# Standard Chartered raises 2026 Brent forecasts following Middle East turmoil | Reuters

> Standard Chartered raised its 2026 Brent forecasts, lifting its first-quarter forecast to $74 from $62 and its 2026 average to $70 from $63.50. Brent futures rose about 6% to $82.38 as the US-Israel war against Iran widened and disrupted Middle East oil and gas shipments.

- Date: 2026-03-03 · published 2026-03-03T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region Middle East · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/8006-standard-chartered-raises-2026-brent-forecasts-following-middle-east-turmoil
- Commodities: [Crude Oil (Brent)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BRENT.md), [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md), [Natural Gas](https://feedsoft.ai/c/NATGAS.md)

## Why it matters

A bank forecast upgrade reflecting ongoing Gulf supply risk signals higher expected crude prices, which raise energy and transport costs across feed supply chains.

## Read by commodity

- WTI: bullish ▲
- BRENT: bullish ▲
- NATGAS: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BRENT | 2025-11-03 | [Morgan Stanley lifts H1 2026 Brent forecast to $60 on OPEC+ pause, Russia sanctions \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/22139-morgan-stanley-lifts-h1-2026-brent-forecast-to-60-on-opec-pause-russia.md) | -2.4% | -2.5% |
| BRENT | 2026-09-14 | [Dollar gains as Middle East conflict lifts oil, Fed hike looms By Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17642-dollar-gains-as-middle-east-conflict-lifts-oil-fed-hike-looms-by-reuters.md) | +0.3% | +5.0% |
| BRENT | 2026-04-01 | [Oil shock from Middle East war pushes investors to shun Asian currencies: Reuters poll](https://feedsoft.ai/events/20387-oil-shock-from-middle-east-war-pushes-investors-to-shun-asian-currencies.md) | -12.2% | -1.1% |
| BRENT | 2024-04-03 | [BofA hikes 2024 oil forecasts on tighter supply, geopolitical risks \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30900-bofa-hikes-2024-oil-forecasts-on-tighter-supply-geopolitical-risks-reuters.md) | +2.8% | -0.3% |
| BRENT | 2024-01-30 | [Crude oil prices today: WTI, Brent rise after IMF forecast](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32274-crude-oil-prices-today-wti-brent-rise-after-imf-forecast.md) | -5.5% | +0.1% |
| WTI | 2024-04-03 | [BofA hikes 2024 oil forecasts on tighter supply, geopolitical risks \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30900-bofa-hikes-2024-oil-forecasts-on-tighter-supply-geopolitical-risks-reuters.md) | +0.1% | -3.2% |
| WTI | 2022-02-03 | [Canadian dollar forecasts turn more bullish as oil hits 7-year high: Reuters poll](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42925-canadian-dollar-forecasts-turn-more-bullish-as-oil-hits-7-year-high-reuters-poll.md) | +1.6% | +22.1% |
| WTI | 2024-01-30 | [Crude oil prices today: WTI, Brent rise after IMF forecast](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32274-crude-oil-prices-today-wti-brent-rise-after-imf-forecast.md) | -5.2% | +3.1% |

## Sources

- reuters.com: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/standard-chartered-raises-2026-brent-forecasts-following-middle-east-turmoil-2026-03-03/

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