China's Manufacturing Sector Shrank again in July!

China's manufacturing sector showed a clear sign of contraction in July 2025, amid escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. The Chinese manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), a key indicator of manufacturing activity, fell from 49.7 in June to 49.3 i…

Read more »

Mideast Tensions Flare, Then Fizzle: Syria's Near Miss and the Unexpected Calm in Oil Markets

The never-ending volatility in the Middle East took yet another turn for the worse this week, when the Druze community in Syria came under attack from some sections of the Bedouin tribes in Syria; the closer relations of the former with the state of Israel made an already tense situation even worse…

Read more »

Oil Market Takes Bearish Turn: Red Sea Attacks Escalate as OPEC+ Boosts Supply

The price of crude oil has shifted to bearish territory in light of softening demand, increased supply and evolving geopolitical risks.  Despite a brief lull following a ceasefire between the US and the Houthis, Yemen's Houthi rebels have resumed attacking ships in the Red Sea. A recent incident…

Read more »

Oil Prices Remain Stable Amidst Middle East Volatility

Despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, crude oil prices have remained remarkably steady. As of 09:53 GMT, WTI was priced at $65.23 and Brent at $67.02. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) was at $3.45. Contrary to some analysts' and investment bankers' predictions of soaring oil prices, this d…

Read more »

Strait of Hormuz: will Iran make a bold move by closing it?

Following a US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, reports indicate that the Iranian parliament has approved closing the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against its long-standing adversary, the United States. However, the final decision rests with Iran's Supreme Security Council and, ultimate…

Read more »

Escalating Conflict Between Israel and Iran: oil and gas prices move up

The military conflict between Iran and Israel took a turn for the worse, as some missiles passed through Israel's layered anti-missile defence system that resulted in a damage to a major medical centre and a hospital on Thursday morning. In response, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime  minis…

Read more »

Beyond Tweets: How the Trump-Musk Feud Could Reshape US Politics and EVs

The feud between the world's most powerful man, President Trump, and the richest man, Elon Musk, dramatically escalated on Thursday this week, taking both their loyalists and critics by surprise. While the intensity of the exchange was unexpected, the underlying policy disagreement over federal…

Read more »

As Nuclear Talks Falter, Middle East Tensions Could Spook Oil Markets

Nuclear talks between the US and Iran have hit a roadblock after five rounds of indirect discussions. A new US proposal, delivered via Oman on Saturday, was rejected by Iran, while calling it a "bad deal" and "completely one-sided." Despite earlier cautious optimism, significant …

Read more »

Oil markets under pressure on many fronts!

The energy markets are facing a challenging period, marked by rising US crude inventories that underscore a weakening demand environment and abundant supply. This situation is compounded by several geopolitical and economic developments creating significant uncertainty. Geopolitical Tensions Escalat…

Read more »

Japan's economic woes and US credit downgrade by Moody's weigh on stagnating oil prices

The news about serious economic woes faced by Japan could not have come at a worse time for the crude oil markets, which are struggling to come out of the stagnant phase. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivered a blunt assessment of Japan's economic condition, stating its financial situation is …

Read more »

Evolving Geopolitical Landscape Pushes Oil and Gas Prices Up

As the military standoff between India and Pakistan subsided, thanks to President Trump's intervention, the oil markets suddenly found some optimism, at least, for a brighter near-future. The prices of oil and gas are exhibiting a gradual upward trend, coinciding with a discernible easing of geo…

Read more »

Will the oil market crash on Monday following OPEC+'s surprising announcement?

In an unexpected move on Saturday, the core members of OPEC+ declared plans to increase oil production by 411,000 barrels per day starting in June. The decision was made despite a recent downward trend in oil prices.  This increase builds upon the existing gradual rise of 138,000 bpd that began in …

Read more »

OPEC+ Showdown: High Stakes in the Market Share vs. Stability Battle

A curious paradox unfolded in the oil market this week: despite growing anxieties over a looming military conflict between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors, crude oil prices experienced a significant decline; the prices of both WTI and Brent have been at their the lowest since 2021, just…

Read more »