Symbolic imageBrent falls below $82 as US holds off on Iran strikes
Brent crude slipped below $82 a barrel late on Sunday, its lowest since mid-July, after Trump held off on an attack on Iran. Gold firmed as US and British outlets reported hopes of a US-Iran deal.
What happened
- Brent September futures on ICE in London traded at $82, down 6.74 percent, at 22:00 GMT on Sunday.
- Ten minutes later the contract pared losses to $82.89, down 5.73 percent, TASS reported from trading data.
- The last time Brent stood below $82 was Monday, 13 July, according to TASS.
- Crude had risen about 24 percent over July during the US-Iran fighting.
- On Saturday, 1 August, a projectile hit an LNG tanker's engine room near the Strait of Hormuz, one of two incidents off Oman.
The view from outside
Russian state agency TASS carries only the exchange data and does not tie the fall to Washington's restraint, while the US and British outlets lead on Trump's decision and on deal expectations without citing price levels.
What could happen next
- No deal is confirmed: WSJ and Reuters report expectations only, with no terms or talks schedule in their teasers.
- Whether July's gain unwinds further depends on Washington continuing to hold off on strikes.
- WSJ asks in a Sunday podcast whether oil prices reach a breaking point by year end.
- Shipping risk near Hormuz is unresolved; the sources name no party responsible for Saturday's two incidents.