WTI bias flipped 16 times to neutral on August 17, 2026
Recent headlines indicate escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Iran vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut and U.S. threats against Oman, while tanker traffic through the crucial waterway has slowed to a trickle. These developments, along with record maritime shipping costs, highlight heightened supply risks for crude oil. Oil majors have reported a $93 billion windfall from the Iran war, reflecting the market impact of these geopolitical events.
Updated
The reading that day
NeutralAt the close of the UTC day.
BearishNeutralBullish
It changed 16 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
- 00:37Bearish
- 01:50Weak bullish
- 02:23Bearish
- 03:02Neutral
- 07:05Bullish
- 08:02Neutral
- 10:31Bearish
- 16:21Neutral
- 16:39Bullish
- 17:28Neutral
- 18:34Bullish
- 19:16Neutral
- 19:33Bullish
- 19:49Neutral
- 20:05Bullish
- 20:24Neutral
Headlines (18)
First seen on August 17
- Shipping slows through Strait of Hormuz after tanker attacks, data showsInvesting.com
- Iran war live: Tehran-US MoU set to expire; Hamas’s al-Khayya meets KushnerAl Jazeera
- WTI posts modest gains above $81.50 as traders weigh US-Iran deadlockFXStreet
- 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
- The Commodities Feed: Oil near $90 on escalating Middle East risksING Think
- Strait of Hormuz shipping grinds to a halt ahead of U.S.-Iran ceasefire expiryCNBC
- Maritime shipping costs have surged to record highs due to conflicts, climate factors — FTTASS
- Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way' over Iran issuebbc.co.uk
- Trump demands Iran ‘put up the white flag of surrender’ as MoU expiresAl Jazeera
- US gas prices reach highest ever recorded for August amid stalled talks with IranThe Guardian
Carried over from earlier days
- Middle East live: Trump threatens US takeover of Hormuz as Iran vows to retain controlfrance24.com
- Hormuz Ship Attacks Mount As US Vows To Cripple Iran Economygcaptain.com
- Trump threatens to make the Strait of Hormuz a US territory: Can he?Al Jazeera
- 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
- US-Iran MoU is set to expire: What to knowAl Jazeera
Scheduled events
As of
| Event | Forecast | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, August 17 | ||
| Foreign Direct Investment ytd/y | CNY | |
| New Home Prices m/m | CNY | |
| Industrial Production y/y | 5.0% | CNY |
| Fixed Asset Investment ytd/y | -6.2% | CNY |
| NBS Press Conference | CNY | |
| Retail Sales y/y | 1.5% | CNY |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | CNY |
| Common CPI y/y | 2.5% | CAD |