Oil

• Wall Street is trending toward weekly losses on Friday as a continued sell-off of chipmakers and AI-related stocks drags down the broader markets. • In Asia, Taiwanese shares plummeted 6.5% following an announcement from TSMC, the world's largest contract chip manufacturer, to invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. fabrication plants. • Market volatility is further compounded by rising oil prices, triggered by the United States launching additional airstrikes against Iran.

• Major U.S. indices declined, with the Nasdaq falling 1.68%, the S&P 500 dropping 0.81%, and the Dow Jones slipping 0.09% as semiconductor and tech stocks tumbled. • Market volatility was driven by a poor earnings forecast from Netflix and rising geopolitical tensions following a speech by Donald Trump regarding Iran. • Brent crude oil surged over 3% to $86.91 per barrel, fueling inflation concerns, while Bitcoin climbed above $63,309.06 and precious metals attempted a recovery.

• Stock futures are indicating a sharp decline for Friday's market open, driven largely by a continued sell-off in semiconductor stocks. • Oil prices have increased following U.S. military strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure and supply routes. • These simultaneous shifts highlight growing volatility in the tech sector and rising geopolitical tensions affecting global energy markets.

• Asian stock markets declined following a significant selloff of chipmakers on Wall Street, driven by investor concerns over high tech valuations. • Market volatility is increasing as investors question the long-term sustainability of massive investments in artificial intelligence. • Oil prices have climbed higher this week, fueled by escalating geopolitical tensions and hostilities in the Middle East.

• Indian benchmark indexes opened higher on July 16, 2026, with the Sensex surging 260 points and the Nifty rising 80 points. • The gains follow a positive trend from Wall Street, as investors prioritize strong corporate earnings over escalating geopolitical tensions between Iran and the US. • Market sentiment remained mixed across Asia, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rising 1.40% while Japan's Nikkei 225 plummeted 2.84%.

• Applied Computing has raised $20 million in Series A funding to develop a foundation AI model specifically for the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. • The company aims to create a comprehensive AI system capable of managing and optimizing the operations of an entire industrial plant. • This initiative matters as it seeks to modernize legacy infrastructure in the energy sector through advanced machine learning to improve efficiency and safety.

Fracking billionaire Harold Hamm is co-chair of a non-profit that has aggressively pushed for US energy dominanceTycoon Harold Hamm is one of the US’s most successful oilmen, the son of Oklahoma sharecroppers who hit it rich as a “wildcatter” and pioneered fracking techniques that drove the shale boom in 2008 that reversed declining US oil production. Donald Trump describes him as a “long time” friend and is said to have called him his “original oil guy” behind closed doors.The Continental Resources founder has also faced scrutiny from climate advocates and groups and some Democratic lawmakers over his influence on Trump and role in pushing him to go all in on planet-heating fossil fuels and gut climate rules. Continue reading...

• Asian equities declined, with the South Korean Kospi leading the drop due to renewed selling pressure on semiconductor shares. • Crude oil prices continued to rise, driven by the impact of fresh military strikes in the Middle East. • Government bonds in Australia and New Zealand opened higher following the release of recent US inflation data.

US disables unladen oil tanker using Hellfire missiles in strait of Hormuz amid concerns strikes could spiral into open conflictThe US has fired on an oil tanker attempting to reach Kharg Island in the strait of Hormuz as part of its blockade on Iranian ports, as Tehran came under attack for the first time in this latest round of strikes.The US said on Thursday morning it had disabled an unladen oil tanker, during a fifth day of strikes, firing Hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack after it ignored multiple warnings. Continue reading...

• Asian stock markets declined on Tuesday due to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, which pushed oil prices toward one-month highs. • The surge in energy costs has sparked fresh inflation concerns and reduced investor expectations for lower global interest rates. • Market participants are maintaining a cautious stance as they await the release of critical U.S. consumer inflation data.

Watchdog says about 1,700 people were affected during a price surge triggered by the Middle East crisisHeating oil customers whose deliveries were cancelled when the war in the Middle East caused a price surge are to receive compensation of up to £350 each following an investigation by the UK competition watchdog.As the crisis unfolded, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was investigating heating oil suppliers after complaints that existing orders were being scrapped, with customers offered new deliveries at a significantly higher price. Continue reading...

• Major financial institutions saw stock surges after exceeding their Q2 earnings forecasts, while June inflation data showed a cooling trend. • In contrast, IBM shares stumbled following a reduction in the company's future outlook. • Oil prices climbed higher, driven by escalating geopolitical concerns in the Middle East.

• Money market bets suggest the Bank of England will be forced to raise interest rates by September to combat an energy shock triggered by the war in Iran. • Market volatility is evident as the yield on 10-year gilts surged from 4.87% to 4.97% on Monday, reflecting increased borrowing costs for the UK Treasury. • This trend is part of a broader European sell-off in government bonds, with rising yields also reported in Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

• Oil prices reached four-week highs and European shares declined following fresh US-Iran attacks and a blockade on Iranian shipping. • Simultaneously, the US is refunding $81 billion in tariffs after a Supreme Court ruling declared them illegal, with most payments occurring in May and June. • These events highlight the volatility of global markets in response to Middle East geopolitical tensions and the reversal of Trump-era trade policies.

• Global markets are experiencing volatility characterized by a rally in oil prices and a significant selloff in chip stocks. • Investors are shifting their focus toward the upcoming earnings season, which is expected to either restore market confidence or trigger further sharp declines. • These corporate results are critical as they will shape broader economic expectations regarding U.S. interest rates and inflation outlooks.

• Stock futures showed mixed results on Tuesday as investors prepare for key banking earnings reports and Congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh. • Markets are awaiting the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, with economists forecasting a year-over-year inflation rise of 3.8%, down from 4.2% in May, while core inflation is expected to remain at 2.9%. • The data is critical for interest rate expectations; the CME FedWatch tool shows the probability of a quarter-percentage point rate hike in two weeks has risen to 39%, up from 8% a month ago.

Stock markets fall as analysts price in two quarter-point UK rate rises by the end of the yearBusiness live – latest updatesOil and gas prices have jumped and expectations of interest rate rises in Europe have increased after the US carried out a third night of military strikes against Iran.Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, rose by as much as 4.6% to $87.08 a barrel on Tuesday, its highest level in just over a month. Continue reading...

• European markets remained volatile on July 13, 2026, with oil prices holding higher as investors focused on escalating tensions between the US and Iran. • Chip stocks surged by 10% while gold prices plunged, a shift driven by a strengthening US dollar that some traders suggest signals a potential regime change. • Concerns are mounting over US fiscal health, as national debt has now exceeded the size of the economy and the Treasury is borrowing $155 billion per month.

• European stock markets remained subdued following an escalation of tensions in the Middle East. • The geopolitical flare-up has triggered an uptick in oil prices, contributing to market volatility and investor caution. • This situation matters as rising energy costs and regional instability often lead to broader economic uncertainty across European indices.

• European companies are projected to achieve their strongest profit growth in three years during the second-quarter reporting season. • The surge is primarily driven by expected blowout results from oil majors, banking institutions, and companies benefiting from the artificial intelligence boom. • This trend signals a significant recovery in corporate earnings across the region, highlighting the resilience of key industrial and financial sectors.

• Asian stock markets extended their losses, with Singapore's Straits Times Index dropping 1% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipping 0.5%. • The decline is driven by a surge in oil prices, which has intensified investor concerns regarding global inflation. • Market participants are now awaiting the release of U.S. consumer price index (CPI) data on Tuesday to gauge the Federal Reserve's future interest rate policy.

• Oil prices surged 2% to a four-week high following the United States' decision to reinstate a naval blockade on Iran. • The price spike is driven by escalating military tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global energy shipments. • This development raises significant international concerns regarding the stability and security of global oil supplies.

• The FTSE 100 remained largely flat on Monday, closing up just 1.00 point at 10,498.29, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.1% to 23,396.58. • Oil prices increased as a result of escalating Middle East tensions and renewed friction between the US and Iran. • Market stability is currently being tested by geopolitical instability, impacting energy costs and investor sentiment.

• The FTSE 100 is expected to open lower on Monday following a decline in investor sentiment. • Renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven oil prices sharply higher, pushing them toward the $80 mark. • This volatility is impacting global markets, weighing on London stocks as energy costs and regional instability create economic uncertainty.

Lobby appeals to prospective PM’s reindustrialisation agenda as it pushes for Rosebank and Jackdaw approvalThe UK’s North Sea oil industry has made a last-ditch attempt to curry favour with the Labour government by appealing to Andy Burnham’s reindustrialisation agenda just days before he is expected to become Britain’s next prime minister.Industry lobbyists have written to more than 400 Labour MPs to call on the government’s new leaders to allow more oil and gas drilling in UK waters to support homegrown energy and show “a commitment to UK manufacturing, industrial capability and the skilled workforce that has powered the nation for generations”. Continue reading...

• Major stock indexes closed lower on July 13, 2026, driven by a decline in memory chipmaker shares, including SK Hynix. • Oil prices surged following President Donald Trump's announcement that the U.S. is reinstating a blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz. • The market volatility coincides with the start of second-quarter earnings reports from several major national banks this week.

• Asian stock markets declined as escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran drove oil prices higher, creating volatility across the region. • South Korea's KOSPI experienced the steepest drop, sliding 5%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3% and India's Nifty 50 futures slipped 0.6%. • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index remained largely unchanged, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index saw a minor decrease of 0.2%.

• Global oil prices surged over 4% and Asian stock markets declined following fresh military strikes between the US and Iran. • The escalation has reignited critical concerns regarding the security of the Strait of Hormuz, global inflation, and overall economic stability. • Market volatility hit the tech sector hard, with Samsung Electronics dropping over 6% and Japanese chip equipment makers Advantest and Tokyo Electron each losing more than 1%.