Key Points Regarding , e, and Oil

[PocketOption]

Key Points Regarding , e, and Oil

Traders got to their desks this morning with reports of  launching a full-scale invasion of e. A video showing shelling in different points of the country, including Kyiv, surfaced.

But the situation is still fluid and confusing. For example, ian defense forces later denied the initial reports that n troops had landed in the Black Sea port of Odesa.  claims it is only launching targeted missile and artillery strikes against military installations. ian military advisers also concur that they do not expect attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The problem is gauging the degree of ’s attack on e. That’s likely to be the key to understanding the response from Western powers. And that will be unclear until at least a day or two has gone by. What is clear, however, is that the crisis will have major consequences.

Things to keep in mind

Trying to figure out what  or even the G7 will do is at best highly speculative guesswork.

Nonetheless, there are some facts of the situation that could help us understand where things could go given different scenarios. Particularly there are concerns in regards to commodity prices, not just oil and natural gas, but other key elements produced in , including steel and titanium. All of those could have knock-on effects on currencies, as price fluctuations drive demand for commodity currencies.

The main concern for the global economy is oil.  is the second-largest producer of oil in the world and the largest producer of natural gas.

Aside from geopolitics, a demand switch has been driving oil prices higher. That is, high prices of natural gas (particularly in Europe) had led to energy producers buying petroleum substitutes. Because this was deemed a short-term issue, many producers had not increased production, exacerbating the price crunch.

Getting energy to Europe

As recently as yesterday,  had committed to continue to supply gas and oil to Europe. That said, about half of the current supply of natural gas from  to Europe goes through e. If the situation there escalates, even without sanctions, it might not be possible to keep the supply going. And it would force Europe to buy from other areas. In turn, that could further push prices up.

Of course, cutting off n energy supplies is the trump card for Europe in trying to pressure . This means it’s also likely to be the last resort. With  claiming only to be conducting a “special operation” in e, and prior hesitancy to apply severe sanctions, it’s questionable whether they’ll play the trump card. Europe, unlike the US and China, does not have strategic energy reserves.

The potential reaction

Aside from oil, other sanctions that could be applied include suspending  from SWIFT. That option seems more likely, as it has a bigger impact on ’s economy. But it does not necessarily have a direct impact on the energy market.

On the other hand, the sudden surge in prices and the potential limits on supply could lead to an emergency OPEC session. And this would allow the lifting of production caps.

Trading the news requires access to extensive market research - and that's what we do best. Open your Orbex account now.

The post Key Points Regarding , e, and Oil appeared first on Orbex Forex Trading Blog.

Source: Key Points Regarding , e, and Oil