U.S.-Iran Conflict Reignites, Hedge Funds Aggressively Increase Oil Positions at Fastest Pace in a Decade
Amid escalating US-Iran conflict, hedge funds are aggressively increasing their bets on Brent crude at the fastest pace in nearly a decade. This surge in bullish positioning, driven by attacks on shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz and tightening global fuel supplies, is pushing oil prices and refining margins sharply higher.
For the week ending July 14, asset managers boosted their net-long positions in Brent crude by 75,996 contracts, the largest weekly increase since December 2016. This dramatic shift marks a sharp reversal from just a week prior, when concerns about oversupply prevailed. The trigger was the resumption of US military strikes on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliatory attacks that have significantly reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil chokepoint.
The disruptions are also severely impacting global fuel markets, squeezing supplies of diesel and gasoline and sending refining profits to record highs. Concurrently, attacks on Russian refineries have led to a sharp drop in the country's fuel exports, further tightening global supply. Funds have responded by increasing their net-long positions in heating oil and diesel futures to multi-month highs.
marsbit07/18 04:06
