… Alison-Madueke served as Nigeria’s petroleum minister between 2010 and 2015 and made history as the first female president of Opec, the oil exporters’ group. …
… mains heavily clouded by a tangled web of headlines and counter-headlines,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note. “From a technical perspective, as long as (WTI) crude oil remains above trendline support in the low $80s, the risks remain skewed to the upside.” OPEC …
… The OPEC producer is offering its flagship Basrah Medium crude at discounts of $33.40, or $26 a barrel to its May official selling price, for loading on May 1 to May 10 or May 11 to May 31, respectively, according to a May 3 notice from state oil marketer SOMO seen by Reuters …
… This focus currently outweighs the long-term implications of the potential waning influence of OPEC+ following the UAE’s exit from the cartel,” said OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong. …
… Market volatility was further exacerbated by the United Arab Emirates’ announcement that it will exit OPEC on May 1, complicating the global supply outlook. …
Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been found not guilty of bribery at a London court, ending a 13-year UK National Crime Agency investigation. Alison-Madueke, who served as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 and was the first female president of Opec, said the investigation cost her freedom of movement, her career, and her reputation.
Former Nigerian Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has been found not guilty of bribery at a London court, ending a 13-year UK National Crime Agency investigation. Alison-Madueke, who served as petroleum minister from 2010 to 2015 and was the first female president of Opec, said the investigation cost her freedom of movement, her career, and her reputation.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Nigerian oil minister, was acquitted of five bribery charges at Southwark Crown Court after a 13-year investigation by the UK's National Crime Agency. She said the investigation and prosecution destroyed her reputation, restricted her freedom to travel and work, and were "painful and traumatic."
Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria's oil minister from 2010 to 2015 and former Opec president, was found not guilty of accepting bribes from oil executives in the form of luxury stays and spending in the UK. Her brother and an oil industry executive were also acquitted in the trial at London's Southwark Crown Court.
Oil prices jumped as Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed following fresh U.S. strikes against Iran, with President Trump threatening further attacks. Brent futures rose 1.59% to $94.58 a barrel and U.S. crude climbed 1.90% to $91.74.
Ratings agency Fitch has revised its forecast for Brent crude to US$87 per barrel, up from US$70, citing oil shocks as a headwind to world growth; the firm also examined an adverse scenario where oil prices could average US$100 per barrel in 2026 given persisting geopolitical uncertainties.
Brent crude fell 0.22% to $95.24 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate dropped 0.11% to $92.94 a barrel on Friday, as prospects for a near-term end to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran dimmed following Hezbollah's rejection of a ceasefire in Lebanon. Both contracts are set to post their first weekly gain in three weeks, with WTI up more than 6%, amid Middle East tensions and concerns about falling global oil inventories.
Iraq has offered term buyers May-loading Basrah crude at steep discounts for loading inside the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely blocked since the Iran conflict began. The discounts — $33.40 and $26 per barrel for Basrah Medium, and $30 per barrel for Basrah Heavy — reflect mounting pressure on Iraqi crude exports amid persistent shipping risks in the waterway.
Brent oil prices rose as much as 7% on Thursday following reports that the U.S. is considering potential military action against Iran to break a deadlock in nuclear negotiations, raising concerns about further disruptions to Middle East energy exports. The June Brent contract rose $6.81 to $124.84 a barrel, with both Brent and WTI benchmarks on track for their fourth consecutive month of gains.
President Donald Trump intensified threats against Iran over a maritime standoff in the Middle East affecting global energy markets, warning the Islamic Republic to "get smart soon" and signalling an end to patience regarding a blockaded Strait of Hormuz. The escalation follows collapsed diplomatic tracks and a recent joint military campaign targeting Iranian leadership and infrastructure.
The United Arab Emirates is leaving OPEC and OPEC+ next month, citing the need for flexibility to meet growing global energy demand after recent investments in production capacity. Analysts describe the exit as potentially weakening the cartel, and the move is seen as aligning with US interests under President Donald Trump.