Oil Markets Roiled as Strait of Hormuz Traffic Halts
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Oil Markets Roiled as Strait of Hormuz Traffic Halts

Published: 2 March 2026,07:43

Published: 2 March 2026,07:43

Daily Market Analysis New

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Key Takeaways:

*Middle East conflict has sharply disrupted oil supply, with tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz nearly halted.

*Brent crude surged close to $80 per barrel, while WTI rose about 8%, reflecting immediate supply shock concerns.

*OPEC+ plans a small output increase, but spare capacity is limited, leaving the market vulnerable to prolonged disruption.

Market Summary:

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has sent oil markets into turmoil. Brent crude surged nearly 9% to around $78–$80 per barrel, while WTI rose about 8%, as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz through which roughly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil and LNG flows effectively halted. The closure or near-closure of this strategic chokepoint has disrupted supply chains, elevated war-risk insurance premiums, and delayed shipments of crude, liquefied natural gas, and refined products, creating logistical bottlenecks even before a full shutdown.

OPEC+ has pledged a modest output increase of 206,000 barrels per day starting in April, but most spare capacity lies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, leaving a significant portion of Middle East oil vulnerable to continued disruption. Analysts warn that if the conflict persists, Brent could exceed $100 per barrel, potentially stoking global inflation and acting as a tax on both businesses and consumers. Elevated energy costs may also reduce the likelihood of Federal Reserve rate cuts, complicating the economic outlook.

Political uncertainty in Iran further amplifies market anxiety. With Khamenei’s death, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) could consolidate power, raising the possibility of a prolonged regional conflict and further disruptions to oil exports. Shipping companies, insurers, and refiners are already rerouting vessels and stockpiling reserves to mitigate risk, signaling that the macroeconomic and financial ripple effects could persist for weeks, if not longer.

In short, energy markets face immediate supply shocks, inflationary pressure is mounting, risk sentiment is deteriorating, and political uncertainty in Tehran adds a significant layer of volatility to global markets.

Technical Analysis 

Crude Oil, H4: 

Crude oil on the chart has transitioned from a prolonged corrective phase into an increasingly constructive recovery structure, with price now pressing into a major Fibonacci resistance cluster. After bottoming near the 55.30 region (0% retracement), the market has staged a steady advance, reclaiming successive retracement levels and recently breaking above the 0.382 (65.00) and 0.50 (68.00) zones. Price is now testing the 0.618 retracement near 71.00, a level that represents a critical inflection point within the broader range.

Momentum indicators confirm the improving backdrop. RSI has advanced into the mid-70s, entering overbought territory and signaling strong bullish momentum. While such readings can precede short-term consolidation, they also reflect persistent upside pressure. MACD is firmly in positive territory, with expanding histogram bars and widening separation between the signal lines, reinforcing the view that bullish momentum is accelerating rather than fading.

Resistance Levels: 75.20, 80.65

Support Levels: 71.00, 68.00

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