Sep 21, 2026
Geopolitical forces are still casting a shadow over the world economy, and the Middle East remains the chief concern, according to CaixaBank Research. The summer started with Iran-US talks and hopes that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would gradually return to normal, easing oil market strain in June, yet fresh fighting set off another price jump.
Brent crude swung widely during August, averaging about 90 dollars per barrel, while six- to twelve-month futures hovered near 80 dollars per barrel. Ongoing anxiety over possible supply interruptions and unusually low worldwide stockpiles keeps weighing on the energy sector. Doubts also linger about the real scale of crude shipments, since the information available has grown increasingly murky.
Liquefied natural gas prices climbed sharply in August as well, with supply tighter than…
