Oil extended its rally through the September 8 session, with Brent crude approaching the $100-a-barrel mark as tensions between the United States and Iran escalated. Traders have been pricing in a growing risk that the standoff could disrupt supply routes through the Gulf.
The move matters because a sustained run above $100 would mark a significant jump in input costs for airlines, shippers and consumers, and could feed back into inflation readings that central banks are already watching closely. Separately, the Motley Fool noted some estimates suggest oil could reach $120 a barrel by year-end if the standoff worsens.
What remains unresolved is whether the tension translates into an actual supply outage or stays a risk premium priced into futures without a physical disruption.