Global Markets Update: Oil Prices Surge, Earnings & Geopolitical Risks

Global & European Markets: Oil Prices Surge Amid Middle East Tensions

Market Overview and Key Developments

A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Rae Wee

Middle East Tensions and Oil Market Impact

U.S. President Donald Trump’s operation “Project Freedom” hasn’t got off to a promising start.

Strait of Hormuz Disruptions

Sure, Maersk’s U.S.-flagged vehicle carrier Alliance Fairfax might have exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz accompanied by U.S. military assets.

But several merchant ships in the Gulf also reported explosions or fires, the U.S. said it had destroyed six small Iranian military boats, and an oil port in the United Arab Emirates, which hosts a large U.S. military base, was set ablaze by Iranian missiles.

Seoul’s Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said that authorities would investigate the cause of a fire on a South Korean-operated ship in the Strait.

All that and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz remains largely at a standstill.

Market Reaction to Geopolitical Risks

The fragility of the U.S.-Iran truce left markets in a precarious mood on Tuesday, with stocks in Asia falling and oil prices holding well above $100 a barrel.

Banking Sector Warnings

Australia’s Westpac Banking Corp was the latest lender to warn about the risks stemming from the Middle East conflict as it reported lower-than-expected first-half profit.

Economic Impact and Inflation Concerns

As the global energy shock drags on, the pain is becoming increasingly costly for governments in Asia, who are scrambling to find alternative fuel sources and insulate their economies from the worst of the crisis.

Philippine annual inflation accelerated to a three-year high in April, data on Tuesday showed, as a surge in fuel prices raised the chance of more policy tightening.

Corporate Earnings and Central Bank Activity

Upcoming Earnings Reports

Geopolitics aside, the earnings season is also in full swing, with chip giant AMD and pharmaceutical firm Pfizer among those set to release results later in the day.

Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence showed 83% of S&P 500 companies that have already reported have beaten EPS estimates and 78.2% have exceeded revenue estimates.

Central Bankers’ Commentary

A slew of central bankers across the Bank of England, the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve are also due to speak across various events, on the heels of last week’s policy meetings that saw several turn more hawkish.

Key Events to Watch

Key developments that could influence markets on Tuesday:

• Bank of England’s Sam Woods speaks
• European Central Bank’s Christine Lagarde and Philip Lane speak
• Federal Reserve’s Michael Barr and Michelle Bowman speak
• Earnings include AMD, Pfizer, KKR, PayPal, AMC Entertainment
• U.S. ‘JOLTS’ job openings (March)

(Editing ny Kate Mayberry)