Oil
Crude oil futures prices were more than 4% lower on Friday after sources said that China had initiated a push to resume stalled peace talks between the United States and Iran, but remained on track for hefty weekly gains.
Brent crude futures settled at $96.78, and US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) finished at $89.31. For the week, Brent rose 9.9%, while WTI rose 8.3%.
Iran had been pressing the Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea if the United States continues to attack Iranian power infrastructure. It is the second most important route for energy shipments after the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf.
Gas
Asia spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices rose for a fifth consecutive week to their highest in four months on fears of wider shipping disruptions, as Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers extended the Middle East war to a second major chokepoint.
The average LNG price for September delivery into northeast Asia was $22.00 per million British thermal units, up from $20.10 per mmBtu the week before.
In Europe, the Dutch TTF gas price settled at $21.12 per mmBtu, posting a weekly gain of 9.2%. Gas market remains tight and volatile amid supply uncertainty, while risks of shortages increase in Europe. Gas stocks are rising slowly, but remain below a reassuring level.
This article was supplied by the Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development.