Daily Oil Fundamentals

Elusive Ukrainian Peace, Tentative Middle East One

19 Aug 2025

Elusive Ukrainian Peace, Tentative Middle East One

Geopolitics continues to shape sentiment across all markets. A somewhat encouraging development in the Israel–Hamas conflict emerged yesterday: the Palestinian terrorist organisation reportedly agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal and to release half of the Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel freeing some Palestinian prisoners, according to Egyptian mediators. Israel’s response has not yet been forthcoming, and Hamas has rejected the Israeli demand to disarm.

Daily Oil Fundamentals

Damp Squib

18 Aug 2025

Damp Squib

The much-anticipated summit between the Presidents of the US and Russia turned out to be heavy on symbolism and flattery but very light indeed on concrete progress towards a ceasefire, let alone peace, in Ukraine. The red carpet was rolled out for an indicted war criminal whose country, whilst allegedly pursuing peace, was bombing its neighbour as the talks were taking place.

Daily Oil Fundamentals

The Fall from the Summit Could be Painful

15 Aug 2025

The Fall from the Summit Could be Painful

If you think the investment environment is bewildering, you are correct. The now-infamous nonfarm payroll data from two weeks ago and the subsequent sacking of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics raised many eyebrows, prompting questions about data accuracy. Consumer inflation data was mixed, with the headline reading better than expected but the more significant core figure proving a tad disappointing.