Piper Sandler Forecasts Oil Prices to Rise Amid Hormuz Closure

Piper Sandler predicts that the Strait of Hormuz will remain largely closed for months, leading to a potential rise in oil prices. Currently, WTI crude futures are trading around $94 per barrel, down from nearly $120 at the conflict's onset. The bank expressed little confidence that the commercial traffic through the Strait would return to even 50% of its pre-crisis levels soon. This situation could exacerbate shortages and impact global economies reliant on Middle Eastern oil and LNG exports, raising concerns about the overall market.