Middle East clashes keep oil rising — load up on energy stocks and oil ETFs
Fighting between the US and Iran is escalating, threatening a fragile peace deal and blocking a major oil shipping route. In response, oil prices have been climbing for three straight days, and Middle Eastern countries are now looking to hoard more oil globally to ensure they can keep supplying their customers.
Idea
Renewed clashes between the US and Iran are directly threatening the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint. Because a lasting peace deal looks less likely, the market is pricing in a continued risk of supply disruptions, driving oil prices higher. Kuwait's separate announcement that it wants to expand its global oil storage confirms that major producers are actively preparing for prolonged instability in the region. With energy companies catching a bid while the broader stock market dips, this trend looks ready to continue as long as Middle East tensions remain elevated.