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Stock market : the russia-ukraine crisis makes oil explode at the highest level in 8 years

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 24: A display board shows the Ibex 35 stock prices at the Palacio de la Bolsa de Madrid, on 24 January, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. The Ibex 35 has recorded its worst fall since November 26, when it ended with a drop of almost 5%, precisely the day on which the existence of the Omicron variant became known. Analysts point to the tension in the face of a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops which, in turn, could put pressure on oil prices and have an impact on inflation. (Photo By Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Oil prices jumped on Thursday, topping $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014 as Russia plans to attack Ukraine, proliferating fears that a war in Europe could disrupt global energy supplies.

 

After Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, said in a tweet that Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was targeting cities with weapons strikes.

 

Amid fears that the situation could go further, Brent crude hit a high of $102.48 a barrel, the highest since September 2014, and was at $102.06 a barrel at 5:47 a.m., up $5.22, or 5.4%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures jumped $4.85, or 5.3%, to $96.95 a barrel, after hitting $97.40, the highest since August 2014.

 

Oil prices have jumped more than $20 a barrel since the start of 2022 on fears that the U.S. and Europe will impose sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, disrupting supply. Indeed, Russia is the world’s second-largest oil producer, primarily selling its crude to European refineries, and Europe’s largest supplier of natural gas, providing about 35 percent of Europe’s supply.

 

Russia’s announcement of a special military operation in Ukraine has pushed Brent to the $100 a barrel mark. This growing uncertainty at a time when the oil market is already tight makes it vulnerable, so prices are likely to remain volatile and high,” said Warren Patterson, head of commodities research at ING.

 

Also, Western nations and Japan punished Russia on Tuesday with new sanctions for sending troops into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, and threatened to go further if Moscow launched an all-out invasion of its neighbor. “It’s not just the geopolitical risk that’s the problem, but the added pressure on supply,” said OCBC economist Howie Lee.

 

Japan and Australia have said they are ready to tap their oil reserves, along with other International Energy Agency member countries, if global supplies are affected by hostilities in Ukraine. It remains to be seen how the situation develops in the coming hours.

 

 

Read also > STOCK MARKET : PARIS LIFTED BY LUXURY GOODS BUT GLOBAL STOCKS AT JANUARY LOWS

 

Featured photo : © Getty Images

Anthony Conan

[FR] Diplômé journaliste plurimédias en 2019, Anthony Conan a multiplié les expériences, notamment en tant qu’assistant éditorial à TF1 ou journaliste radio à RCF Bordeaux. Il se spécialise dans le montage vidéo en plus de la rédaction, et développe un intérêt particulier pour l’économie.************** [EN] Graduated as a multimedia journalist in 2019, Anthony Conan has multiplied his experiences, notably as an editorial assistant at TF1 and as a radio journalist at RCF Bordeaux. He specializes in video editing in addition to writing, and has developed a particular interest in economics.

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