Crude prices swung by more than $10 per barrel in recent weeks, with oil falling in Q3 as investors lost faith in OPEC+ market management. Israel-Iran conflict risk has been the main focus, with crude surging in early October.
Tensions within OPEC+ and slowing Chinese oil demand add to the outlook uncertainty.
Geopolitical risk to crude supply supports prices, while OPEC+ output increases and weaker Chinese demand weigh on them. The net direction for crude remains uncertain heading into Q4.
After 60 past neutral geopolitics events, Crude Oil (WTI) moved a median -0.9% over 5 sessions (43% higher; middle half -4.7% to +2.3%), and -1.9% over 20.
After 63 past neutral geopolitics events, Crude Oil (Brent) moved a median -0.5% over 5 sessions (44% higher; middle half -4.4% to +2.6%), and -2.7% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.