Today's Commodities Pulse
UK energy bills surge to two‑year high as Europe feels shock from Iran conflict
UK households are set to face their deepest‑unwelcome energy bill increase in two years as wholesale prices climb amid the Iran‑related war. Analysts say the conflict will push household energy costs higher for the first time across Europe.
Also developing:
By the numbers: M Battery Materials acquires graphite assets for $20M
International Business Briefs | Nigerians Face 65% Surge in Fuel Prices
Fuel prices in Nigeria have surged 65% as the newly built 650,000‑bpd Dangote refinery failed to offset market pressures from costly crude imports and debt‑linked export obligations. In the UK, mortgage approvals rose to 62,584 in February, outpacing forecasts, while consumer credit growth accelerated to an 8.5% annual rate. Britain also imposed a £390,000 (≈ $495,000) fine on Apple Distribution International for violating Russia sanctions. Additionally, China’s DeepSeek AI chatbot experienced a seven‑hour outage, highlighting reliability challenges in emerging generative‑AI services.
Silver Jumps ₹7,000, Gold Rises ₹3,700 on Wedding Season Demand
Precious metals rallied in Delhi on March 30, with silver jumping ₹7,000 (≈ $74) to ₹2.37 lakh per kilogram and gold rising ₹3,700 (≈ $39) to ₹1.51 lakh per 10 grams. The surge, about 3 % for silver and 2.5 % for gold, was driven by jewellers stocking...
Stagflation Looms as US GDP Slows to 0.7% and Inflation Stays Above 3%
U.S. economic data released this week showed fourth‑quarter GDP growth revised down to 0.7% and consumer‑price inflation still running above 3% in January. Combined with soaring oil prices and rising Treasury yields, analysts warn the economy may be slipping into...
Investment Banks Keep Deal Flow Alive as Iran Conflict Fuels Energy Shock
Bloomberg says major investment banks continued to execute mergers, acquisitions and capital‑raising transactions despite the Iran‑Israel war driving oil above $100 a barrel and cutting Qatar LNG output by 17%. The resilience underscores the sector’s strategic role as markets grapple...
Gold Climbs to $4,500 as Iran Conflict Reaches Fifth Week
Gold rebounded to above $4,500 an ounce on Monday, marking a 1.3% rise after a 14% slide since the Iran conflict erupted in late February. The metal had previously peaked at $5,602 in January, then plunged to $4,100 before recovering....
Asian Stocks Plunge as Brent Hits $115, Iran Conflict Fuels Risk Aversion
Asian equity markets tumbled on Monday as Brent crude surged to $115 a barrel, the highest monthly level on record. The Nikkei 225 fell 4.5%, South Korea’s Kospi slipped 3.2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 1.7%, reflecting heightened risk...
Lower Natural Gas Prices Lift U.S. Power Burn as Texas, Rockies Flip to Growth Mode
Natural gas‑fired power generation rose 7% year‑over‑year in March, bringing total output back to 2025 levels. The rebound was driven by a sharp decline in natural gas prices, which restored the fuel's cost competitiveness despite the mildest March weather in...
Oil Prices Jump After Trump Says He Could ‘Blow up’ Iran’s Power Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island if Deal...
President Donald Trump warned he would destroy Iran’s power plants, oil wells and the Kharg Island export hub unless a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is reached, sparking a sharp rally in crude markets. Front‑month Brent May futures...
Your Bottle Of Olive Oil Just Got Caught In A War Zone
The Iran war has turned the olive‑oil supply chain into a geopolitical liability, adding fuel‑price pressure, a 15% EU tariff and Red Sea shipping disruptions. The United States, which imports over 95% of its 380,000‑ton annual consumption, faces higher freight...
Low German Middle Distillate Demand Encourages Exports
Southwestern Germany’s oversupplied middle‑distillate market is prompting traders to export diesel and heating oil down the Rhine to the Amsterdam‑Rotterdam‑Antwerp (ARA) hub. Regional heating‑oil prices in Karlsruhe were about €13 per 100 L (≈$14) below the national average, while diesel discounts...
What the Current Oil Crisis Means for Your Money (And an Asset Class Most Physicians Don’t Know About)
The U.S. and Israel’s recent strike on Iran prompted Tehran to shut the Strait of Hormuz, halting roughly 20% of global oil shipments and pushing crude above $120 a barrel. Higher oil prices quickly feed inflation, lift mortgage rates and...
Why Food Prices Are Resisting the Oil and Fertiliser Shock — for Now
Food price inflation has stayed modest even as oil prices have surged over 50% this year and global fertilizer costs have jumped roughly 70%. The rise in input costs has been partially absorbed by farmers through larger inventories, cheaper alternative...
Renewable Intermittency Solved; Gas Supply Shocks Devastate Markets
Everyone keeps talking about intermittency. Let me show you two kinds. Wind and solar output varies hourly. It follows weather patterns that we can forecast days in advance. It has a well-understood distribution. We have storage, interconnection, demand response, and decades...
Ferroglobe May Halt Operations if Not Afforded Reduced Electricity Tariffs
Ferroglobe South Africa warned it could shut all smelters if reduced electricity tariffs are not secured by 1 April. Electricity costs have surged more than 900% since 2007, now exceeding 50% of production expenses and eroding profitability. CEO Marco Levi said...
TotalEnergies Made $1bn Profit From Middle East Oil Bet as War Disrupts Prices
TotalEnergies earned over $1 bn (€868 m) profit by snapping up roughly 70 Middle East crude cargoes in March as war‑related disruptions choked the Strait of Hormuz. The profit stemmed from a sudden narrowing of the Dubai crude benchmark after S&P Global Platts suspended...
Congress Targets Tax Relief for Rare Earths as China Tightens Export Controls
U.S. lawmakers have introduced the Critical Minerals Investment Tax Modernization Act, which would lift the depletion allowance for domestically mined rare earth elements and scandium from 14% to 22%. The move is a direct response to Beijing’s April 2025 export...
Jet Fuel Prices Double, Asian Markets Hit Hard
JET FUEL prices have more than doubled since the onset of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran. Jet fuel swaps in Singapore are trading at more than $200 per barrel up from just over $90 before the...
White Van Men ‘Bleeding Cash’ in Iran War Diesel Chaos
Diesel prices in the UK have risen to 179.9p per litre (about $2.25), up more than 35p since the Iran‑Israel conflict began, creating the widest diesel‑petrol price gap in decades. The RAC reports that over 4.6 million vans – the backbone...
MAS Poised to Tighten Singdollar Policy in April as Oil Prices Surge 60% Month
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is expected to tighten its exchange‑rate policy in April, targeting a stronger Singapore dollar to offset a 60% monthly rise in Brent crude to $115.58. Analysts warn the move could dampen export competitiveness as...
South Asia’s Energy‑Import Dependence Heightens Risk as Oil Hits $200
S&P Global Ratings flagged Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the most exposed South Asian economies to soaring oil prices that have surged toward $200 a barrel. The warning comes as the region grapples with fuel‑rationing measures, soaring inflation and...
Middle East Conflict Tightens Global Oil Markets, Raising Supply‑Risk Concerns
Rising hostilities in the Middle East have constricted crude oil and LNG flows, prompting analysts to warn of tighter supplies and higher prices. Airlines and downstream users face inventory stress as the conflict threatens key shipping lanes, while commodity traders...
Asia May Shift to Coal, Accelerate Renewables, Cut Gas
“If you’re sitting in Asia, going through this again, it’s possible you change your strategy long term — rely more on coal for longer, build out your renewables faster and reduce your exposure to natural gas.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-29/iran-war-s-gas-supply-shock-pushes-top-consumers-back-to-coal
The Severity of the Situation.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut roughly 11 million barrels of oil per day, creating the largest supply shock since the 1973 embargo and pushing prices toward $200 a barrel. Asian nations are already hoarding fuel and imposing...
Fuel on the Fire
The episode examines how the escalating Iran‑Houthi conflict is driving oil prices above $100 per barrel and triggering a sharp market sell‑off. It highlights the G7 finance ministers' meeting, where they will discuss measures such as cutting fuel duties to...
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge: Why Has Safe-Haven Demand Faded Amid Iran War?
Gold prices have slumped about 25% from their record $5,602 (≈€4,873) peak to around $4,500 (≈€3,915) despite the ongoing Iran war, as a stronger US dollar and rising Treasury yields eroded safe‑haven appeal. The drop triggered a rapid unwind of...
Why High Oil Prices Could Plunge World Into Recession by the Summer
Economists warn that a sustained oil price of $150 per barrel, driven by escalating US‑Israel‑Iran tensions, could push the global economy into a rare mid‑year recession. Brent crude already breached $116, reflecting heightened war risk and supply concerns. Oxford Economics...
Managing Volatile Energy Prices: How DERMS Give C&I Customers More Control
Commercial electricity prices have jumped 19% since 2019, reaching 12.8 cents per kilowatt‑hour, while industrial rates hit 8.1 cents/kWh, driving unprecedented cost volatility for C&I firms. Traditional procurement and efficiency measures no longer shield margins, prompting a shift toward Distributed Energy Resource...
They Say Farmers Are Underpaid. So Why Does Cheaper Cocoa Bring Such Relief?
The cocoa market has swung from record highs—above $4,000 per metric ton—to a sharp decline, leaving Ghanaian and Ivorian farmers unpaid for delivered beans. While chocolate makers scramble to cut margins, shrink bar sizes, or substitute ingredients, smallholder growers remain...
Gold Falls as Houthi Attack Lifts Oil, Fed Rate-Cut Hopes Dim
Gold prices slipped on Monday, with spot gold falling 0.6% to $4,466.99 per ounce, marking a 15% monthly decline—the sharpest since October 2008. The drop was driven by a surge in energy prices after a Houthi attack, which lifted Brent...
EVs Were Meant to Bypass Oil. Now They’re Stuck at the Strait of Hormuz
Electric vehicles rely heavily on Gulf‑sourced aluminum, but the U.S.–Iran conflict has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, forcing major smelters in Bahrain and Qatar to cut or halt output. Toyota and Nissan have already trimmed production by roughly 40,000 units,...
The New Baseline
The ongoing war in Iran has morphed from a geopolitical flashpoint into a structural supply‑chain shock. Tehran’s continued control of the Strait of Hormuz, and the risk of spill‑over into the Bab al‑Mandeb, is tightening energy flows and inflating oil...
South Korea Considers Nationwide Driving Curbs as Oil Prices Soar
South Korea is weighing a nationwide driving‑curb policy if global crude oil prices climb to roughly $120‑$130 per barrel, up from the current $100‑$110 range. The measure would extend the current public‑sector vehicle rotation system, marking the first country‑wide restriction...
Gold Futures Increase on Spot Demand
Gold futures climbed 0.78% on Monday, reaching $4,528.23 per ounce in New York. In India, spot demand pushed the price of gold on the Multi‑Commodity Exchange to ₹1,44,800 per 10 grams, a ₹518 (0.36%) increase for April contracts. The rally was driven...
Al Taweelah Outage Threatens UAE Aluminium, Bauxite, Freight Markets
Al Taweelah smelter damage raises new risks for UAE aluminium supply, bauxite flows, and Gulf freight markets. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/al-taweelah-smelter-damage-raises-new.html
Energy Price Surge Set to Push US CPI Above 3%
For most of the past three years, falling energy prices had been helping to push the US inflation rate (CPI) lower. But that tailwind will soon become a headwind, with prices of Oil and Gas spiking on a YoY basis. CPI...
Yields Climb, Stocks Slip Despite Oil and VIX Peaks
i'm still looking at March 9th, 2026... 🧐 crude oil peaked... volatility $VIX peaked... but 10-year yields $TNX ignored oil/VIX & still rising... and stocks $SPX ignored oil/VIX & still falling... https://t.co/8DK3OPCAJa
Oil Rises While Rate‑Hike
Oil up across the curve the past week and rate hike odds contracting in the back half of that oil rise feels ominous
Lithium Rebound Lifts Aussie Producers, but Fuel Costs Threaten Gains
Observing the rebound in lithium prices and its positive effect on Australian producers. That said, the rising fuel costs could well offset any gains this quarter.
Jet Fuel Surge Threatens Airline Profits, Spurs Fare Hikes
🇺🇸 ✈️ United: Jet fuel prices have more than doubled in three weeks, if continues, annual fuel bill would exceed $11 billion (more than double its best-ever annual profit) New York–London fares up 177% (week-on-week) 📈 🇺🇸✈️ Delta: $400 million hit due...
2026 U.S. Corn Plantings Dip yet Stay Above Average
🇺🇸 2026 U.S. corn plantings are seen sharply lower year-over-year but still well above average. Soy area is seen up 5%. USDA's Tuesday report will shed more light. 💡Fun fact: The corn estimates (avg, hi & lo) are nearly identical to...
Asian LNG Buyers Turn to Coal Amid Shipment Cuts
"With a cutoff in shipments imminent, Asian countries, the biggest importers of liquefied natural gas from the Middle East, are already burning more coal and reducing consumption." https://t.co/U74LIL7DHC "the entire concept of L.N.G. being a reliable fuel is undermined," 😔 https://t.co/mYeNrKdiYC
LNG Shortage Threatens Coal Decline, Nations Reopen Plants
The LNG supply crunch puts at risk forecasts that coal consumption will begin to fall this decade 🇩🇪 Germany is considering restarting mothballed coal-fired plants 🇯🇵 Japan will expand use of less efficient coal plants 🇰🇷 Korea may exit its own...
Strait Closure Will Trigger Oil Price Spike, Curb Consumption
“The world still hasn’t grasped the severity of the situation…If the strait stays closed, the world will have to significantly reduce its oil and gas consumption – but not before prices spike to a level that forces consumers and businesses...
Europe Faces Imminent Jet Fuel Shortage, Airlines Warned
Also - a serious jet fuel shortage is less than a week away across multiple different markets, including at some major European airport hubs - who are informing airlines to prepare for a potential ‘no-fuel available here’ scenario
Historic Oil Supply Shock Marks One Month, Crisis Looms
The biggest oil supply shock in history has reached the one-month mark And the energy industry is warning that the crisis is only beginning 👇⚠️ https://t.co/AZ661hxNtt https://t.co/HF3YvOdLZx
Oil's Calm Surge Ends: Volatility Looms Ahead
why oil price rises have been so orderly so far, and why that is about to change.. https://t.co/TAIdkwIkdQ
War‑Driven Oil Shortage Forces Demand Destruction
COLUMN: Five weeks into the Third Gulf War, the math of oil-barrel counting is intractable: The world is short of the black stuff. Enter demand destruction. @Opinion https://t.co/Y2DPUcHM8s
Oil Price Surge Drives Markets to Four‑month Low
JUST IN: Markets dropped to a four-month trough as the oil price surge unnerved traders.
Trump, Iran Tensions Spike Oil Prices
JUST IN: Trump's Strait of Hormuz warning and Iran's counter-threats are making oil prices jumpy.
Goldman Sachs Lifts 2026 Brent Forecast to $85
JUST IN: Goldman Sachs now sees Brent crude averaging $85 a barrel in 2026, an $8 increase to their prior forecast.