Crude Futures Rise as Hormuz Closure Extends Geopolitical Risk

Crude benchmarks traded higher on Friday as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz persisted, supporting risk premiums amid ongoing conflict concerns two weeks into the war. May futures for Oil – Brent Crude advanced to around $102 a barrel by late morning U.S. time, while Oil – US Crude also turned positive, with analysts flagging the potential for abrupt developments over the weekend.

Over the past month, both benchmarks have seen sharp gains, with Oil – US Crude up about 52% and Oil – Brent Crude higher by roughly 48%, reflecting heightened geopolitical risk and supply-route uncertainty. On a short-term basis, technical indicators show a 1-day Buy signal for Oil – US Crude and a similar Buy reading for Oil – Brent Crude, suggesting momentum remains tilted to the upside despite event-driven volatility. Investors can explore more updates, prices, and analysis across global markets at Commodities.