The latest Market Talks covering Energy markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
0811 GMT - The flip-flopping of U.S President Trump, "saying one thing one moment and then something completely different the other," while at the same time nothing is corroborated by other concerned parties, is creating confusion and pandemonium for financial markets, analysts at First Abu Dhabi Bank say in a note. Coupled with the deteriorating war environment, this leaves conflicting stories which are triggering wild swings in financial asset prices, the analysts say. "While we remain optimistic that common sense--and military de-escalation--will prevail in the near-term, we are also cognisant that the mixed and often incoherent messaging coming from the Oval Office, will only fuel continued market volatility," they say. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)
0740 GMT - President Trump's move to postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure and power plants for five days provides relief for oil-and-gas markets, DBS Group Research analysts write in a note. The latest development underlines a fragile and highly volatile potential pivot in the monthlong conflict between the U.S.-Israeli alliance and Iran. Trump also cited "very good and productive conversations" toward a total resolution of hostilities. "This marks a sharp shift in rhetoric from his recent 48-hour ultimatum to 'obliterate' those same targets if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed," DBS says. (amanda.lee@wsj.com)
0738 GMT - Oil prices rebound following a 10% drop in the previous trading session, with The Wall Street Journal reporting that U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf are moving closer to joining the fight against Iran. In early trade, Brent crude gains 2.5% to $102.43 a barrel, while WTI is up 2.9% to $87.85 a barrel. Crude benchmarks plunged on Monday after President Trump postponed strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure following what he described as "productive" talks with Tehran. Iran denied holding negotiations with the U.S., but confirmed that mediation efforts were underway by other nations. "The market reaction likely reflects some retreat in the perceived risks of lengthy disruptions and of damage to energy assets," Goldman Sachs analysts write. However, severe disruptions persist, with flows through the Strait of Hormuz largely halted. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0714 GMT - President Trump's claim of "very good and productive" negotiations with Iran signals his attempt at de-escalation, according to Pepperstone's Michael Brown. After Trump said Washington and Tehran held conversations, Iran denied them, but "whether or not talks have taken place is somewhat immaterial," the research strategist says in a note. The move signals that Trump has reversed the ultimatum issued over the weekend and seems to be pursuing de-escalation for the first time since the conflict began. "We might finally be seeing a faint chink of light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the ongoing Middle East conflict." (sherry.qin@wsj.com)
0647 GMT - It's too early to get too optimistic about 'peace deals' in the Middle East getting baked in the next couple of days as demands of both sides still seem unbridgeable, Macquarie's Thierry Wizman and Gareth Berry say in a note. "It's far-fetched to imagine the U.S. dropping its demands pertaining to Iran's nuclear assets, or that the U.S. would just leave its bases in the Gulf," the global strategists say. It is also far-fetched to see Iran dropping support for its proxy armies at this stage, they say. That said, "the war is unlikely to last beyond mid-April because Iran's threats are likely to be neutralized by then." But once neutralized, the U.S. will have the upper hand in any negotiations that ensue, they say. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)
0623 GMT - U.S. Treasury yields rise in Asian trade as oil prices rise again and uncertainties regarding the resolution of the Middle East war linger despite President Trump's signal to de-escalate the war soon. Yields rise faster at the short end of the curve, suggesting that investors are more worried about the potential inflationary impact of the war than about growth risks. Money markets currently price in no changes in the Federal Reserve's fed funds target range, according to LSEG data. The two-year Treasury yield rises 6.8 basis points to 3.897%, while the 10-year yield is up 4.4 basis points at 4.379%, according to Tradeweb. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)
0516 GMT - Energy shortage may not be a big concern for China in the near term, Nomura analysts say in a research note. Coal still accounts for more than half of China's domestic energy mix and provides a reliable domestic energy backstop, they say, adding that Beijing could ramp up domestic coal production in the coming weeks. China's resilient renewable energy expansion also strengthens its resilience, they add. China's limited fuel price hike also shows Beijing's efforts to cushion the oil price shock, they say. China's top economic planner announced a price hike of 1,160 yuan a ton for gasoline and 1,115 yuan a ton for diesel, which is around half the increase from a regular pricing mechanism, the analysts add.(sherry.qin@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 24, 2026 04:11 ET (08:11 GMT)
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