile operating expenses, squeezes carrier margins and fuels broader...
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has launched a task‑force to curb oil‑product bottlenecks, directing major refiners such as Eneos, Idemitsu and Cosmo Oil to supply critical facilities directly. The government mandates that monthly volumes match the same...
Hecla Mining Company (HL) received a Buy rating as analysts anticipate a sustained silver deficit through 2026, which should lift prices. The firm projects 15.1‑16.5 million ounces of silver output next year, driven by low‑cost North American mines that generate strong...
Oil futures on the NYMEX are trading below $100 per barrel, while spot prices for immediate delivery to Asia and the Middle East sit between $126 and $140. The $30‑$40 premium reflects supply constraints caused by Iran’s restriction of the...
Oil prices rose for a second consecutive session as fresh supply‑risk concerns in the Middle East kept Brent near $96 per barrel. Attacks on Saudi and Kuwaiti infrastructure have tightened the market, preserving a geopolitical risk premium despite cease‑fire talks....
U.S. food prices remain 25‑30% above pre‑pandemic levels even as consumer demand eases, breaking the traditional price‑volume link. Cereal and snack categories illustrate the paradox: prices for family‑size boxes now sit between $6 and $8 while sales volumes decline. Companies...
A two‑week US‑Iran cease‑fire announced on April 7 triggered a 13% drop in Brent crude, pulling prices to about $93 per barrel. Oxford Economics still expects a two‑month closure of the Strait of Hormuz followed by lingering disruptions, forecasting a 0.8%...
This isn’t just about oil. It’s a shift in the entire system. Energy → food → cost of living When energy moves structurally higher, everything built on top of it follows. That means: Higher food prices More pressure on households Less margin for error And a move away...
Gold prices hovered around $4,762 per ounce after a cease‑fire in the Iran conflict eased short‑term panic but left the market divided. Metals Focus highlighted Turkey’s massive 131‑tonne gold sell‑off in March as likely temporary, citing past patterns of rebuilding...
Chinese authorities have announced that China will not be allowed to export sulphuric acid from next month, with the only exception being electronic‑grade sulphuric acid. This means that neither smelter acid nor sulphur‑based acid can be exported will be able...
MCX crude oil futures jumped over 3% on Friday, opening at ₹9,200 per barrel (≈$111) as international markets reacted to supply worries in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the rally, Brent and WTI have each fallen 11% this week, the...
Australian Wagyu feeder cattle prices have remained remarkably stable, with F1 × Angus steers trading around 520‑530 cents per kilogram despite the looming 55% tariff on beef exports to China and ongoing Middle‑East tensions. Supply‑chain surveys show higher‑grade F4‑Purebreds at 540‑570 c/kg and full‑bloods...
Oil prices extended gains for a second day as Saudi Arabia’s crude‑export capacity fell roughly 600,000 barrels per day after attacks on its energy infrastructure and a strike on the East‑West pipeline cut another 700,000 barrels. Brent hovered around $96...
Oil Prices Rise $1 Amid Strait of Hormuz Disruption Both Brent and WTI crude oil prices advanced by $1 per barrel as traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route remains nearly halted, impacting global oil supply chains.
USDA confirms the following U.S. export sales for delivery in 2025/26: ▪️100,000 metric tons of soybean meal to Italy ▪️125,640 metric tons of corn to unknown destinations
-Gasoline CPI up the most on record -Supercore CPI MoM +0.18%, now 3.14% YoY h/t @livesquack @macromicrome
Biggest monthly rise in the gas index component of CPI since 1967 - up 21.2%. The fuel oil component is up 30% https://t.co/3U67sTDxMt https://t.co/HDIylsibXc
India is delaying maintenance on its coal power plants because of a gas supply crunch 🇮🇳 ⚠️ India’s LNG imports have dropped because of the war in the Middle East And with hot summer weather coming fast, India needs more coal...
😬Known info but still a stunning #IranWar #LNG graphic via the IMF's wider analysis of the war's impact. Link in next post. https://t.co/KokCb7gPBa
"$4 gasoline looks like it’s here to stay" (for a while, at least) https://t.co/J5FTsSS3ko "The more refiners have to pay for crude deliveries, the more they have to charge for fuel, even if contracts for future oil shipments are cheap by...
Iran didn’t just hit barrels—it hit the workaround. ~700K bpd knocked out of the Saudi bypass pipeline and ~600K bpd off production Both flow and supply are under pressure. That’s how chokepoints turn into pricing power. https://t.co/8MpkdDc8Q3 #Oil #Energy #Hormuz
European wholesale natural gas (TTF) and power prices (Germany) are heading toward a 1-month low. The German 1-year forward electricity contract is now at the same level it was back in November. Meanwhile, TTF gas is at the level it...
Since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Libya's oil production has stabilized at ~1.3 million barrels/day and the price has SOARED. As night follows day, the Libyan dinar APPRECIATED by 27% vs. the USD. https://t.co/5PPdIEUYSV
Food shock? Food crisis? Well, the price of the world’s most important staples for food security (wheat and rice) is now below pre-war levels. From Feb 27, wheat 🥖 is down ~1% while rice 🍚 is down ~2%. And yes,...
Goldman on what a 10% increase in natural gas prices means for inflation > https://t.co/RDkqRBzqV2
