Iran says no 'tangible progress' in war talks

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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that while contact with the United States (US) has not been cut off, negotiations to end the Middle East war had made "no tangible progress,” Aljazeera reported on Wednesday.

This statement came as US-Iran tensions escalate with new strikes despite a ceasefire. Both countries had one of the most intense back-and-forths since their ceasefire was announced nearly two months ago.

Earlier Wednesday, US President Donald Trump stated in the Oval Office that Iran is “pretty close” to signing a peace agreement with the US and that “it could happen over the weekend”.Trump added that he wanted to separate Lebanon from the Iran peace talks because “it’s a very different kind of thing.” Iran has long insisted that any deal to end the wider Middle East war must also halt the fighting in Lebanon.

Market reaction

Crude oil prices attract some buyers following this headline. At the time of writing, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is up 1.80% on the day at $93.30.

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What is Brent Crude Oil?

Brent Crude Oil is a type of Crude Oil found in the North Sea that is used as a benchmark for international Oil prices. It is considered ‘light’ and ‘sweet’ because of its high gravity and low sulfur content, making it easier to refine into gasoline and other high-value products. Brent Crude Oil serves as a reference price for approximately two-thirds of the world's internationally traded Oil supplies. Its popularity rests on its availability and stability: the North Sea region has well-established infrastructure for Oil production and transportation, ensuring a reliable and consistent supply.

What factors drive the price of Brent Crude Oil

Like all assets supply and demand are the key drivers of Brent Crude Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of Brent Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.

How does inventory data impact the price of Brent Crude Oil

The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of Brent Crude Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.

How does OPEC influence the price of Brent Crude Oil

OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact Brent Crude Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.