Soaring Pump Prices Drive US Inflation to Highest Level in Almost Two Years
U.S. consumer prices rose 3.3% year‑over‑year in March, the fastest pace in almost two years, driven largely by a 21.2% jump in gasoline costs. The surge stems from the U.S.-Israel conflict in Iran, which disrupted oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed crude prices about 30% above pre‑war levels. Higher fuel prices accounted for roughly three‑quarters of the inflation increase, while core CPI remained modest at 2.6%. The spike has cooled market hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut this year.
As Iran War Strains Fuel Supplies, Clean Energy Is Secure Energy
The Iran‑Iran war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have halted roughly 20% of global oil and LNG flows, driving crude toward $100 a barrel and pushing U.S. gasoline above $4 per gallon. Nations that have already built...
European Airports Warn of Jet Fuel Shortages if Strait of Hormuz Remains Shut
Airports Council International Europe warned EU officials that prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger jet‑fuel shortages across the continent. The warning follows President Trump’s cease‑fire pact with Iran, yet tanker traffic remains well below pre‑conflict volumes. The...
Chinese PV Industry Brief: Polysilicon Prices Extend Decline
State-owned CECEP issued 29.5 million convertible bonds, raising ¥2.95 bn ($432 million) to fund six photovoltaic plants and storage projects totaling 900 MW. The total project outlay is about ¥4.57 bn ($670 million). Meanwhile, China’s polysilicon market saw its seventh consecutive weekly price drop, with N‑type...
Coffee Prices: Why 2026 Is Set to Be a Roller-Coaster Ride
Coffee prices, after hitting record highs, have begun to recede but remain well above historical norms. A stronger 2026‑27 Brazil harvest, projected to rise 17% year‑on‑year, could increase supply, while Vietnam’s market volatility and new EU deforestation rules keep the...
India to Continue Buying Russian Crude Oil
Indian refiners will keep buying Russian crude oil after the U.S. 30‑day sanctions exemption expires on April 11, driven by ongoing supply uncertainty from West Asia and damaged regional infrastructure. West Asian shipments, which once supplied about half of India’s crude,...
Copper Claws Higher to Three-Week Peak as Investors Balance Iran with Chinese Demand
Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange rose to $12,845 a metric ton, the highest level since March 17, as investors weighed stronger demand in China against a fragile cease‑fire in the Iran conflict. The benchmark three‑month contract gained 0.6%...
Cotton Prices Firm up Tracking Global Prices
Cotton prices in India firmed above the ₹60,000 per candy (~$720) threshold for the first time this season, mirroring a rise in ICE futures that reached 73 cents per pound. The Cotton Corporation of India lifted the minimum support price...
SA Platinum Exports Surge but Miners Face War Inflation
South Africa’s platinum‑group‑metal (PGM) exports jumped 13% in the first two months of 2026, driven by strong demand in China and Europe, according to UBS. At the same time, the ongoing Middle‑East conflict is raising diesel prices, adding roughly 80...
Corn Prices Poised to Fall on Iran-US Ceasefire Pact
Corn prices have slipped to a four‑week low as the US‑Iran cease‑fire removes the immediate threat of nitrogen‑fertilizer disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts at BMI, a Fitch Solutions unit, lifted their 2026 average CBOT corn forecast to 458.2 cents...
FMI Releases Statement on March CPI Food Price Numbers
The Food Industry Association (FMI) highlighted the March Consumer Price Index, showing a 0.2% month‑over‑month dip in food‑at‑home prices while overall grocery inflation remains 1.9% higher than a year ago. Core staples such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, cereal, bakery...
A Record Jump in U.S. Gasoline Prices Is Squeezing Consumers
U.S. regular gasoline prices jumped 25% from February to March, reaching $3.64 per gallon, the steepest monthly percentage gain since the Energy Information Administration began tracking data in 1990. The surge is linked to heightened geopolitical risk from the ongoing...
Oil to Test Wartime Highs If Hormuz Standstill Drags
Oil could revisit wartime price peaks if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked until July, JPMorgan Chase notes. The market expects half of normal oil flows to resume by May and full capacity by June, but a slower return to...
ETS Price Rise a Risk if Iran War Prompts Gas-to-Coal Switch, Says ING
ING warns that if the Iran conflict pushes EU nations to replace natural‑gas with coal, the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowance price could surge, raising costs for energy‑intensive firms. The bank notes that the ETS cap is tightening and...
US Oil Exports to Hit 5M Barrels a Day Amid Global Crunch
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...
Base Oil Prices Remain Elevated Since Ceasefire
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...
What Can Governments Do when Petrol Prices Rocket?
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 to Launch Two Graphite Flake Exw China Prices
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...
Australian Growers Urge Retailers to Accept Price Increases
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...
Weekly Newsletter 10 April 2026
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,...
Top Fund That Invests In Gold Miners Delivers Midas-Like Returns
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...
Chinese Module Trading Slows After Export Tax Rebate Cancellation
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...
Gold Set For Another Weekly Gain
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 On Track For Biggest Weekly Loss Since June Ahead Of Peace Talks
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 Plans Another Oil Reserves Release
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...
Same Old Story for Shippers, Asked to Recover From Steep Fuel Surcharges Again
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 to Ease Oil Bottleneck, Ensure Stable Supply
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: Undersupplied Silver Market To Drive Growth
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...
The Oil Market Faces a Major Reckoning if US-Iran Peace Talks Fail
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...
Commodities: Oil Supported By Ongoing Supply Risks
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....
When Demand Falls but Prices Rise, Who Really Pays?
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...
US-Iran Ceasefire Eases Oil Prices but Gulf Economies Showing Strain – Oxford Economics
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%...
Gold Digger: Is Gold Too Bullish on the Ceasefire? Experts Are Split
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...
MCX Crude Oil Prices Headed for Weekly Loss Amid Fragile US-Iran Ceasefire; What’s the Strategy Ahead?
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...
Wagyu F1 Feeder Prices Settle Around 520-530c/Kg, Despite Climate of Uncertainty
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...
The Commodities Feed: Oil Supported by Ongoing Supply Risks
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...
Gold, Silver Rate Today, 10 April: Check Live Price of 24 Kt, 22 Kt, 18 Kt Gold and 10 Gm,...
On April 10, 2026 MCX spot gold slipped 0.6% to ₹152,561 per 10 g (≈ $1,837) and silver fell 0.7% to ₹242,067 per kg (≈ $2,917). The pull‑back was sparked by profit‑taking as the US dollar strengthened and crude oil rose about 1%. A tentative US‑Iran cease‑fire eased geopolitical...
Dubbo Sale 9 Apr 2026: Yarding Lifts to 7700, as Restocker and Slaughter Types Soften in Price
The Dubbo cattle sale on 9 April 2026 posted a yarding of 7,700 c/kg (≈$51 USD/kg), the highest level in the past two weeks. Prices for prime vealers and yearlings ranged from 362‑500 c/kg ($2.4‑$3.3 USD/kg), while feeder steers and heifers traded 380‑529 c/kg and 316‑484 c/kg respectively....
Standard Chartered: Oil Price Correction Is Likely Overdone
Standard Chartered warns that the recent oil‑price correction may be too deep, noting Brent crude at $95.57/bbl and WTI at $96.99/bbl after the steepest drop since the Iran war began. The bank’s Q2 forecast still targets Brent around $98 and...
Shale Play Pushes Argentina Oil Output To All-Time High
Argentina’s oil output surged to 847,000 barrels per day, a 16% year‑over‑year rise driven by the Vaca Muerta shale play. Production in the Neuquén Basin jumped 30%, positioning the country as Latin America’s fourth‑largest oil producer. The government targets 1 million barrels...
Gold Heads for Weekly Gain as Traders Weigh Iran Truce Prospects
Gold edged toward a third consecutive weekly gain on Friday, hovering around $4,765 an ounce. The metal is on track for roughly a 2% rise this week as central‑bank buying offsets lingering inflation worries. Traders are eyeing a U.S. delegation...
Oil Prices Rise as Gulf Tankers Remain at Standstill
Oil futures climbed Thursday after a sharp sell‑off on Wednesday when traders reacted to the fragile cease‑fire between the US and Iran in the Gulf. The cease‑fire, brokered by Washington, eased immediate geopolitical risk but left uncertainty over longer‑term supply...
Fuel Prices Are Skyrocketing, But Most Of The Money Isn't Going To Gas Stations
U.S. gasoline prices surged to an average of $4 per gallon in early April 2026, the highest level since 2022, driven largely by geopolitical tensions from the Iran war. Retail stations are seeing tighter margins because they cannot pass wholesale...
Oil Holds Gain After Attacks Lower Saudi Production Capacity
Saudi Arabia announced that attacks on its energy infrastructure have reduced its oil production capacity by roughly 600,000 barrels per day. The cut pushed Brent crude above $96 a barrel, marking a 1.2% gain on Thursday, while West Texas Intermediate...
Europe’s Gas Market Faces a Brutal Storage Refill Season
Europe’s gas market has cooled from March’s three‑year highs, but analysts warn the relief is fleeting. Storage levels sit at just 29% of capacity, well below the 35% benchmark from a year ago, leaving the continent exposed as it races...
Market Watch: US Gas Futures Tumble to 17-Month Low
US natural‑gas futures slipped 5.4 cents on Thursday, settling at $2.67 per MMBtu, the lowest level in 17 months for the prompt‑month contract. The decline followed a larger‑than‑expected weekly build in storage, which analysts at Gelber & Associates said confirms...
Keir Starmer: 'I'm Fed Up' With Trump and Putin Affecting UK Energy Costs
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ITV’s Talking Politics podcast he is "fed up" with UK energy bills swinging wildly because of actions by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He linked the volatility to recent oil‑price spikes...
Publication of Fastmarkets’ Steel Scrap No1 Busheling, Delivered Mill Chicago Assessment on Thursday April 9, 2026
Fastmarkets published its latest North America ferrous scrap price assessment for No.1 busheling steel scrap delivered to mill in Chicago on Thursday, April 9, 2026. The assessment is part of Fastmarkets’ broader scrap pricing package and provides a delivered‑mill benchmark for high‑grade...
Oil Prices, Apr. 9, 2026
Oil prices surged on April 9 as a fragile US‑Iran ceasefire failed to quell market nerves, pushing Brent above $85 per barrel while spot prices held steadier. Iranian missile strikes on Saudi oil assets trimmed OPEC‑Plus output by roughly 200,000...
Mining Boom Just Getting Started, Says Lion Selection Group’s Hedley Widdup
Lion Selection Group’s managing director Hedley Widdup says the mining rally that began in April 2024 is only at its early stage, with the ASX Resources Index up roughly 70% and capital flowing back into junior explorers. Since 2022 the...