Brent crude has risen again to around $115.00 per barrel
Brent crude has risen again to around $115.00 per barrel, while Asian buyers are paying about $150.00 per barrel. UBS stated that the longer the conflict lasts, the greater the risk of energy infrastructure being targeted, which could push oil prices above the highs we saw in 2022.
In a note published on Thursday, the Swiss bank said that doubling energy costs could have a clear impact on the market if it continues. UBS noted that if prices reach $200.00 per barrel, a global transportation crisis could emerge.
At the close of today's session, gold and silver prices dipped, while oil prices surged. Meanwhile, the US dollar index pulled back.
Here’s a look at the closing levels for the major commodities:
Gold
At the end of today’s trading, gold futures fell to $4,695.39 per ounce, down 0.96%, and the spot gold prices also dropped to $4,679.89, down 0.61%. On the flip side, the US dollar index slid to 98.49, down 0.04% against a basket of foreign currencies, led by the euro and the pound.
Silver
Silver futures closed at $75.375 per ounce, down 1.36%.
Oil
Today, WTI oil prices jumped at the close of trading, settling at $96.64 per barrel, up 2.37%. Meanwhile, Brent oil futures also rose, closing at $101.88 per barrel, up 2.778%. $PAXG $CL
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XRP is holding its ground, while predictions and conspiracy theories are starting to bubble up. Trading at $1.4, XRP remains stuck all week between a critical support floor and a solid resistance ceiling.
The conspiracy theories circulating in the XRP communities aren’t new, but the volume of claims regarding leaks of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) and alleged behind-the-scenes Ripple deals has surged significantly over the past 48 hours, and the price action is beginning to reflect this uncertainty. $XRP
Oil prices surged over 2% on Monday as US-Iran negotiations showed little signs of progress, keeping supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz restricted and raising fears of a prolonged disruption in global crude oil markets.
Brent crude futures jumped 2% to $107.46 per barrel by 16:51 (Saudi time), while West Texas Intermediate also climbed 2% to $96.29 per barrel. $CL
The conflict over the Strait of Hormuz has entered a new phase of military and economic escalation, turning the world's most critical waterway from a trade route into a "game of chicken" between Tehran and Washington. With intelligence reports indicating a shift in the rules of maritime engagement, the tough question arises: Has Iran actually succeeded in asserting its control over the strait, and what leverage does the White House still hold? $CL
Gautam Chughani, the lead digital analyst at Bernstein, sees an 'asymmetric rise' returning to crypto markets, driven by stronger institutional flows, long-term holders holding strong, and the rapid integration of blockchain infrastructure into traditional finance.
Bitcoin is steadily approaching the $80,000 mark after finding a clear bottom at $60,000. Chughani stated that the combination of the Treasury Strategy model and Bitcoin spot ETFs has fundamentally changed the ownership structure of Bitcoin, with inactive holders for over a year now representing 60% of the total supply.
'This ownership structure is unique to Bitcoin and indicates long-term 'believers' who remain insensitive to Bitcoin's volatility and hold Bitcoin as a 'store of value',' wrote Chughani. $BTC
The largest publicly traded company holding Bitcoin has ramped up its investments in the digital currency, adopting a more measured pace after a series of massive trades exceeding a total value of $3.5 billion.
The company's latest moves include executing a buy worth $255 million, reflecting a shift towards a more balanced approach to expansion rather than relying solely on consecutive big-ticket deals.
Total holdings have increased to 818,334 Bitcoin units, acquired at an aggregate cost of $61.81 billion, with an average price reaching $75,537 per unit. $BTC
Yara's shares surged over 2% on Friday after the company announced better-than-expected Q1 results.
The company's sales hit $4.26 billion, beating expectations of $3.90 billion, while EBITDA before special items came in at $896.00 million, which is 9% above the consensus forecast of $825.00 million, with margins expanding by 360 basis points year-over-year.
Brent crude has risen again to around $115.00 per barrel
Brent crude has risen again to around $115.00 per barrel, while Asian buyers are paying about $150.00 per barrel. UBS stated that the longer the conflict lasts, the greater the risk of energy infrastructure being targeted, which could push oil prices above the highs we saw in 2022.
In a note published on Thursday, the Swiss bank said that doubling energy costs could have a clear impact on the market if it continues. UBS noted that if prices reach $200.00 per barrel, a global transportation crisis could emerge.
Claims of a quantum hacking breakthrough in Bitcoin are facing a wave of skepticism, as recent analyses show the results do not reflect any real advantage of quantum computing. Analysts confirmed that the method used can easily be replaced with a random number generator while achieving the same outcomes.
An independent developer replicated the experiment using random data instead of the outputs from quantum computing and successfully retrieved the exact same keys. This result clearly indicates that the process relies on traditional brute force techniques, not on advanced quantum technology. $BTC
The global LNG markets are gearing up for a sustained period of price spikes throughout 2026 as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, choking supplies. A new report from BCA Research highlights that even if this strategic waterway reopens by May, global LNG exports are expected to drop by at least 6% this year due to the ongoing war.
The supply crunch is a significant constraint for energy-importing countries, although structural forecasts suggest a more balanced landscape starting in 2027. $CL
The latest attempt by President Donald Trump to woo the crypto industry hit a snag this weekend, as a keynote speech at an exclusive conference in Florida failed to halt the sharp decline of his branded meme coin. Trump used the event to reiterate his support for legislative efforts like the Clarification Act, but clearly avoided any mention of the $TRUMP token itself.
The market's reaction was swift and brutal: the meme coin plummeted by 14% on Saturday, extending its losses since the start of the year to nearly 47% and marking a collapse of over 90% from its peak after he took office. $TRUMP
Global market fears are escalating as tensions continue in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's key energy corridors. While oil prices haven't tanked yet, analysts are warning that the real impact could surface later, especially if demand takes a sharp dive. In this context, an important question arises: how will BTC be affected by these developments?
Closure of the Strait of Hormuz presses on global demand
As supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz persist, markets are beginning to see a gradual decline in oil demand. Estimates indicate a supply drop of at least 10%, prompting governments and companies to cut consumption or seek alternatives.
Moreover, the loss of nearly a billion barrels of supply has become nearly certain, a figure that far exceeds the emergency reserves that were tapped at the onset of the crisis. This shortfall is starting to reflect across multiple sectors, from petrochemical factories to the aviation industry. $BTC
The TRUMP coin has seen a sharp decline ahead of the highly anticipated crypto conference, losing a significant portion of its value in a short span. This sudden drop reflects a sense of caution and uncertainty among traders, despite the importance of the event that was expected to support the price.
Sharp drop before the event: Is it a 'sell the news' scenario? The price of TRUMP coin plummeted by 21% in just 24 hours, dropping from around $3.00 to approximately $2.52, with an estimated loss of about $161 million in market cap.
This decline aligns with a well-known phenomenon in the markets referred to as 'sell the news,' where traders offload their assets before a major event to secure profits and avoid potential risks. It seems this scenario is repeating itself, but this time the selling started even before the conference kicked off.
In previous events, the coin's price surged significantly only to drop rapidly after the event concluded, reinforcing the idea that the market reacts more to expectations than to actual occurrences. $TRUMP
Mizuho raised its target price for Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV) shares to $385.00 from $350.00 on Friday while maintaining an outperform rating.
The firm increased its adjusted earnings per share estimates for the 2026-2028 period following strong Q1 results from 2026. Elevance surpassed expectations on the medical loss ratio and increased reserves during the quarter.
Healthcare utilization trends remain high but may have peaked, similar to patterns reported by other managed care companies this week. Mizuho stated that the pricing cycle should lead to margin expansion potential over time. $SOLV
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has solidified America's status as a global powerhouse in energy exports, with international demand for American crude oil, natural gas, and refined products hitting unprecedented levels. $CL
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, total exports of crude oil and petroleum products surged to a record high of 12.90 million barrels per day last week, as global markets scramble to compensate for supply disruptions centered around the Strait of Hormuz and damaged facilities in Qatar.
Bitcoin continues to show remarkable resilience this Saturday, holding steady at $77,851.00 as of 1:46 PM (Saudi time).
The digital currency has previously demonstrated sensitivity to wartime volatility, but it's currently navigating a high-risk weekend as U.S. negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff head to Pakistan for renewed talks with Iranian officials. $BTC