Crude oil prices could top $120 per barrel of Brent crude by the end of the year if fighting in the Middle East continues, RBC Capital Markets’ Helima Croft has warned, as quoted by Reuters. “Maritime traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb is gravely imperiled by the Houthi advances,” the analyst said. The comments follow news reports of the Yemeni Houthis taking control of the Red Sea port of Mokha, which will make it possible to launch more direct attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and tankers in the Red Sea. This adds to the…
Market Context
Global crude oil markets remain sensitive to a combination of macroeconomic signals, OPEC+ production policy, and geopolitical developments across key producing regions. Brent crude and WTI serve as the primary price benchmarks, with spread movements reflecting regional supply-demand imbalances and refinery demand shifts.
Energy traders and analysts closely monitor inventory data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which releases weekly petroleum status reports that frequently move markets. Rising inventories typically signal demand weakness or oversupply, while draws support price recovery.
What to Watch
Analysts and traders will be watching upcoming EIA inventory reports, OPEC+ output decisions, and macroeconomic indicators — particularly U.S. Federal Reserve policy signals and China demand data — for directional cues on crude prices in the near term.
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