Oil

• Groepen stellen dat de rechter van het Hooggerechtshof, die aandelen in de olie-industrie bezit, mogelijk ethische codes schendt door deel te nemen aan bepaalde zaken. • Rechter Samuel Alito, die aandelen in oliebedrijven bezit, zou volgens overheidswaakhonden de ethische codes van het hof kunnen overtreden door deel te nemen aan zaken die gunstig kunnen zijn voor de grote olie-industrie. • In een brief van donderdag riep een coalitie van waakhondorganisaties de gerechtelijke commissie van de Senaat op om Alito, de enige rechter van het Hooggerechtshof met belangen in energiebedrijven, te onderzoeken. Lees verder...

• Het aanhoudende conflict in het Midden-Oosten heeft de olieprijzen opgedreven, wat volgens een analyse van Deloitte naar verwachting de economische groei van de VS zal vertragen in vergelijking met een basisscenario zonder conflict. • Ondanks de druk van verhoogde energiekosten is het onwaarschijnlijk dat Amerikaanse bedrijven hun investeringsplannen materieel zullen verminderen, dankzij de veerkrachtige groei in de AI- en technologiesectoren. • Hogere olieprijzen zullen Amerikaanse consumenten raken via gestegen kosten, hoewel de bredere economische veerkracht door AI-investeringen sommige effecten kan verzachten.

• De Amerikaanse aandelenmarkten daalden dinsdag, waarbij de S&P 500 met 0,9% zakte vanaf recordhoogtes door zwakkere technologieaandelen en stijgende olieprijzen te midden van onzekerheid over het conflict met Iran. • De Amerikaanse referentieolie steeg met $ 3,43 naar $ 101,50 per vat, terwijl Brent crude met $ 3,62 steeg naar $ 107,83 per vat, nadat President Trump verklaarde dat het staakt-het-vuren tussen de VS en Iran op "beademing" lag na het afwijzen van het nieuwste vredigvoorstel van Iran. • Brent crude is met 50% gestegen ten opzichte van de pre-oorlogsniveaus van rond de $ 70, wat bijdraagt aan de wereldwijde inflatiedruk en Amerikaanse huishoudens belast door hogere benzineprijzen en prijzen van goederen gekoppeld aan nieuwe tarieven.

• Een mislukt vredigvoorstel in het weekend stuwde de olieprijzen en de rendementen op 10-jarige Treasury-obligaties maandagochtend omhoog, terwijl aandelenfutures licht lager openden. • Markten negeerden geopolitieke risico's vorige week, waarbij olie daalde na opmerkingen over een staakt-het-vuren in Iran, maar hernieuwde spanningen keerden deze trend om te midden van wereldwijde volatiliteit op de energiemarkt. • Gasprijzen stegen landelijk, wat de inflatievooruitzichten compliceert met een headline CPI boven de 3,5% ondanks een afnemende core PCE, waardoor de vooruitzichten voor renteverlagingen door de Fed verslechteren.

• Calbee stapt over van felgekleurde verpakkingen naar zwart-wit omdat de oorlog de levering van bepaalde grondstoffen voor inkt heeft verstoord. • De grootste snackfabrikant van Japan is gedwongen om voor sommige vlaggenschipproducten zwart-wit verpakkingen te gebruiken vanwege tekorten aan inktsamenstellingen veroorzaakt door de blokkade van de Straat van Hormuz. • Calbee maakte dinsdag bekend dat 14 van haar producten tegen eind mei zullen overstappen op monochrome branding. Lees verder...

• Het Witte Huis breidt de aanwezigheid van de Amerikaanse olie-industrie in Venezuela agressief uit, waarbij energiewinst prioriteit krijgt. • Deze oliestoet staat in schril contrast met de toezeggingen van Trump aan de democratie, aangezien verkiezingen in de strategie naar de achtergrond worden geschoven. • Het beleid is van belang voor de Amerikaanse energiezekerheid, maar riskeert de geloofwaardigheid op het gebied van mensenrechten en eerlijk bestuur in het buitenland te ondermijnen.

• Indiase aandelen worden deze week naar verwachting zeer gevoelig over te blijven voor geopolitieke ontwikkelingen, waarbij markten de aanhoudende situatie tussen de VS en Iran volgen en fluctuerende ruwe olieprijzen die scherpe bewegingen in large-cap aandelen kunnen veroorzaken. • Buitenlandse beleggers hebben in mei tot nu toe 14.231 crore roepie aan Indiase aandelen teruggetrokken te midden van wereldwijde macro-economische onzekerheden, wat duidt op een afnemend vertrouwen in de markt door externe tegenwind. • Belangrijke macro-economische publicaties van deze week zijn onder meer de CPI-inflatiegegevens van India voor april en de Amerikaanse inflatiecijfers (CPI en PPI), waarvan analisten waarschuwen dat ze de verwachtingen over renteverlagingen van de Federal Reserve en het wereldwijde risicosentiment materieel kunnen beïnvloeden.

• China importeerde in januari ongeveer 1,1 miljoen vaten Russische ruwe olie per dag, waarbij het aandeel van Moskou in de totale olie-import daalde naar 21%. • Deze vermindering sluit aan bij bredere trends waarbij China stilletjes de totale olie-import met ongeveer een kwart heeft teruggebracht ten opzichte van het niveau voor de oorlog, naar ongeveer 8,2 miljoen vaten per dag, volgens gegevens van Vortexa. • De inkrimping heeft de wereldwijde oliemarkt hergebalanceerd door aanbod vrij te maken, waardoor benchmarks nabij de 100 Amerikaanse dollar per vat bleven ondanks meer dan 60 dagen conflict in de Perzische Golf.

Home reportedly occupied by mother of Paul Flores, who was convicted of killing college student who went missing in 1996Soil testing at a property linked to the man convicted in the murder of California college student Kristin Smart, who disappeared in 1996, turned up evidence of human remains, a state sheriff announced on Friday.“We can’t call it Kristin, but there’s evidence to support human remains – there at one time,” the San Luis Obispo county sheriff, Ian Parkinson, said at a news conference. Continue reading...

Norway’s energy minister says country has a ‘responsibility’ to address shortfalls caused by wars in Ukraine and Middle EastIn case of any doubt about Norway’s commitment to maintain – and expand – its production of gas and oil offshore, the energy minister, Terje Aasland, has a pithy response: “We will develop, not dismantle, activity on our continental shelf.”This week, to the alarm of environmental campaigners, he announced that three gasfields off the country’s southern coast would reopen by the end of 2028 – nearly three decades after they closed – to meet a shortfall caused by the impact of the war in Ukraine and disruption to supplies from the Middle East. Continue reading...

• JPMorgan analysis shows markets repricing oil-driven inflation risks, with global equities adjusting to potential rate hike scenarios amid recent oil price surges. • Central banks are providing clearer signals on monetary policy, suggesting rate hikes may not materialize as aggressively as feared despite elevated energy costs. • The divergence highlights inflation fears running ahead of underlying economic reality, potentially creating buying opportunities if data moderates.

• Asian stock markets fell broadly on Friday as renewed clashes between the US and Iran strained ceasefire efforts, with missile and drone attacks prompting US retaliatory strikes on Iranian military facilities. • Tokyo's Nikkei 225 dropped 1.1% to 62,174, retreating from a record high of 62,833 reached Thursday, while SoftBank Group lost over 5% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.3% to 26,289. • Oil prices climbed amid Middle East uncertainty, with Brent crude rising 1.1% to $101.13 per barrel—roughly 44% higher than pre-war levels in late February.

• The S&P 500 fell 0.4% or 28.01 points to 7,337.11 on Thursday, retreating from its all-time high, while the Dow dropped 313.62 points or 0.6% to 49,596.97 and Nasdaq slipped 0.1% or 32.75 points to 25,806.20. • Oil prices yo-yoed due to Wall Street's waiting on hopes for a deal to end the Iran war, with earlier sharp swings from dashed expectations of reopening the Strait of Hormuz; Iran created a government agency to vet and tax vessels passing through, potentially raising fuel costs. • Standouts included Axon Enterprise rallying 10.6% after raising its revenue forecast due to counter-drone product growth, and Albemarle rising 3% on better-than-expected results, while Shake Shack tumbled 28.3% and Whirlpool fell 11.9% on weak earnings.

• Asian stock markets retreated from recent record peaks as escalating Middle East tensions revived concerns over crude oil supply disruptions and energy price stability. • The geopolitical escalation triggered steep losses in oil markets, reversing earlier gains and creating volatility across regional equity indices. • Rising energy supply concerns underscore the fragility of the recent market rally despite strong AI sector performance, with investors reassessing risk exposure to conflict-affected regions.

State can meet fuel demand for next six weeks with its current supply, its energy commission vice-chair said. Plus, alleged Jeffrey Epstein suicide note unsealed by federal judgeGood morning.Gas prices have risen above $6 in California – but there is yet more uncertainty on the horizon after the last oil tanker from the Middle East arrived in the state this week.What do we know about progress on a deal? Axios reported on Wednesday that Washington and Tehran were close to agreeing on a memorandum of understanding to end the war. Officials in Pakistan told the Guardian that an initial framework could possibly be agreed within 48 hours – but that nothing was certain and talks remained “difficult”.Head to our liveblog for the latest. Continue reading...

Four empty oil tanks were reportedly damaged, although it’s unclear whether the drones belong to Ukraine or RussiaLatvia is investigating two drones which entered its airspace from Russian territory overnight and crashed in eastern part of the country near an empty oil storage facility.Four empty oil tanks were reported damaged, with minor smouldering reported in one of the tanks. The local public broadcaster captured a drone flying in the area on their camera. Continue reading...

• Brent crude futures rose 88 cents or 0.9% to $102.15 a barrel, while WTI advanced $1.12 or 1.2% to $96.20, trimming prior 7% losses after US President Donald Trump called direct talks with Iran premature. • A senior Iranian lawmaker dismissed the US peace proposal as a 'wish list' rather than practical, amid demands to halt Tehran's nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. • Markets assess if Middle East peace efforts will succeed, with strategist Hiroyuki Kikukawa noting discussions may continue until the US-China summit but uncertainty persists afterward.

With gas more than $6 in state, delivery of some 2m barrels is last planned shipment to pass through strait of HormuzMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe average price of a gallon of gas in California already stands at more than $6, but more uncertainty looms as the last oil tanker headed from the Middle East arrived in the Golden state this week.The Los Angeles Times reported on Sunday that the New Corolla, which left the Middle East for California before the war broke out, is delivering some 2m barrels of crude oil from Iraq to Long Beach. It was the last planned shipment to pass through the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...

• Indian equity indices surged sharply on May 6, 2026, with Sensex gaining 940.73 points (1.22%) to close at 77,958.52 and Nifty rising 298.15 points (1.24%) to 24,330.95, driven by optimism over potential US-Iran peace negotiations and declining crude oil prices. • Banking stocks led the rally following the Union Cabinet's approval of an emergency credit guarantee programme worth Rs 15,800 crore to support businesses facing liquidity stress, with Hero MotoCorp climbing 2.6% and Mahindra & Mahindra advancing 3.1% on strong quarterly earnings. • Broader market indices also gained traction, with Nifty smallcap100 and midcap100 rising 0.9% and 1.1% respectively, though FMCG stocks declined amid easing geopolitical tensions in West Asia that had previously pushed Brent crude to $115 per barrel.

US president briefly pauses ‘Project Freedom’ operation escorting ships through strait of HormuzBusiness live – latest updatesOil prices have eased and stock markets rallied as Donald Trump touted “great progress” towards a “final agreement” with Iran, while momentum in AI-driven trading accelerated.The US president said he would briefly pause his “Project Freedom” operation escorting ships through the strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the global oil supplies and has been blockaded by Iran since late February, triggering an energy crisis. Continue reading...

US president pauses ‘Project Freedom’ to work on ‘final agreement’ with Tehran; stocks also ride high on AI euphoriaGood morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.Asian stock markets hit record highs, following in Wall Street’s footsteps, and oil prices retreated after Donald Trump hailed “great progress” towards a “final agreement” with Tehran.on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran”.Investors bought and continue to add to positioning in the 2026 winners. There has been some buying in S&P 500 materials stocks, but it’s tech that continues to attract the bulk of flows, notably in Apple and the memory plays.9am BST: Eurozone services and composite PMIs for April9.30am BST: UK services and composite PMIs for April1.15pm BST: US ADP employment change for April Continue reading...

Ilie Bolojan’s PNL loses confidence vote after less than a year amid austerity drive and far-right surgeRomania’s pro-European government has collapsed after losing a confidence vote, unleashing renewed political turmoil less than a year after the ruling coalition was sworn in and with the far right surging in the polls.“This censure motion is false, cynical and artificial,” the liberal prime minister, Ilie Bolojan, told parliamentarians before the vote on Tuesday. “Any country in a multitude of crises would try to consolidate governments, not to change them.” Continue reading...

• UBS, a Switzerland-based global financial firm, has lowered its GDP growth forecast for India in FY27 to 6.2 percent, representing a downward revision of 50 basis points due to intensifying oil crisis triggered by global tensions. • The Swiss brokerage attributes the slowdown to prolonged energy crisis stemming from Middle East conflict, severe supply chain disruptions, and rising inflation pressures across the Indian economy. • This downgrade reflects concerns about India's economic resilience amid external shocks, though the 6.2% growth rate still positions India among faster-growing major economies globally.

• Oil prices jumped above $100 per barrel and broke through $115 as Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude rising 6% amid U.S. efforts to free up shipping lanes. • The S&P 500 fell with all 11 sectors declining except energy (+0.9%); Dow Jones dropped approximately 1%, while Asia ex-Japan surged 2.8% led by KOSPI's 5% gain to new highs. • U.S. Treasury yields climbed across the curve by 7-10 basis points, with the 30-year Treasury clearing 5.0% as inflation pressures mount and the USD index moved higher above 98.

• National average gasoline prices surged to historic highs on May 3, 2026, amid the ongoing Iran war and disruptions in key oil routes like the Strait of Hormuz. • The spike in fuel and grocery prices is hammering American pocketbooks, contributing to President Trump's declining poll numbers. • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the U.S. economic blockade is suffocating Iran's regime, costing it $435 million in daily economic activity.

• Young investors in Singapore are increasingly allocating funds to domestic stocks as a safe haven during volatile global markets. • The trend reflects a search for stability amid uncertainties in international equities and broader economic pressures. • Local market resilience draws this demographic, potentially boosting Singapore's exchange volumes and liquidity.

• ExxonMobil and Chevron both surpassed profit expectations in their latest quarterly reports. • Shares of the energy majors remained muted despite the beats, pressured by Iran's submission of a new agreement proposal to the US for resuming Persian Gulf oil exports. • The developments contributed to a broader pullback in oil prices, supporting gains in US equities.

• India's BSE Sensex ended 0.8% down at 76,913.5 on Thursday, reversing prior gains due to elevated oil prices and global cues. • Financial stocks led losses with Axis Bank dropping 3.4% on marginal Q4 profit decline, while gainers included Cohance up 20% and Reliance rising 2.9%. • The decline highlights sector vulnerabilities, impacting investor sentiment in a volatile market environment.