WTI rose for a third day, reaching about $95.80\u2013$95.85 in Asia, a one-and-a-half-week high. It later slipped but stayed just above $92.00, up nearly 0.30% on the day.<\/p>\n
A temporary extension of the US-Iran ceasefire did not remove concerns about continued conflict. Tension around the Strait of Hormuz kept worries about disruption to the shipping route.<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the US Navy blockade of Iranian ports will continue. Iran\u2019s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards Navy seized two vessels, and that at least three container ships were hit by gunfire in the Strait on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Prices also found support after a surprise draw in US crude stockpiles. An intraday jump was linked to false reports of an attack on Tehran, and the move later eased.<\/p>\n
With WTI crude holding strong around $88, we see a familiar pattern emerging. Tensions are again high in the Red Sea, while the latest EIA report showed a surprise inventory draw of 3.1 million barrels last week. This tight supply backdrop mirrors situations we’ve navigated before.<\/p>\n
We are reminded of the Strait of Hormuz tensions back in 2025, when similar disruptions pushed prices firmly above the $92 mark. The market is once again pricing in a significant geopolitical risk premium, suggesting the path of least resistance is upwards. The fundamental picture, supported by OPEC+ maintaining production cuts through the second quarter, supports a bullish stance for oil.<\/p>\n
For those looking to capitalize on this, buying out-of-the-money call options for June 2026 delivery appears prudent. A move towards the $95 strike price offers considerable upside if these supply fears continue to mount. This strategy allows for participation in a rally while strictly defining the risk to the premium paid.<\/p>\n
However, we also remember how quickly prices retreated on rumors during the 2025 spike, creating significant volatility. With implied volatility currently elevated, selling cash-secured puts below the current market, perhaps at the $82 or $80 level, could be a way to collect rich premiums. This benefits traders if prices move up, sideways, or even fall slightly.<\/p>\n
Create your live VT Markets account<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0start trading<\/a>\u00a0now. <\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WTI crude rose to $95.85, then eased above $92 amid Hormuz tensions and declining US stockpiles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-live-updates"],"acf":{"acf_article_selection_author":null},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t