WTI bias flipped 29 times to bullish on August 18, 2026
Geopolitical risk in the Strait of Hormuz has escalated after Iran seized a tanker and threatened to close the waterway, with tanker traffic slowing to a trickle. These supply disruption concerns, alongside US diesel reserves near 23-year lows, have pushed crude prices higher. The market is weighing the potential impact on global oil flows through this critical chokepoint.
Updated
The reading that day
BullishAt the close of the UTC day.
BearishNeutralBullish
It changed 29 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 bullish
- 15:49Neutral
- 16:39Weak bearish
- 17:13Bullish
- 17:30Neutral
- 18:03Weak bearish
- 18:23Neutral
- 18:40Weak bearish
- 18:57Neutral
- 19:29Weak bearish
- 19:45Neutral
- 20:16Bullish
- 20:32Weak bullish
- 21:06Weak bearish
- 21:23Weak bullish
- 21:39Neutral
- 22:12Bullish
- 23:00Weak bullish
- 23:16Weak bearish
- 23:32Neutral
- 23:48Bullish
Headlines (17)
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
- Oil Supertanker Earnings on Mideast Route Near $510,000 a Daygcaptain.com
- Iran Halts UAE-Linked Tanker in Hormuz, Attacks Cargo Shipenergyintel.com
- 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
- 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
- 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
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 |