Two Sides of the Strait, One Reality
Oil prices experienced a sharp drop when signals of an agreement between Washington and Tehran regarding the Strait of Hormuz reached the market. Brent lost 7.4% yesterday. However, a denial from Iran on the same day showed that this story is not yet finished.
There are two different narratives. On one side, the US Treasury Secretary says "the deal is done," on the other, Tehran says "it's not over yet." The market, however, preferred to believe only one side.
Looking at the price movement of oil over the last month, the fragility of the situation is evident. Brent, which was at $71 at the beginning of July, tested $102 in the middle of the month. It is currently hovering around $84. This fluctuation, exceeding 40%, cannot be explained by a normal supply-demand balance. This is the pricing of a risk premium and then its subsequent pullback.
Markets are now accustomed to reacting instantly to news flow. While oil prices fell on the possibility of the Strait of Hormuz opening, the stance of a deeper player is different. Gold continues to hold at the $4,040 level. Oil traders are short-term investors, watching whether the tanker will pass through the strait. Gold buyers, on the other hand, are long-term investors, watching the direction of the system. The fact that these two assets are looking in different directions simultaneously suggests there is a mispricing somewhere.
The content of the agreement also changes the situation. Iran's offer is based on controlling one of the two routes through the strait entirely and part of the other. Tehran is negotiating control, not money. Price negotiations can be concluded in a day. Sovereignty negotiations, however, can last for months. Bessent's previously publicized conditions are also clear: the delivery of enriched uranium and the abandonment of nuclear weapons. These points cannot be expected to be signed tomorrow.
There are also developments on the supply side. OPEC+ increased the daily quota by 188,000 barrels as of August. This is the fifth increase in the last five months. Diplomacy is not the only factor dragging down oil prices; the expectation of a supply surplus is also at play.
As long as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, $84 may seem like a cheap price. However, if the strait opens, the $70 levels will be discussed again. Every denial will cause the price to jump upwards. This uncertainty creates a more dangerous wave in the direction of the conflict. Every jump in oil prices fuels inflation expectations, and every drop fuels recession fears.
Every move that plays with fire in the Middle East directly affects the pulse of the global economy. As long as negotiations continue between the two sides of the strait, markets will continue to fluctuate.
This article does not constitute investment advice.
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