A tanker moored at the Keiyo sea pier, in Sodegaura, Chiba province, Japan. Yuichi Yamazaki / AFP The escalation of the war between the United States and Iran once again put pressure on the energy market and led Brent oil, an international benchmark, to surpass US$96 (around R$486.06) per barrel this Thursday (23), the highest level since the beginning of June. The advance comes amid increasing concerns about global oil supplies, given restrictions on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important maritime routes for transporting the commodity. Brent rose 2.2% to US$96.14 per barrel, while WTI oil, the US benchmark, rose 1.8% to US$88.35. At the beginning of the month, Brent was trading below US$72, before the conflict intensified. The continuation of clashes has hampered the circulation of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage through which around a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded globally transits. On Wednesday (22), the American military announced the 12th consecutive night of attacks against Iran, while both sides increase actions against civilian infrastructure.
Oil rises above US$96 and increases fears about global inflation
A tanker moored at the Keiyo sea pier, in Sodegaura, Chiba province, Japan. Yuichi Yamazaki / AFP The escalation of the war between the United States and Iran once again put pressure on the energy market and led Brent...
The rise in oil prices also reignites fears of a new wave of global inflation. Analysts estimate that higher energy prices could put pressure on the costs of companies and consumers and lead central banks, such as the Federal Reserve (Fed), to maintain high interest rates for longer or even promote new increases. Despite concerns about oil, Asian stock markets had a mostly positive performance. South Korea's Kospi index rose 3.7%, driven by stocks linked to artificial intelligence, while Japan's Nikkei rose 0.5%. On Wall Street, however, the impact of the rise in oil prices kept investors cautious, with the main indices operating close to stability. *With information from AP.
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