WTI bias flipped 37 times to bullish on August 26, 2026
WTI crude is being pulled between persistent geopolitical risks in the Middle East—especially the unresolved status of the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi strikes—and cautious optimism that diplomacy could ease tensions, which has contributed to recent price slides. Meanwhile, U.S. crude stockpiles were nearly flat while gasoline inventories declined, and the Russia-Ukraine war continues to offer underlying support. These factors together are shaping the current supply-demand outlook for WTI.
Updated
The reading that day
BullishAt the close of the UTC day.
BearishNeutralBullish
It changed 37 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
- 00:21Bearish
- 00:37Neutral
- 02:15Bearish
- 04:32Weak bearish
- 05:16Weak bullish
- 05:40Neutral
- 05:56Bearish
- 06:12Bullish
- 06:28Bearish
- 07:05Neutral
- 08:50Bearish
- 09:07Neutral
- 09:23Weak bullish
- 09:39Neutral
- 10:27Bearish
- 10:43Neutral
- 11:03Bearish
- 11:19Neutral
- 12:27Bearish
- 12:43Neutral
- 12:59Bullish
- 13:32Neutral
- 13:48Bearish
- 14:40Neutral
- 15:39Weak bullish
- 15:55Weak bearish
- 16:11Weak bullish
- 16:27Neutral
- 17:09Weak bearish
- 17:25Bullish
- 17:41Bearish
- 17:57Neutral
- 18:37Weak bullish
- 18:58Neutral
- 21:03Bullish
- 21:19Neutral
- 22:08Bullish
Headlines (15)
First seen on August 26
- Iran war live: Iran says Hormuz remains closed despite Oman route dealAl Jazeera
- Middle East live: Iran says Hormuz strait still closed despite transit corridor talks with Omanfrance24.com
- Almost half of global oil flows from war zonesHellenic Shipping News
- Oil Dumps As Iran, Oman Push To Reopen Hormuz; Satellite Image Shows Gulf Producers Ramping UpZeroHedge
- U.S. Crude Stocks Barely Budge as Gasoline Inventories FallOilPrice.com
- Oil prices slide amid hopes for progress in Mideast diplomacyoilandgas360.com
- Why Hormuz remains high risk for ships despite US claims of mine-clearingAl Jazeera
- Oil catch up: Russia-Ukraine war keeps a floor under oil despite Hormuz optimismInvestingLive
Carried over from earlier days
- U.S. Treasury to broaden scope of secondary sanctions on Iran, source saysInvesting.com
- Global food supply has become ‘collateral damage’ in conflicts: Secretary-GeneralUN News
- Iranians queue for petrol as US blockade bitesFinancial Times
- Houthi strikes threaten to pull Yemen back into full-scale wardw.com
- Six months into Iran war, almost half of global oil flows from war zonesoilandgas360.com
- investingLive Americas market news wrap: Some late talk of Iran peaceInvestingLive
- U.S. Refiners Face New Crude Squeeze as Canada Cuts Oil Sands OutputOilPrice.com
Scheduled events
As of
| Event | Forecast | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, August 26 | ||
| Crude Oil Inventories | 1.6M | USD |
| Thursday, August 27 | ||
| Current Account | 3.5B | CAD |
| CB Leading Index m/m | CNY | |
| Friday, August 28 | ||
| GDP m/m | 0.2% | CAD |
| Monday, August 31 | ||
| Non-Manufacturing PMI | CNY | |
| Manufacturing PMI | CNY | |
| Tuesday, September 1 | ||
| RatingDog Manufacturing PMI | CNY | |
| Manufacturing PMI | CAD | |