NEW YORK (AP).—The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the transit of commercial oil tankers caused a significant drop in crude oil prices y a rebound in the US stock markets, amid expectations of a possible détente in the conflict between Iran and the United States.
The announcement was made on Friday by the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchiwho reported that the maritime passage “is declared completely open” during the remaining period of the ceasefire. After the declaration, the price of US oil fell 9.4% to settle at $82.59 per barrel, while Brent crude oil fell 9.1% to close at $90.38.
In parallel, the main indicators of Wall Street recorded significant increases. The S&P 500 index rose 1.2% and reached an all-time high, racking up three consecutive weeks of gains. The Dow Jones industrial average advanced 868 points, equivalent to 1.8%, and the Nasdaq rose 1.5%.
Analysts consider that The decrease in oil prices could have favorable effects on global inflationby reducing transportation and energy costs. This, in turn, could impact commodity prices and interest rates, with potential benefits for consumers and businesses.
He President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated the night before that the war “should be over pretty soon”although he reiterated that the naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in force until a definitive agreement is reached.
The behavior of the markets also reflected the immediate impact on sectors highly dependent on fuel. Airlines such as United Airlines and Southwest Airlines reported increases of 7.1% and 5.1%respectively. Likewise, companies in the tourism sector, such as Royal Caribbean Group y Carnival, registered increases of more than 7%.
The positive reaction spread to other sectors, including real estate and automotive, due to the expectation of lower interest rates. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond fell from 4.32% to 4.24%, which could facilitate access to credit for housing and consumption.
However, specialists warn that the scenario is still subject to volatility. Since the beginning of the conflict, markets have experienced sharp swings between optimism and caution, depending on political and military signals. Despite the recent decline, the price of crude oil remains above pre-war levels, indicating persistent uncertainty.
Internationally, European stock markets reacted with increases after the Iranian announcement. France’s CAC 40 index rose 2%, while Germany’s DAX advanced 2.3%. In contrast, Asian markets closed lower before the news broke, with losses of 1.8% in Japan and 0.9% in Hong Kong.
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