91��Ƶ

President Donald Trump said the U.S. would provide insurance guarantees and naval escorts to ensure safe passage for oil tankers and other vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

A decision to tap the Energy Department’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve could help stanch price spikes, at least temporarily. The reserve currently holds about 415 million barrels.

Shipowners and brokers are demanding more than $200,000 a day for LNG tankers in the Atlantic Basin, roughly double what they were commanding less than a day earlier, according to sources.

Oil producers jumped on a chance to lock in prices for future sales as the crude market soared, opening a window that had been scarce before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on OPEC member Iran. 

Agriculture traders rushed to adjust positions with the escalating conflict in Iran threatening to disrupt supply chains from corn and soybean meal to fertilizer and sugar.

Some carriers are canceling bookings temporarily, skipping some port calls, warning of delays and implementing surcharges to transport containers through the conflict zone. 

While operating in a soft freight market that has been squeezing margins, carriers of all sizes have been relying on fuel cards for savings at the pump and tighter control over fuel spending.

“It’s the rockets and feathers effect,” said Christopher Knittel, professor of energy economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “When things are going up — they go up fast.”

Soy rose to its highest level in more than two years after strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran. Contracts in Chicago surged as much as 3.9% before paring some gains.

The most immediate impact from the escalating Middle East conflict is through market reaction as investors take flight to safe havens such as the dollar and gold, while stocks slump.