Investec Focus Radio UK

Brent traded near $70/b last week, reflecting confidence that oil will keep moving out of the Persian Gulf despite continuing risks around the Strait of Hormuz. Some operators are using shuttle runs to maintain crude flows. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell financial instruments...

Oil markets enter the week looking calm despite renewed US-Iran tensions. Brent fell near $71 a barrel last Friday as hopes of normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz improved, before a drone strike on a container ship. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell financial instrument...

Brent fell below $76/b last week after the U.S. and Iran reached an initial agreement, easing some of the war-related risk premium. However, uncertainty remains over the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict in Lebanon, and whether energy flows can return to normal, leaving markets caught between short-term supply risks and a longer-term oversupply outlook. Please note: this podcast is provided for infor...

Oil markets eased sharply after the US and Iran agreed the outline of an interim deal, although the agreement has not yet been formally signed and key details remain unpublished. President Trump announced the removal of the US naval blockade and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while Pakistan confirmed a ceasefire between the parties. Please note: this podcast is provided for information pur...

Brent crude briefly approached $98/bbl after renewed military exchanges between Iran and Israel heightened concerns over Middle East supply risks. Iran launched rockets following Israeli strikes in Beirut, while Israel subsequently targeted Iranian military sites despite reported US efforts to restrain escalation. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only and should not b...

Brent crude has recovered to around $93.50/bbl after falling below $90 last week on optimism that a US-Iran ceasefire agreement could ease tensions in the Gulf. However, reports of further negotiations, renewed military action around the Strait of Hormuz, and concerns over mine clearance have tempered expectations of a swift resolution. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purpose...

Brent crude fell sharply this week after reports suggested the US and Iran are close to agreeing a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and potentially ease sanctions on Iranian oil exports. Prices dropped from around $105/bbl to $96/bbl before recovering towards $98/bbl following limited US and Israeli strikes near the Strait. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only and...

Brent crude climbed above $111 per barrel as renewed Middle East tensions rattled energy markets. Saudi Arabia and the UAE reported fresh drone strikes, with analysts suspecting Iranian-backed militias operating from Iraq or Yemen. At the same time, US-Iran negotiations remain stalled, while Tehran’s proposed control over Strait of Hormuz shipping routes is unlikely to satisfy Washington or Gulf a...

Oil prices have risen after Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest nuclear proposal, increasing geopolitical uncertainty in energy markets. Details of the offer remain unclear, though reports suggest Iran may have proposed limiting uranium enrichment without dismantling nuclear infrastructure. Trump called the deal “totally unacceptable,” raising fears of prolonged negotiations or renewed conflict. P...

Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated again, with flashpoints centred on the Strait of Hormuz. Despite ongoing indirect negotiations, disagreements over the US naval blockade and Iran’s nuclear stance triggered renewed friction. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell financ...

Oil prices continue climbing amid stalled US–Iran negotiations, sustaining geopolitical risk premiums critical for UK commodities markets. Uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved, with no clear timeline for reopening. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell financia...

Oil markets are volatile as mixed signals from US–Iran diplomacy unsettle sentiment. Prices fell sharply on Friday, with Brent dropping from near $100/bbl to ~$85, after apparent progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but conflicting statements and a tanker attack suggest it remains closed. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only and should not be construed as an o...

US–Iran talks stalled over the weekend, with Washington demanding firm guarantees that Tehran won’t pursue nuclear weapons. While Iran signalled more negotiations may follow, tensions rose after Trump threatened a targeted blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices opened higher, though the move reflects fading optimism from last week. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purpos...

Tensions are rising as yet another Trump-imposed deadline on Iran looms, with the Strait of Hormuz at the center of a high-stakes geopolitical standoff. Despite escalating rhetoric and fragile backchannel diplomacy, markets have remained surprisingly calm, even as oil and refined product prices quietly surge beneath the surface. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only a...

War in the Middle East continues to cost a long shadow over the global economy. Investec experts Callum McPherson, Head of Commodities; Philip Shaw, Chief Economist; and Clive Murray, Head of Equities, share the key updates. Investec

Geopolitical tensions in the Gulf have intensified, adding renewed upward pressure on global energy prices. President Donald Trump initially gave Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to comply could trigger strikes on Iranian power infrastructure. This raised concerns about a broader escalation, particularly the risk of retaliatory attacks on energy assets...

Global energy markets have entered a critical phase, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East threaten to spiral into a full-scale supply crisis. In this episode, we unpack the latest developments following Iran’s retaliatory strike on Qatar’s liquified natural gas facility, an attack that wiped out roughly 17% of its capacity and sent shockwaves through global markets. With vital energy infras...

Markets are sending a surprisingly calm signal in the face of escalating conflict with Iran. Oil prices are rising, supply chains are under pressure, and recession risks are quietly ticking higher, yet equities remain relatively steady. In the latest episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs is joined by Investec experts in SA and the UK - Callum Macpherson, Phil Shaw and Chris Holdsworth - t...

Oil markets experienced extreme volatility last week as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East created significant uncertainty around global supply. Brent crude briefly surged toward $120/b, its highest level since 2022, as it became clear the conflict in the region could be prolonged. Prices later fell sharply, briefly nearing $81/b, after comments from president Donald Trump suggest...

With no sign of the Strait of Hormuz reopening, energy markets are facing an extraordinary supply shock. Around 20% of global oil supply has effectively become unavailable, pushing Brent crude above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022. While an emergency G7 meeting to discuss a coordinated reserves release, along with the drawdown of commercial inventories, may buy some time, these measu...

Brent crude surged above $80 per barrel, after escalating conflict in the Middle East sharply increased fears of disruption through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes. Just days earlier, Brent had been trading near $73, with markets broadly assuming that US-Iran negotiations would continue. Escalation was recognised as a risk, but a large-scale disruption to...

Oil reached a fresh yearly high as US-Iran tensions intensified, with Washington boosting military presence while leaving room for negotiations. Markets rallied after Trump suggested a 10–15 day window for a deal, though speculative positioning remains measured, with strong demand for high-strike call options signaling limited expectations of a major price surge. Meanwhile, European energy markets...

Oil markets continue to gyrate as shifting signals from Washington and Tehran fuel uncertainty ahead of the next round of nuclear talks in Oman. Mixed rhetoric from both sides has left Brent caught between easing risk premium and renewed geopolitical tension, with traders closely watching for clearer direction. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purposes only and should not be c...

Oil prices softened into the end of last week following talks between the U.S. and Iran, which were described by both sides as constructive. While the meeting has eased immediate fears and pushed Brent back to around $67/b from recent highs near $70/b, markets remain cautious given the long road ahead and persistent supply-side pressures. Please note: this podcast is provided for information purpo...

Brent surged above $70/b last week, nearing $72/b, as markets priced in the risk of U.S. military action against Iran. Sentiment has since cooled after confirmation that talks are under way, with prices easing back toward $65/b. While the immediate risk premium has faded, uncertainty around the outcome of negotiations is likely to keep markets on edge. Please note: this podcast is provided for inf...