Latest market news
Independent UK financial coverage with full source attribution.
Brent tops $85 as Trump reinstates Hormuz blockade and proposes 20% shipping toll
An active overnight session dominated by fresh US-Iran military escalation and a significant surge in crude oil prices, partially offset by strong China trade data.
NVDA Q1 2026: filings, holdings, and macro context
US strikes Iran; Strait of Hormuz traffic halts as Brent approaches $80
A volatile European session dominated by US-Iran military escalation, surging oil prices, sharp equity declines, and a record collapse in SK Hynix shares.
US and Iran exchange fresh strikes; Hormuz tanker traffic near standstill
Overnight session dominated by renewed US-Iran military escalation, a 4% oil surge, and broad Asian equity declines on Strait of Hormuz supply fears.
Iran declares Strait of Hormuz closed after third US military strike
A week dominated by escalating US-Iran military exchanges, Hormuz closure, surging oil prices, and the landmark SK Hynix Nasdaq listing.
GS Q2 2026: filings, holdings, and macro context
Brent up 20.7% in six months; Russian refining output 40% below pre-war levels
Brent closed at $78.36 (+20.7% over six months) and WTI at $73.66 (+22.1%) on 12 July 2026; gold fell 14.2% to $4,086, natural gas fell 25.2% to $2.92, and sterling closed at $1.3376. Russian refining output ran more than 40% below pre-war levels amid Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries and export infrastructure.
Brent rose 20.7% over six months to $78.36 on 12 July 2026
Brent crude closed at $78.36 on 12 July 2026, up 3.1% on the day and 20.7% over six months, while WTI closed at $73.66, up 22.1% over the same period. Nigeria exported approximately 55.4 million barrels of crude in January–February 2026, with production averaging 1.46 mbpd in January and 1.31 mbpd in February.
Valdrans Market Pulse: 111 corroborated market-moving stories tracked in week of 6 July 2026
The Valdrans Market Pulse tracked 111 corroborated market-moving stories in the week of 6 July 2026 (95 market, 16 breaking-news), drawn from 1,985 source items across 14 sources.