Crude oil futures experienced a significant decline on Monday, October 16th, following media reports indicating that the United States is in the process of easing sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry. Additionally, oil prices were pressured by investors’ beliefs that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is unlikely to have immediate impacts on oil supplies.
WTI crude futures tumbled by $1.03, marking a 1.2% drop, ultimately closing at $86.66 per barrel, while BRENT crude futures recorded a $1.24 decrease, translating to a 1.4% decline, with a closing price of $89.65 per barrel.
The catalyst for this sudden dip in crude oil prices was a report from The Washington Post, which cited undisclosed sources, claiming that the U.S. and Venezuelan governments are preparing to announce an agreement on Tuesday, October 17th, to ease U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry.
According to the source, these sanctions will be relaxed after the Venezuelan government made a commitment to hold new presidential elections next year, with foreign country representatives set to oversee the process.
Furthermore, the drop in oil prices was influenced by the prevailing sentiment that the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East is unlikely to escalate and significantly impact oil supplies in the short term. Diplomatic efforts are actively underway from various sides to de-escalate the situation.
U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken, held discussions with Arab leaders to address the Israel-Hamas conflict and explore ways to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. In parallel, a senior Kremlin official, Yuri Yushakov, revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to speak with Israeli and Arab leaders by phone, with the aim of preventing the Israel-Palestine conflict from intensifying further.
An additional factor weighing on oil markets is the United States’ reportedly ongoing secret negotiations with Iran. The U.S. has issued warnings to Iran, urging them not to intervene in the Israel-Hamas conflict to avoid exacerbating the situation.
Investors are closely monitoring the release of the American Petroleum Institute (API) crude oil stocks report today. This report precedes the official release of crude oil stock figures by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), scheduled for Wednesday. These data releases will provide crucial insights into the current state of the oil market.
As the world awaits the upcoming announcements regarding sanctions on Venezuela and the developments in the Middle East conflict, the oil market remains in a state of flux, with the potential for further price fluctuations in the coming days.
The Spot Market is Open
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
| Energy Updated at | USD Price | Change | %Change |
| Crude Oil 10.50 | 86.48 | -0.18 | -0.21% |