Global Oil Inventories in Dire Straits, Next Price Surge Could Rattle Economy and Markets
BlockBeats News, June 7th, as the agreement for oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains elusive, global oil inventories are plummeting to dangerously low levels. Industry executives and analysts warn that we may see another oil price shock in the coming weeks, with the severity significant enough to spill over into broader financial markets.
JPMorgan Chase predicts that unless the strait passage returns to normal, oil prices could spike rapidly in late June. U.S. crude inventories have fallen for eight consecutive weeks, reaching the lowest level since February 2024. Analysts point out that the risk of a second round of price shock is very real and could stem from the depletion of buffer mechanisms rather than the strait's closure itself.
Investors believe that the Strait of Hormuz has become a persistent geopolitical bottleneck, and even if tensions ease, oil prices are unlikely to drop below $70. Higher oil prices pose a "mild headwind" to the U.S. economy, but Europe and Asia are more vulnerable to sustained energy inflation. If crude oil rises to $120 per barrel and remains at that level for a year, U.S. economic growth could slow by around 0.4 percentage points.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Oil: Prices supported by supply risks and Iran tensions – Danske Bank
Jane Dunlevie appointed as Co-Head of TMT Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs (GS.US)
According to reports, Jane Dunlevie, a star investment banker who became a Goldman Sachs partner at age 35, has been appointed as Co-Head of TMT (Technology, Media, and Telecom) Investment Banking, according to an internal Goldman Sachs memo.
Bitwise Makes Biggest XRP Purchase in October
Japan shares extend losses as rate uncertainty, geopolitical woes curb appetite
Updates with closing prices By Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Japanese shares fell more than 1% on Thursday, down for a second consecutive session, as investors paused after recent rallies, wary of the US rate outlook, higher yields and geopolitical tensions. The Nikkei 225 Index .N225 fell 1.42% to close at 69,042.11, while the broader Topix .TOPX slid 1.51% to 4,091.46. "Japanese shares had risen at a rapid pace through yesterday, and profit-taking has since picked up. That selling pressure appears to be continuing today," said Hiroki Takei, strategist at Resona Holdings. Japanese AI-related shares were subdued even after Samsung Electronics 005930.KS, the world's largest memory chipmaker, projected a nearly ninefold jump in third-quarter operating profit from the same period last year. Shares of chipmaker Rohm 6963.T lost 5.19%, the biggest percentage drag in nearly a month, while technology investor SoftBank Group 9984.T shed 4.28% and Tokyo Electron 8035.T dropped 2.48%. Concerns over US monetary policy remained in focus after Federal Reserve minutes released on Wednesday showed most participants signalling another rate hike by year-end. Market participants remained wary of French and Italian debt markets, with rising energy prices and fiscal concerns keeping sentiment fragile. Geopolitical tensions also dampened risk appetite, as increased attacks on shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz fuelled concerns over Middle East oil supplies and pushed crude prices higher. Breadth was negative, with 165 decliners in the Nikkei 225 against 56 advancers and four unchanged. The largest percentage losers in the Nikkei were semiconductor silicon wafer supplier Sumco 3436.T, down 5.73%, followed by construction machinery maker Komatsu 6301.T, down 5.52%, and agricultural machinery and equipment maker Kubota Corporation 6326.T, down 5.42%. The largest percentage gainers were cybersecurity software company Trend Micro 4704.T, up 3.89%, followed by IT consulting firm Nomura Research Institute 4307.T, whic
