Commodities (Crude Oil & Copper) & Macro Outlook

The U.S. import price index in July increased 5.9% year-over-year, below the expected 6.7% and down from 7.1% in June.

According to U.S. Census Bureau, export prices in the United States declined 1.3% month-over-month in July, falling short of the expected 0% growth and marking a steeper drop than the prior month's 0.6% decline.

According to BlockBeats, the crack spread between U.S. diesel and crude oil hit a record high of $102.20 per barrel on August 18, as crude prices fell while refined product prices climbed amid supply pressures from geopolitical disruptions and seasonal demand. WTI crude oil has broken through the d

According to CCTV, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Kalibaff reiterated today (August 18) that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States fulfills the conditions outlined in its memorandum of understanding with Iran, including lifting the naval blockade and sanctions o

According to Xinda Futures research, crude oil held steady above $88 on August 18 as covert shipping activity through the strait limited the supply premium typically expected from the ceasefire expiration and escalation in Lebanon. While ceasefire expiration and regional tensions would normally

According to Reuters and shipping trackers Kpler and Vortexa, Saudi Aramco resumed loading crude oil at ports in the Strait of Hormuz from August 12-16, with three Very Large Crude Carriers loading 2 million barrels.

According to Guru Club, MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined 0.7% on August 18, ending four consecutive days of gains, with losses led by declines in Samsung Electronics and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. The Emerging Markets Currency Index fell 0.1%, while the U.S. dollar

According to Guru Club, on August 18, coke producers launched their first round of price hikes of 50–55 yuan per ton, with the hikes expected to take effect. Coking coal prices rose significantly across major trading hubs: at Ganqimaodu Port, Mongolia Grade 5 raw coal reached 1,431 yuan per ton

Xiaomi said memory chip prices are expected to show slower growth for the remainder of 2026.

According to Yonhapinfomax, South Korean government bond yields surged on August 18, with the curve steepening significantly. The 3-year government bond yield rose 5.1 basis points to 3.847%, while the 10-year yield climbed 6.9bp to 4.382%. The 10-year bond futures fell 60 ticks to 105.07. U.S.

Long-term government bond yields in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan rose to multi-decade highs on the 18th, according to the Korea Center for International Finance. The US 30-year Treasury yield reached 5.33%, the highest level since June 2007 when it hit 5.40%. Japan's 10-year bond yie

According to the International Financial Center, U.S. 30-year Treasury yields hit 5.33% on August 18, marking the highest level in 19 years since June 2007. Japan's 10-year yields surged to 2.95%, the highest in 30 years since 1996, while UK 30-year yields approached 6% at 5.84%. The spike

According to ONGC's official statement, the Indian Oil and Natural Gas Corporation received required U.S. government approval in July 2026 to resume full operations in Venezuela and pursue operator qualification. The company clarified reports regarding the approval and its operational plans in the S

According to Wall Street Journal, global diesel supply is tightening as Russian and Middle Eastern disruptions force markets to compete for U.S. fuel. As of last week, European diesel benchmark prices surged to $167 per barrel, up sharply from $87 a year prior. U.S. distillate exports (including die

According to Iran's Press TV, the country's non-oil exports and imports reached $15 billion and $17 billion respectively since early 2026, declining an average of 24% compared to the same period last year, according to statements from Iranian

On August 18, 2026, Gate market data showed Brent crude at $89.16 per barrel, up approximately 5% for the week; WTI crude was at $84.09 per barrel, up 3.06% over the past 24 hours. Since the beginning of 2026, international oil prices have risen by more than 75% cumulatively, with geopolitical risk premiums becoming the key driver of prices, rather than traditional supply-and-demand fundamentals. Source: Gate 行情数据 On August 18, Gate mark

According to Iranian state media, Iran's chief negotiator Kalibaff stated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets the conditions of a preliminary agreement. The official remarks underscore Tehran's position on maintaining the chokepoint closure as leverage in

According to TradingBeats, on August 18, a major whale positioned approximately $8.2 million in short orders on Brent crude oil near the $91 level. BRENTOIL rose 3.4% in 24 hours to $89.19, with the whale having already opened a short position of 27,849.71 contracts at an average price of $88.30 ear

South Korea's KOSPI index ended its five-day winning streak on August 18 as foreign investor net buying momentum weakened, amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and surging long-term U.S. Treasury yields that intensified risk-asset selloff sentiment. Market analysts are closely

According to trading sources and shipping data on August 18, Saudi Aramco resumed crude oil loading in the Strait of Hormuz last week following weeks of suspension due to tanker attacks during the U.S.-Iran escalation in July. Between August 12 and 16, three very large crude carriers