# Oil prices crumple; natural gas volatility to remain | Capital Economics

> Brent crude fell about 6% in the week to around $84 a barrel as fears of a Middle East escalation receded. OPEC+ is set to meet in June to decide production targets for July onward, and Middle East tensions remain a focus.

- Date: 2024-05-03 · published 2024-05-03T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: geopolitics · region Middle East · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/7233-oil-prices-crumple-natural-gas-volatility-to-remain-capital-economics
- Commodities: [Crude Oil (Brent)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BRENT.md), [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md)

## Why it matters

The decline in the geopolitical risk premium lowers energy costs that feed into biofuel margins and freight, which can soften vegetable oil and corn support. OPEC+ decisions later in the period could reverse the trend.

## Read by commodity

- WTI: bearish ▼
- BRENT: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BRENT | 2024-09-03 | [Crude oil prices today: WTI erases all 2024 gains](https://feedsoft.ai/events/12385-crude-oil-prices-today-wti-erases-all-2024-gains.md) | -7.9% | -8.0% |
| BRENT | 2026-05-06 | [Brent Crude Price: Oil and gas plunge after report US and Iran near deal to end war](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9582-brent-crude-price-oil-and-gas-plunge-after-report-us-and-iran-near-deal-to-end.md) | -2.3% | -11.1% |
| BRENT | 2026-03-10 | [Oil and gas prices fall after Trump says war is 'very complete' - BBC News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9387-oil-and-gas-prices-fall-after-trump-says-war-is-very-complete-bbc-news.md) | +4.1% | +27.2% |
| BRENT | 2026-03-24 | [Oil prices drop 2% as Iran considers US proposal to end war \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/8151-oil-prices-drop-2-as-iran-considers-us-proposal-to-end-war-reuters.md) | +15.1% | +0.4% |
| BRENT | 2026-02-02 | [Oil prices fall nearly 5%, below $62/bbl on US‑Iran de‑escalation - The Economic Times](https://feedsoft.ai/events/8801-oil-prices-fall-nearly-5-below-62-bbl-on-us-iran-de-escalation-the-economic.md) | -3.1% | +0.6% |
| WTI | 2024-09-03 | [Crude oil prices today: WTI erases all 2024 gains](https://feedsoft.ai/events/12385-crude-oil-prices-today-wti-erases-all-2024-gains.md) | -6.6% | -7.6% |
| WTI | 2026-05-06 | [Brent Crude Price: Oil and gas plunge after report US and Iran near deal to end war](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9582-brent-crude-price-oil-and-gas-plunge-after-report-us-and-iran-near-deal-to-end.md) | +0.0% | -5.8% |
| WTI | 2026-03-10 | [Oil and gas prices fall after Trump says war is 'very complete' - BBC News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9387-oil-and-gas-prices-fall-after-trump-says-war-is-very-complete-bbc-news.md) | -1.3% | +20.4% |

## Sources

- capitaleconomics.com: https://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/commodities-weekly/oil-prices-crumple-natural-gas-volatility-remain

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.