Oil and natural gas prices surged on Monday as Israeli and U.S. strikeson Iran and retaliation by Tehran forced shutdowns of oil and gas facilities across the Middle East and disrupted shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures rose as much as 13% to $82.37 a barrel, their highest since January 2025. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed to an intraday high of $75.33, up more than 12% and its highest since June.
Higher oil and gas prices are certain as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to disrupt 15 percent of global oil supply and 20 percent of global LNG supply.
Curious Minds Corner
What is the Marcellus formation?
The Marcellus is a sedimentary rock formation in Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia, key to modern fracking operations.