Daily Oil Fundamentals

Fading Peace Prospects, Falling US Oil Inventories

21 Aug 2025

Fading Peace Prospects, Falling US Oil Inventories

A combination of factors pushed oil prices higher, more than offsetting Tuesday’s losses. Following the recent diplomatic pinballing, it is once again suspected that Russia will not accept the role of the loser. Talks of a Russia–Ukraine meeting remain just that - talks - and US security guarantees for Ukraine would only be acceptable if Russia were included. You got that?

Daily Oil Fundamentals

Looking for Temporary Shelter

20 Aug 2025

Looking for Temporary Shelter

Risk was off yesterday as both equities and oil lost value. The retreat in the former might be deemed surprising. Credit rating agency S&P Global affirmed its ‘AA+’ rating on US debt, citing elevated tariff revenues, which are expected to offset the fiscal deficit caused by the spending bill.

Daily Oil Fundamentals

Elusive Ukrainian Peace, Tentative Middle East One

19 Aug 2025

Elusive Ukrainian Peace, Tentative Middle East One

Geopolitics continues to shape sentiment across all markets. A somewhat encouraging development in the Israel–Hamas conflict emerged yesterday: the Palestinian terrorist organisation reportedly agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal and to release half of the Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel freeing some Palestinian prisoners, according to Egyptian mediators. Israel’s response has not yet been forthcoming, and Hamas has rejected the Israeli demand to disarm.