Brent bias flipped 21 times to neutral on August 18, 2026
Brent crude climbed above $91 a barrel for the first time since July, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized a tanker and the end of a US-Iran ceasefire. The potential closure of the strait until US terms are met adds supply risk through a key chokepoint, while US diesel reserves near 23-year lows highlight broader product supply tightness.
Updated
The reading that day
NeutralAt the close of the UTC day.
BearishNeutralBullish
It changed 21 times during the day.
The day on the wire
00:0006:0012:0018:0024:00
The band shows the reading through the day; a mark shows where it changed. Each tick is a headline first seen that day.
The reading through the day
- 00:00Neutral
- 02:38Weak bullish
- 02:58Neutral
- 03:14Bullish
- 03:51Neutral
- 05:04Bullish
- 05:20Neutral
- 06:14Weak bullish
- 06:29Neutral
- 07:04Weak bearish
- 11:56Bullish
- 15:49Weak bearish
- 16:05Neutral
- 17:01Bullish
- 17:18Neutral
- 18:40Weak bullish
- 18:57Neutral
- 19:29Bullish
- 20:01Bearish
- 20:16Bullish
- 21:06Weak bullish
- 21:23Neutral
Headlines (19)
First seen on August 18
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average prices the war lastFXStreet
- Oil prices rise as US-Iran ceasefire ends; UK wage growth slows amid cost of living squeeze – business liveThe Guardian
- Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US fulfills memorandum terms — parliament speakerTASS
- Iran Halts UAE-Linked Tanker in Hormuz, Attacks Cargo Shipenergyintel.com
- Brent: War-linked range trading outlook – BBHFXStreet
- Brent Breaks $90 — Now US 10-Year at 4.75% Holds the Bigger Market TestActionForex
- U.S. Diesel Reserves Sit Near 23-Year LowsOilPrice.com
Carried over from earlier days
- Oil Majors Reap $93 Billion Windfall From the Iran WarOilPrice.com
- Oil- weekend recap & what's ahead: Iran vows to keep Hormuz shut, Trump tells Americans to accept high gas pricesInvestingLive
- How Ronald Reagan Used Diplomacy to End the Cold Warforeignpolicy.com
- Hormuz Tanker Traffic Slows to a TrickleOilPrice.com
- Iran saw MoU as attempt by Israel, US to buy time for larger attack, so it did the same - reportjpost.com
- Maritime shipping costs have surged to record highs due to conflicts, climate factors — FTTASS
- Zero Tankers Crossed Hormuz on Sunday. Oil Hit $89. Gold Barely Moved.GoldSilver
- Trump demands Iran ‘put up the white flag of surrender’ as MoU expiresAl Jazeera
- War on Iran: Phase II, Day 37Al Jazeera
- Iran Threatens to Go On Offensive in Strait of Hormuz if Diplomacy With US Failsgcaptain.com
- US stock markets grind lower as oil prices climb following report Iran seized a tankerInvestingLive
- Brent crude price on ICE exchange exceeds $91 per barrel for the first time since July 31TASS
Scheduled events
As of
| Event | Forecast | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, August 18 | ||
| Foreign Direct Investment ytd/y | CNY | |
| Housing Starts | 249K | CAD |
| Wednesday, August 19 | ||
| Crude Oil Inventories | 0.2M | USD |
| Thursday, August 20 | ||
| 5-y Loan Prime Rate | 3.50% | CNY |
| 1-y Loan Prime Rate | 3.00% | CNY |
| IPPI m/m | -0.4% | CAD |
| NHPI m/m | 0.0% | CAD |
| RMPI m/m | -1.8% | CAD |