Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Iran-U.S. MoU Expires as Missile Threats Drive Oil Prices Higher

The Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States technically reached the end of its 60-day window for a deal on Monday. Even during that timeframe, both sides declared the arrangement being dead on multiple occasions, while continuing to communicate through intermediaries. Addressi…

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U.S. and Iran Dig In, Sending Oil Prices Soaring

Oil prices are climbing once again as market optimism fades in the face of entrenched positions from both warring sides. Prices for WTI and Brent have risen substantially over recent days, tracking the escalating rhetoric between the United States and Iran, alongside compounding supply pressures as…

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The Mecca Deal and threats faced by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Amid ongoing Middle East conflict, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye signed a trilateral security agreement featuring a mutual defense clause modeled after NATO's Article 5 - an attack on one member is an attack on all.  While framed around safeguarding the Islamic holy sites of Mecca and Medi…

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President Trump Targets Big Oil Over War Profits as Middle East Tensions Rattle Markets

With the mid-term elections in the United States just three months away, President Trump suddenly turned his focus inward recently, singling out major oil companies Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Aramco for making exorbitant profits at the expense of average U.S. consumers. The three companies posted mas…

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China’s Manufacturing PMI Shrinks Again as Economic Challenges Multiply

According to the latest data from China's National Bureau of Statistics, the country's manufacturing sector contracted in July due to a range of factors. China's manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell from 50.3 in June to 49.2 in July, registering a drop of 1.1 point. In addi…

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