Trump Lit the Fuse. Now Gas Prices Are Exploding
Gasoline prices in the United States jumped from $2.98 to $3.58 per gallon within two weeks, with California hitting $5.40. The surge follows a series of geopolitical shocks tied to former President Trump’s foreign‑policy moves, including renewed sanctions on Russian oil and heightened Middle‑East tensions. Tightened supply and rising Brent crude have amplified the price spike, pushing inflation higher. Analysts warn the rally could persist if policy‑driven uncertainty remains.
Daily Memo: Oil Markets and Shipping Disruptions
The International Energy Agency’s member states voted unanimously to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency strategic reserves, a move that more than doubles the 182 million‑barrel drawdown in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. The sizable release is intended to...
Ex-Goldman Commodity King Warns 'No Policy Response Can Meaningfully Reverse Oil Prices'
Jeff Currie, former head of commodity research at Goldman Sachs, warned that the ongoing disruption of the Strait of Hormuz makes oil prices virtually unstoppable in the near term, and no policy response—such as strategic petroleum reserve releases or government...
Natural Gas Prices Weekly Update – JKM, TTF and Henry Hub (9 March 2026)
Natural gas benchmarks jumped sharply in early March as Middle‑East tensions disrupted LNG supplies. The Asian JKM spot price surged to the low‑$20s/MMBtu, while Europe’s TTF rose to $18.1/MMBtu and the U.S. Henry Hub reached $3.2/MMBtu. The spikes were driven...
Middle East War Intensifies, IEA Proposes a Coordinated Release of Strategic Reserves, G7 to Consider
The Middle East war intensified with three tankers attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the International Energy Agency to propose a coordinated release of 300‑400 million barrels from strategic reserves. The G7 will discuss the plan, which dwarfs the 180 million‑barrel...
EU Considers Gas Price Cap to Reduce Bills
The European Commission is evaluating a gas‑price cap to dilute gas’s influence on electricity pricing across the bloc, as announced by President Ursula von der Leyen. The measure is intended to curb soaring power bills for households and industry. Critics...
From Leverage to Dependence: Russia's Gas Sector Four Years After the Invasion
Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow’s gas strategy has shifted from dominating Europe to seeking new markets amid a severe EU storage shortfall. The EU’s gas inventories sit at just 30 % of capacity, prompting a short‑term reconsideration of...
Buying Time Till Iran Surrenders
Tomorrow the 32 International Energy Agency members will vote on a proposal to tap up to 400 million barrels from their strategic petroleum reserves, a release larger than the 240‑million‑barrel drawdown after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The IEA holds 1.8 billion...
From Toilet Paper to Diesel: Are We Creating the Shortage?
Australia’s diesel imports remain strong, with about 5.8 million tonnes expected by the end of March 2026 – the second‑largest first‑quarter volume on record. Real‑time tanker tracking from LSEG Vessel Explorer captures roughly 90 % of these shipments, confirming that physical supply...
The G-7 SPR Bluff: Why 300 to 400 Million Barrels Changes Nothing
The G‑7 is debating a coordinated release of 300‑400 million barrels from IEA strategic petroleum reserves to mitigate the Hormuz supply crisis. Historical draw‑down rates have never exceeded about 2 million barrels per day, meaning the release would cover only a fraction...
Diesel Nears $5 per Gallon National Average as Spot Van, Reefer Rates Retract
Diesel prices jumped nearly a dollar, with the EIA reporting a national average of $4.86 per gallon for the week ending March 9, the highest level since December 2022 and approaching the $5 mark. California remained the costliest market at $6.10 per...
Consus Ag Consulting Afternoon Wrap Up
After a weaker overnight session, the market opened mixed with grains under pressure and soybeans gaining. Soy products rallied, driven by speculation that soybean balance sheets may tighten enough to trigger rationing. Grain prices were weighed down by divergent global...
What If the Iran War Ended Today? How Long Before Oil Is Normal?
An analyst cited by the Wall Street Journal estimates that if the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran ended today, shipping traffic in the Persian Gulf would normalize in about two weeks and oil production would return to pre‑war levels within two...
Gasoline Prices Spike, Now up 25% Since January, Diesel Prices 40%, Heating up Inflation
Gasoline prices jumped 25% since the January low, reaching $3.63 per gallon—the highest level since June 2024, while diesel surged 40% to $4.86, its highest since October 2022. The spike is driven largely by station profit‑margin adjustments rather than a supply crunch,...
LNG Shipping Rates Surge 600% as Hormuz Risk Reshapes Global Gas Flows
Geopolitical tension in the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a dramatic spike in spot LNG charter rates, soaring 600% to about $300,000 per day, the highest since the 2022 gas crisis. Analysts estimate a potential 20% reduction in global LNG...
Oil Sinks, Asian Markets Rally, as Trump Says War Will End ‘Soon’
President Donald Trump’s claim that the U.S.–Israel‑Iran war will end soon helped reverse a sharp oil rally, pulling Brent crude down more than 7% to around $92 a barrel. Iran vowed to halt all Gulf oil exports, while attacks on...
☕ Morning Briefing — Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Oil markets saw a dramatic intraday swing, spiking to nearly $120 per barrel before plunging over 30% to the low $80s as fears of an Iran‑related supply shock receded. The Department of Justice charged two Pennsylvania men with an ISIS‑inspired...
Consus Ag Consulting AM Market Brief
Futures across several markets, including agriculture, opened weaker as energy prices corrected following President Trump’s remarks that the Iran conflict may be winding down. Crude fell nearly $8 per barrel amid expectations of strategic reserve releases and possible easing of...
The Oil Price
Oil is trading at just 26% of its 1950 post‑war real value, making it exceptionally cheap despite a nominal price that has multiplied 38 times since then. The only period it was cheaper in real terms was during the Covid‑19...
Cocoa’s Rebound Still Sits Inside a Bear Market
ICE May cocoa futures surged nearly 12% this week, climbing from $2,888 to $3,230 per tonne, marking one of the sharpest recoveries after a prolonged liquidation phase. The rally was driven primarily by short‑covering and logistical disruptions rather than fundamental...
Market Morsel: Making the Most of Wheat Market Volatility
The piece highlights a shift from a tranquil 2025 wheat market to renewed volatility driven by the Middle Eastern conflict. It outlines how weather, geopolitics, trade policy and speculative capital historically cause rapid price swings in grain markets. Seasonal harvest...
2026 Q2 Contract Prices Jump Further … Especially in NSW
Australian Q2 electricity contract prices surged this week, with the New South Wales (NSW) market showing the sharpest increase. The rise follows the onset of the Middle East conflict, which analysts say is filtering through to Australian energy pricing. ez2view...
Beef Processors Push Hard as Cattle Flow Shifts
Cattle yarding and processing indices rebounded sharply in February 2026 after the typical January lull, but the recovery was uneven across regions. New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania returned to near‑full capacity, while Queensland’s yardings lagged despite a...
Global Cattle Pricing Update
The March 2026 global cattle price review shows the United States firmly ahead, with heavy‑steer values at 761¢/kg live weight. Australia’s prices have surged 30% year‑on‑year to 443¢/kg, while Argentina has climbed to 468¢/kg, now slightly above Australian levels. Brazil remains...
Oil Prices Plunge as Trump Signals Iran War Nearing End
U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks that the conflict with Iran is “very complete” sent oil markets tumbling. Crude futures dropped about 6.9%, settling at $84.62 a barrel, the steepest decline in weeks. Trump claimed U.S. forces had neutralized Iranian naval...
Roy Bonnell Says Allied Critical Metals’ Borralha Tungsten Project Shows Billion-Dollar Potential as Western Supply Tightens
Allied Critical Metals released a Preliminary Economic Assessment for its Borralha tungsten project in northern Portugal, estimating an after‑tax NPV of $706.4 million at a $1,500 per metric tonne WO₃ price and $91 million initial capital for an 11‑year mine life. CEO...
The Global Week Ahead
Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel as the Iran‑US‑Israel conflict intensifies, leaving the Strait of Hormuz gridlocked. G7 finance ministers are meeting to discuss a coordinated release of strategic oil reserves, while the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank...
The Good News? Crude Oil Is -16% Off the high.The Bad News? It Is 10% Higher on the Day
G7 finance ministers said they will keep monitoring oil markets and stand ready to release strategic petroleum reserves if needed. Crude oil peaked at $119.48, fell to $96.24, and now trades near $100. The price is 16% lower than its...
Finding the Floor
The Middle East conflict triggered the biggest one‑week jump in oil prices on record, pushing WTI crude above $92 a barrel. At the same time, U.S. economic data revealed the worst monthly job loss since the pandemic, with 92,000 positions...
The Oil Shock Arrives
Oil futures surged nearly 20% on Monday, with Brent touching $111 and WTI $106, the highest levels since 2022. The spike follows the abrupt closure of the Strait of Hormuz, cutting roughly 20% of global oil and gas shipments. Asian...
Price Controls Arrive: South Korea, Taiwan Impose Fuel Price Cap
South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung announced the first fuel‑price cap in three decades as Brent crude breached $100 a barrel amid the Middle East conflict. Taiwan’s government simultaneously introduced a weekly cap limiting gasoline price hikes to roughly 5%, far...
High Input Costs Don’t Guarantee High Grain Prices
A review of CBOT wheat futures from 1990‑2022 shows that the price at seeding is a weak guide to harvest price, with an average swing of $42 per tonne in either direction. Harvest prices exceeded seeding prices in 20 of...
Brent Prompt Futures Open at +$108
Brent prompt futures opened above $108 per barrel on NYMEX, marking a notable price surge. The rally is driven by OPEC+ output cuts, lingering Middle East tensions, and a weakening dollar that favors commodities. Analysts warn the $108 level could...
(Public- No Paywall) Oil Prices Could Rise to Unprecedented Levels- Anas Alhajji On Iran War Economics
Anas Alhajji warns that the escalating Iran war could push oil prices to unprecedented levels, potentially driving Brent above $120 per barrel. He cites a likely sharp reduction in Iranian output and limited OPEC spare capacity as key supply constraints....
Video: Oil Price Shock & Silver Exchange Bar Shortage With Bond Selloff
A recent video analysis highlights a sharp oil price shock, driven by escalating Middle‑East tensions, that pushed crude above 10% in a single week. Simultaneously, the market for exchange‑grade silver bars is tightening, with inventories down roughly 15% as industrial...
700 Cargoes, $40 Billion, and the Russian Exit Threat: How the Hormuz Shock Shattered Europe’s Energy Calculus
The sudden closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted roughly 700 oil cargoes, representing about $40 billion in trade, and exposed the vulnerability of Europe’s post‑2022 energy strategy. Simultaneously, Russia warned it could exit the European market before any formal ban,...
Everyone's Watching Fertilizer Stocks. The Real Hormuz Agriculture Trade Is in South America.
The sudden closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered a rapid surge in urea prices, prompting sell‑side analysts to recommend buying North American nitrogen producers such as CF Industries, Nutrien and Mosaic. The logic hinged on the fact that roughly...
Friday Footnotes: What Another War Could Mean for Grains
Angie Setzer, a grain‑market analyst, pivots her column to assess how the latest war could reshape global wheat dynamics. She highlights blind spots in the traditional wheat balance sheet, noting that disrupted Black Sea routes and export restrictions are tightening...
Alaska Mine Value Hits New Heights in 2025 – by Shane Lasley (North of 60 Mining News – March 4,...
Alaska’s mining sector posted a record $6.5 billion production value in 2025, a 38% jump from the previous year. The increase was driven primarily by soaring precious‑metal prices, even as zinc output at Red Dog fell and gold production missed the...
Global LNG Crisis: Top Stocks to Watch as Hormuz Remains Blocked & Qatar’s LNG Production Is Halted.
The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, choking a key route for Middle‑East gas shipments, while Qatar has temporarily halted its LNG production, tightening global supply. Spot LNG prices have spiked above $30 per million British thermal units, prompting buyers to...
Gold Shortages in China
Markets reacted to the US‑Israel strike on Iran by pushing the dollar higher, which pulled gold and silver lower. In European trading, gold slipped to $5,090 per ounce, down $230, while silver fell to $82.70, down $11. Shanghai silver premiums...
Imbalance Price: Explanation of an Extreme Price in Germany
On March 1, Germany’s balancing market recorded an extreme negative imbalance price of ‑1474 €/MWh for a single 15‑minute interval. The price plunge was driven by an unexpected supply shortfall that outpaced intraday trading activity, leaving the system operator to procure balancing energy...
Gold Buying Prices in Zimbabwe per Gram/ Ounce, 6 March 2026
Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) published its official gold buying rates for Zimbabwe on 6 March 2026. The fire‑assay cash price tops the table at $155.94 per gram ($4,850.28 per ounce) for gold above 100 g, while SG 90 %+ gold is priced at $155.12 per...
Market Morsel: Why It’s Important to Understand the True Value of Our Grain.
The article explains that grain basis is the difference between local spot prices and futures contracts, serving as the local market adjustment on top of global pricing. In Australia, wheat basis is measured against CBOT wheat futures in Australian dollars...
US Trade Deal Steals a Fifth of Indonesian Wheat Demand From Australia
Indonesia has signed a memorandum of understanding to import roughly 2 million tonnes of wheat annually from the United States, representing about 17% of its total wheat demand. The deal effectively earmarks a fifth of the market for U.S. exporters, removing...
How Much Volume Has Been Traded on the ASX’s New Morning & Evening Peak Futures so Far?
ASX Energy introduced Morning Peak and Evening Peak electricity futures eight months ago to address peak‑demand hedging needs in the NEM. Trading activity has been minimal, with only 58 Evening Peak contracts and zero Morning Peak contracts exchanged across NSW,...
Oil Spikes, Stocks Hit. Treasury Expected to Intervene in Energy Market. NFP Tomorrow.
Oil prices spiked above $80 a barrel after Iran‑related tensions, prompting the White House Treasury to signal possible futures market intervention. The announcement eased oil back below $80, allowing equities to recover modestly, with the S&P 500 down 0.6% and...
The Diesel Cost Run-Up Hasn't Obliterated Owner-Ops' Recent Profit Gains -- yet ...
Diesel prices surged nearly 54¢ per gallon over three days in early March, driven by Middle‑East tensions and volatile wholesale racks. The National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC) Daily Fuel Hedge warned members of an additional 28¢/gal increase slated...
Consus Ag Consulting Afternoon Wrap Up
Futures opened strongly on Thursday, driven by robust corn export data and concerns over dry soils across the U.S. Plains, before turning mixed by mid‑day. Grain contracts gained further support from a firm global market and speculation that planting delays...
Gold Daily, Weekly & GoldBugs
Trader Ashraf Laidi posted intraday gold analysis to a WhatsApp group on March 4, 2026, highlighting the GoldBugs Ratio (GBR) as a contrarian indicator for XAUUSD. The GBR chart showed a trend‑line resistance at 6.0, implying that as long as the level...