Gold Tracks More Sideways Awaiting Further US-Iran Developments
Gold hovered around $4,640 on the day, slipping just 0.1% and remaining trapped in the $4,600‑$4,700 band that formed after last week’s drop. The metal tested the 100‑hour moving average near $4,660, while the daily 200‑day average around $4,658 continues to act as a key support level. Sellers are probing the downside, but buyers have kept the near‑term bias neutral as US‑Iran tensions keep market participants on edge. All eyes remain on geopolitical headlines for the next directional cue.
Grower Group Makes Plea to Supermarkets over Price Increases
The National Farmers Federation’s Horticulture Council has sent an open letter to Australia’s major supermarkets, demanding a swift response to supplier price‑increase requests triggered by the oil crisis. Rising fuel and freight costs, with surcharges reaching up to 65% of...
Weekly Kill: Grid Prices Stabilise, After some Big Pre-Easter Falls
Australian slaughter grids across eastern Australia have steadied after a sharp 30‑40 c/kg dip last week, with most direct consignment offers holding steady. Rising fuel and freight costs are adding up to 70 c/kg to purchase prices, squeezing processor margins. Easter‑shortened weeks...
Fuel Crunch: Does Australia Have Enough Cards to Keep up Supply?
Australia faces a fuel crunch as global oil supplies dip 20% and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The government has secured enough refined fuel to last until May, but without sizable domestic stockpiles it must lean on alternative sources,...
FAO Warns Global Food Prices Will Continue to Increase if Iran War Lasts
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said the Food Price Index rose 2.4% in March, its highest level since September 2022, as oil‑driven energy costs lift commodity prices. Wheat prices jumped 4.3% while fertilizer cost pressures threaten planting decisions in...
East Coast Tour Bus Operators Face Shutdown over Diesel Price Hike
Around 1,000 East Coast Malaysian tour‑bus operators, excluded from the Subsidised Diesel Control System, face possible shutdown after diesel surged to RM6.02 per litre (about $1.32). Rental fees jumped 30‑40%, pushing a Kota Bharu‑Kuala Lumpur round‑trip from RM3,000 to RM5,000 (≈$660‑$1,100), prompting...
Feedgrain Focus: Volatility Kills Volume, Short Trips Appeal
Feedgrain values firmed last week as soaring diesel and urea costs forced growers to rethink grain logistics. Traders shifted volume to regional warehouses, preferring short‑haul trips that can be back‑loaded with limited fertiliser supplies. Southern farms, buoyed by recent rains,...
Clearance Slumps to 49pc in Small 9219 Head Online Offering; Prices Under Pressure
Clearance on AuctionsPlus fell to 49%, a 21‑point weekly decline, as the offering shrank to 9,219 head – a 62% drop from the prior two weeks’ 26,000‑head listings. Prices slipped across most weight categories, with light steers under 200 kg losing...
Sky-High Fuel Prices Will Drive Ship Efficiency Retrofits
U.S. efforts to block the IMO’s Net Zero Framework are unintentionally accelerating maritime sustainability as Middle‑East attacks drive bunker fuel prices to historic highs. The surge in marine fuel costs dramatically shortens the payback horizon for efficiency retrofits, making measures...
WA Post-Record Crop Could Be as Small as 15Mt: MP
Western Australia, Australia’s top grain producer, faces a severe urea shortage linked to the Iran‑Israel‑US conflict, prompting MP Rick Wilson to warn that the 2026‑27 crop could fall to around 15 million tonnes – roughly a 45 percent drop from the record...
Power Rates Unchanged Till September
Taiwan's Executive Yuan announced that electricity tariffs will stay unchanged from this month through September, and fuel prices will remain flat for the week. The ministry instructed CPC Corp and Formosa Petrochemical to maintain stable production and secure sufficient oil...
Saudi Arabia Raises Asia Oil Price to Record
Saudi Aramco announced a record‑high Arab Light price for Asia, adding a $19.50 premium over regional benchmarks for next‑month sales. The hike follows a widening Middle East conflict and Iran’s near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has strained global...
Brent Holds Steady as Ceasefire Deal Fizzles
Benchmark Brent crude held steady on Monday as traders weighed the prospect of a cease‑fire in the five‑week‑old Middle East conflict. The market’s cautious optimism was tempered by the collapse of the cease‑fire negotiations, keeping risk premiums elevated. Prices edged...
Southeast Asia Oil Crisis Puts Sovereign Ratings at Risk
Southeast Asian governments are scrambling to subsidize soaring fuel prices after Brent crude topped $90 a barrel, adding a heavy fiscal burden to Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia. The subsidies, intended to quell public unrest, are swelling budget deficits...
Natural Gas Spot Prices, Apr. 6, 2026
On April 6, 2026 the industry released volume‑weighted average natural‑gas spot prices for next‑day flow and weekend delivery. The data set includes both wellhead and delivered price composites, offering a comprehensive view of market pricing. Accompanying the price figures are the daily...
Critical Notices, Apr. 6, 2026
The latest Critical Notices highlight three key energy developments. Polar LNG asserts that Alaska can support two new LNG export projects, underscoring the state’s growing strategic importance. Chevron has resumed production at Israel’s Leviathan gas field, a vital supply source...
The Iran War Is Driving up Produce Prices
The ongoing Iran war has triggered a sharp rise in global fuel prices, directly inflating transportation costs for fresh produce. As shipping expenses climb, retailers are passing the added burden onto consumers, resulting in higher grocery bills for fruits and...
Unseasonal Rain May Dent Wheat Output, Quality
Unseasonal rain and hailstorms across northern India have cut the 2025‑26 wheat harvest by an estimated 3‑4%, lowering total output from the projected 115 million tonnes. The excess moisture has also damaged grain quality, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and...
Price Opportunities Shift From War to Weather
U.S. grain markets are moving from a war‑driven price premium to weather‑focused risk as USDA’s March 31 report projects near‑record corn yields of 185.3 bushels per acre and sizable soybean plantings. The agency’s outlook points to a top‑third corn price...
Worley Consulting-Pace Refining Margins
Worley Consulting has entered a strategic partnership with Pace Refining to enhance the latter's refining margins. The collaboration will deploy Worley’s process‑optimization and digital‑transformation expertise across Pace’s downstream assets. Early projections suggest margin improvements of up to 15 percent through...
Crude Oil Soars As U.S. Deadline To Iran To Open Strait Of Hormuz Closes In
Crude oil prices jumped on Monday as the United States extended its deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint that carries roughly 20% of global oil. WTI May futures rose $1.39 to $112.93 a barrel,...
When Will Grain Markets Lose the Geopolitical Premium?
The USDA Prospective Plantings report showed corn, soybean and wheat numbers essentially in line with expectations, leaving little room for surprise. Prices held firm, with December corn hovering near $4.85 and November soybeans around $11.57, reflecting continued market resilience. Fund...
India’s Coffee Exports Hit a Record High of $2.13 Billion in 2025-26 Fiscal
India’s coffee exports surged to a record $2.13 billion in FY 2025‑26, a 17% increase over the prior year. Export volumes rose 4.65% to 4.07 lakh tonnes, while the average price per tonne jumped 17% to roughly $5,600. The growth was driven by...
Oil Palm Price Breaches ₹23,000-Mark in Telangana
Telangana’s fresh fruit bunch (FFB) price rose to ₹23,005 per tonne, surpassing the ₹23,000 mark after the state government added ₹1,459 per tonne (about $18). The increase is intended to encourage farmers to expand oil‑palm cultivation. Simultaneously, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy...
Gold Price Swings Spur Advance Buying; Tanishq Enters Gemstones to Boost Demand
Tanishq is accelerating advance jewellery purchases as volatile gold prices push consumers to buy early, especially ahead of Akshaya Tritiya and the upcoming festive season. The retailer unveiled the ‘Hues’ collection, adding over 200 natural‑gemstone designs, with 70% of items...
Opinion: End Fertilizer Import Tariffs to Bring Relief to Farmers
U.S. fertilizer giants Mosaic and J.R. Simplot secured import tariffs on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers after a 2020 petition to the International Trade Commission. The duties halted shipments, driving domestic fertilizer prices to historic highs and adding $6.9 billion in costs for...
Gold Rises over 1% to ₹1.51 Lakh/10g in Futures Trade
Gold futures on India’s Multi‑Commodity Exchange jumped more than 1% on Monday, reaching ₹1.51 lakh per 10 grams (about $1,820). The rise follows a recent decline, with prices now down roughly 12% from the February peak of ₹1.65 lakh ($2,000) amid escalating West...
BMI Ups Global Diesel Price Forecast
BMI analysts at Fitch raised the 2026 global diesel price forecast to $111 per barrel, a 25 percent increase from the prior $89 estimate, citing an extended U.S.–Iran conflict that tightens Strait of Hormuz flows. The conflict, now projected to last...
Oil Smugglers, Hoarders in Thailand Worsen Supply Crisis as Anutin Warns of Tough Times
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned that the nation’s fuel crisis will deepen as diesel prices surged to a record 50 baht per litre (about $1.54). Justice Minister Rutthaphon Naowarat said roughly 57‑58 million litres of oil appear to have...
OIL PRICE WATCH: Diesel Hikes on April 7 Near P20/Liter
Philippine oil majors announced diesel price hikes of roughly P20 per liter (≈ $0.36) effective April 7, with Shell Pilipinas leading at P19.80, followed by Petron, Seaoil and Jetti. Gasoline and kerosene prices also rose double‑digit, ranging from P4.90 to P5.90 and P8.10 to...
India's Metal & Mining Sector Set for Earnings Recovery Despite Geopolitical Headwinds: Report
India’s metal and mining sector is poised for a near‑term earnings rebound, driven by stronger domestic steel demand and rising commodity prices. A sharp recovery in steel prices since December 2025 is expected to lift ferrous margins in Q4 FY26, while...
Oil Prices Give Up Early Gains On Iran War Ceasefire Hopes
Oil prices slipped on Monday after reports that the United States and Iran were engaging in indirect negotiations for a potential 45‑day cease‑fire. Brent crude for June delivery fell 0.4% to $108.56 a barrel, down from an intraday high of...
Crude Oil Unlikely to Fall to $70 in 2026, May Remain at $80-85; Risks to Growth, Inflation: UBI Report
Union Bank of India’s latest outlook predicts crude oil will stay in an $80‑85 per barrel band through 2026, dismissing expectations of a drop to $70. The report warns that prices breaching $100‑120 could trigger a sharper monetary response from...
What Factors Could Challenge This Profitable Beef Market?
U.S. beef prices stay well above year‑ago levels as tight supply and strong demand push boxed‑beef, feeder and fed‑cattle values higher into 2026. Producers enjoy a profitable market but face heightened volatility from short‑term shocks. Six headwinds – drought, geopolitical...
Diesel to Breach ₱170 per Liter on Tuesday
Diesel in the Philippines is set to breach ₱170 per liter (about $3.10), underscoring rising fuel costs amid global supply shocks. Meanwhile, the Recto Bank offshore block, estimated to hold 16‑20 TCF of gas and up to 5.4 billion barrels of oil,...
Expensive Gold Is Changing How People Buy Engagement Rings
Rising gold prices are inflating engagement and wedding ring costs, pushing average prices up 47% year‑over‑year to $2,408 by 2025. While lab‑grown diamond prices have fallen 40%, the gold premium dominates price hikes, prompting 25‑30% of shoppers to delay proposals...
Feedgrain Focus: Volatility Kills Volume, Short Trips Appeal
Australian grain markets are being reshaped by soaring diesel costs and a tight urea supply linked to the Persian Gulf conflict, prompting growers to hold grain on‑farm and favour local sales. This cost pressure has eroded new‑crop market liquidity, with...
Auto Dealers Say Iran War to Hit Supplies
India’s auto dealers warn that the West Asia conflict is disrupting supplies and inflating costs across the automotive supply chain. Rising oil, gas and metal prices have lifted logistics expenses and prompted manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki to consider price hikes....
Iran Tensions, Crude Oil Surge Keep Dalal Street on Edge
Rising crude‑oil prices and heightened Iran‑U.S. tensions pushed Indian equities lower on Monday. The BSE Sensex fell about 120 points (‑0.16%) to 73,199 and the NSE Nifty slipped 13 points (‑0.06%) to 22,700. Brent crude rose to $109.78 per barrel...
The Iran Shock
Within weeks of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, Tehran’s near‑shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz halted roughly 20% of global oil and LNG transit, sending crude prices up 55% and gasoline up about $1 per gallon. The disruption exposed the...
Oil Crisis Hitting Asia Foreshadows Tough Times for Europe
The war in Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, cutting global oil supplies by about 10 % and pushing Brent crude above $100 per barrel. The disruption also curtails LNG flows, tightening energy inputs for power and fertilizer production....
Philippines Inflation Seen Quickening as Oil and Food Costs Rise
Philippine headline inflation is projected to rise sharply in March, with estimates ranging from 3.5% to 4.3% after February’s 2.4% rate. The surge is driven by higher oil, electricity and food prices, especially rice. Analysts warn the reading could push...
Is the World Running Out of Oil? Goldman Sachs Weighs In
Goldman Sachs analysis says the world is not running out of oil despite the Middle East conflict disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. Asian economies that source roughly half of their fuel from the Gulf are feeling strain as shipments fall,...
RI Turns to Africa, India for Naphtha as Middle East Supply Tightens
Indonesia relies on Middle East naphtha for 70% of its petrochemical feedstock, but the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, halting shipments. The supply crunch has pushed pack prices up by Rp5,000‑6,000 (≈$0.30) and driven packaging...
OPEC+ Debates Theoretical Oil Output Hike Amid Iran War Paralysis
OPEC+ is expected to approve a modest output increase for May, but the rise will be largely academic because key producers cannot lift production amid the US‑Israeli war with Iran that has shut the Strait of Hormuz. The closure and...
How Trump’s Iran War Could Make the World More Reliant on Coal
The U.S. and its allies’ war with Iran is spurring a global shift back toward coal as nations scramble for reliable energy amid disrupted oil and gas supplies. Worldwide coal consumption has risen by roughly 1.3 billion tons since 2020, reaching...
The High Price of Everything, Explained
Vox’s Explain It to Me podcast breaks down why everyday essentials—gasoline, coffee, and milk—are hitting record prices. Gas prices surge as the Iran‑Houthi conflict chokes the Strait of Hormuz, limiting crude supplies and forcing the U.S. to import heavier grades...
OPEC+ Plans Symbolic Oil Quota Hike Amid War, Delegates Say
OPEC+ members agreed in principle to raise their oil production quotas for May. The increase adds roughly 206,000 barrels per day, a modest but symbolic adjustment. Saudi Arabia and Russia led the video‑conference decision as the Middle East war constrains...
Sinéad O'Sullivan: We Need a National Strategy for the Fuel Crisis. Here Are Four Things We Can Do Now
Recent Middle East conflict has driven heating oil prices in Ireland from about $545 to over $1,090 per fill within a month. The Irish government responded with a €250 million ($273 million) relief package, including excise cuts and a diesel rebate, but...
Taiwan Secures LNG Supply Assurances From a ‘Major’ Country
Taiwan’s economy minister announced that a major LNG‑producing nation has offered full support for the island’s natural‑gas needs, pledging additional cargoes on request. The move follows concerns that the Iran war could disrupt Middle‑East supplies, prompting Taiwan to diversify its...