President Trump Signs Executive Order Waiving Key Russian Sanctions and Tariffs Under the Graham Act, Helping Keep Oil Flowing

On October 16, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 while simultaneously waiving most of its new sanctions, restrictions, and duties. The move, taken under the Act’s national-interest waiver authority (Section 115), came just days before the measures were set to take […]

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Oil Over $100 as Markets Struggle to Balance Amid Tanker Attacks and Shipping Disruptions

Brent crude settled at $109.86 per barrel on Friday, October 16, after touching $110 intraday—the highest since May—while WTI closed at $101.41. The move capped a week of gains driven by persistent supply risks from the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict (now approaching eight months), Russian-Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure, Houthi activity, and a sharp acceleration in […]

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Europe’s Gas Prices Close to 2022 High as LNG Market Shifting

European benchmark natural gas prices remain near multi-year highs in mid-October 2026, approaching levels last seen at the end of 2022. The Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) front-month contract traded around €86 per megawatt-hour (MWh)—roughly $96.50/MWh—after a sharp rally driven by constrained Middle East LNG supplies and historically low storage heading into winter. Prices have […]

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Oil Prices Slide as US Weighs Easing Sanctions on Shadow Fleet: Implications for Tanker Rates, Delivered Crude Costs, and Diesel Crack Spreads

Oil prices fell about 2% on October 15, 2026, after reports that the Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on vessels in the so-called “shadow fleet.” Brent crude futures dropped about $2.28 (2.2%) to around $103.78 a barrel, while WTI fell about $1.34 (1.4%) to roughly $93.75, reversing prior gains. The move reflected hopes that […]

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How has OPEC’s production pre-war and current output under stress?

The Iran war that began around February 28, 2026, with U.S.-Israeli strikes and subsequent Iranian responses, has reshaped OPEC+ crude production and, more sharply, refined product exports. Pre-war levels (roughly February 2026) represented a relatively stable baseline after earlier OPEC+ quota management. Current output remains under significant stress from Strait of Hormuz disruptions, infrastructure attacks, […]

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Massive Oil, Gas, and Critical Mineral Exploration to Begin in Greenland: Trump Announcement, Security Deal, and the Path to 2027 Drilling

On October 14, 2026, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland.” He added that experts claim the amount of easily available oil is far greater than that of almost any land anywhere in the world, and that […]

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