1 April 2024
On the first day of Q2 trading, crude oil futures experienced a price increase following reports of a missile strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria. West Texas Intermediate for May delivery rose by 54 cents to $83.71 a barrel, while Brent for June delivery climbed 42 cents to $87.42 a barrel. Reports indicated that the strike, attributed to Israel, resulted in casualties including Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Analyst Leo Mariani suggested that this incident could escalate Middle Eastern conflict, potentially driving oil prices higher in the near term.