The global oil market remains on edge as the Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most critical oil chokepoint — stays effectively paralyzed amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict that began in late February 2026. JP Morgan has issued a fresh, more urgent update, warning that the situation could drive Brent crude sharply higher in the […]
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In the most complex mix of geopolitical supply disruptions in modern history—over 100 days into the US-Iran conflict involving strikes, Hormuz transit risks, and broader Middle East tensions—the United States and China are effectively supplying a significant portion of global oil demand through their strategic and commercial reserves. They are doing so via sharply contrasting […]
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On Friday, May 29, 2026, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved sweeping updates to the state’s Cap-and-Invest program (formerly Cap-and-Trade), extending California’s signature climate initiative through 2045. State regulators framed the changes as a balanced move to meet aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets while supporting affordability and preventing industry “leakage”—the exodus of major polluters […]
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In a stark assessment amid one of the largest oil supply shocks in history, Goldman Sachs has signaled that global energy markets—led by crude oil—are shifting into a demand destruction phase. Even if a near-term peace deal eases the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, severely depleted inventories mean markets will likely require significant demand […]
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Iran is pushing ahead with legislation to formalize its “management and sovereignty” over the Strait of Hormuz, including provisions for shipping security, navigation and environmental fees, and a regional development fund — moves widely interpreted as establishing a toll-like system and de facto control. A senior Iranian lawmaker, Alireza Salimi, stated that only Iran and […]
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In a stark alert to markets, top executives from ExxonMobil and Chevron have highlighted an impending physical oil supply crunch that could drive Dated Brent crude prices sharply higher—potentially to $150–$160 per barrel—within the coming weeks. The warnings center on critically low global inventories of crude and refined products, exacerbated by the ongoing closure of […]
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The Strait of Hormuz remains the world’s most critical — and most contested — energy chokepoint. Roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG trade normally flows through its narrow waters. Yet since the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran began in late February 2026, traffic has collapsed to a fraction of pre-war levels, sending shockwaves through […]
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In a recent appearance on Squawk Box Asia, veteran commodities strategist Jeff Currie (Co-Chairman of Abaxx Markets) delivered a stark warning that resonates deeply with current market dynamics. He described an emerging “rare earth moment” — a qualitative shift where markets have been neglecting the physical world (“atoms”) in favor of financial narratives and tech […]
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In the shadow of ongoing tensions with Iran, threats to the Strait of Hormuz, and high-stakes negotiations, President Donald Trump’s administration is actively pushing to expand the Abraham Accords. Recent statements tie potential deals with Tehran directly to broader normalization between Israel and additional Arab and Muslim-majority countries — including key Gulf states. The strategy […]
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Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has once again sounded alarms about mounting pressures on the US economy. In a recent Bloomberg Television interview and his April 2026 annual letter to shareholders, he highlighted vulnerabilities in leveraged corporate debt, the challenges of refinancing at elevated rates, geopolitical shocks from the Iran conflict, and risks of […]
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