Commodity Trading 18 February 2026

Heating oil price jumps nearly 5% as Hormuz jitters ripple through diesel market
···

Heating oil price jumps nearly 5% as Hormuz jitters ripple through diesel market

Front-month NYMEX heating oil futures jumped 11.4 cents to $2.5049 per gallon Wednesday, tracking a sharp rebound in crude as Middle East tensions resurfaced. Traders cited renewed risk around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. The move followed a drop Tuesday on signs of progress in U.S.-Iran talks. Market focus now shifts to U.S. fuel inventory data due Thursday.
February 18, 2026
Brent crude price jumps above $70 on Hormuz jitters — what oil traders watch next
···

Brent crude price jumps above $70 on Hormuz jitters — what oil traders watch next

Brent crude futures jumped 4.1% to $70.19 a barrel Wednesday as Middle East supply fears resurfaced after Iran briefly shut the Strait of Hormuz during military drills. U.S. WTI rose 4.3% to $64.93. Traders cited U.S.-Iran tensions, shifting U.S. naval deployments, and stalled Russia-Ukraine talks as drivers. Reuters reported odds of U.S. strikes on Iran by end-April at 65%.
February 18, 2026