Symbolic imageOil slips below $101 after Qeshm-driven jump as IEA warns of long gas squeeze
Brent jumped to nearly $107 on Tuesday after reported US strikes on Qeshm, then fell below $101 on hopes of a deal. The IEA warned that gas tightness could last into 2027.
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials, that US forces struck Iran's Qeshm Island at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, 2 November, which the officials called defensive. Brent climbed to nearly $107 on Tuesday, according to The National, after a Monday slide of more than 7%. It then gave up the gains, and TASS reported $100.80, the first dip below $101 since 8 October, as US-Iran diplomacy stayed alive.
IEA warns of gas squeeze
The IEA said on Tuesday that Europe risks ending winter with record-low gas storage and must refill it, so tightness could last well into next year (Bloomberg). The WSJ reports the IEA also sees a record annual fall in global LNG supply. TTF December futures dropped to about 86.75 euros per MWh, the lowest since 21 October, TASS reported.
Gulf producers' finances
Aramco's third-quarter profit rose 9%, Bloomberg and the New York Times report; Reuters' headline says 34.5%. Saudi Arabia's quarterly deficit more than doubled to 84 billion riyals ($22.4 billion) as oil revenues fell and Aramco paid lower fees, the Finance Ministry said.