Audio By Carbonatix
Oil prices fell in early trading on Thursday after the U.S. and Iran signed an interim agreement that would end the Iran war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and waive U.S. sanctions on Tehran's oil, resolving the largest energy supply disruption in history.
Brent crude futures were down 89 cents, or 1.12%, at $78.66 a barrel as of 0005 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate fell 98 cents, or 1.28%, to $75.81 a barrel.
The benchmarks resumed their decline, reversing gains made on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he could resume his bombing campaign if Iran's leaders "don't behave".
"The sell-off extended as energy markets continued to aggressively price in a faster-than-expected return of Iranian barrels following the recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.
The 14-point memorandum begins a 60-day negotiation period during which Iran will allow toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and gas shipping lane. The deal calls for traffic through the strait to be restored to its full capacity within 30 days.
The preliminary accord defers many of the more difficult issues such as Iran's nuclear program, and also requires the U.S. and its partners to come up with a $300 billion plan to finance Iran's recovery.
If the agreement is successfully implemented and the Strait reopened, this year's supply crisis could turn into a significant supply glut in 2027, the IEA cautioned on Wednesday, forecasting in its monthly market report that supply will outstrip demand by 5.05 million barrels per day next year as Middle East oil returns to the market.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is also increasingly weighing whether it will need to raise interest rates later this year to rein in inflation, which could slow economic growth and suppress oil demand.
Nine of 19 Fed policymakers now think a rate hike will be needed, Wednesday projections showed, a departure from three months ago, when none of them held that view.
Latest Stories
-
Scrap 15% priority placement quota for SHS admissions – GNAPS
1 hour -
IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop to visit Ghana for investment talks
1 hour -
GPRTU opposes auctioning broken-down vehicles after 21 days
2 hours -
Nigerian Goodnews Aina crowned J30 Accra champion as Ghana’s Gwendolyn Duvor Klu retires in final
4 hours -
WACCE urges gov’t to declare state of emergency in galamsey-prone areas
4 hours -
NACOC boss calls for practical cross-border action against drug trafficking
4 hours -
Ghana calls for stronger regional cooperation to combat drug trafficking
5 hours -
Ablakwa presents bicycles to 100 North Tongu day students
5 hours -
Ablakwa supports 2,269 North Tongu SHS students with essential items
5 hours -
Dr Bawumia expresses sympathy with farmers over their inability to sell their produce even at reduced prices
5 hours -
Constitutional review: Govt must keep discussions open – Dr Tandoh
5 hours -
GPL 2026/27: David Gyamfi hat-trick fires Ashantigold to historic first victory
5 hours -
Ericsson celebrates 150 years of global innovation, 30 years of partnership and digital transformation in Ghana
6 hours -
Ghana’s Ambassador to Serbia hosts African ambassadors’ September meeting in Belgrade
6 hours -
Ghana closer to terrorism threat than ever before – WACCE
6 hours