BP and Shell lifted by oil prices rebound as Iran-US talks in jeaopardy Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock
BP PLC (LSE:BP.) and Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL) led a small band of FTSE 100 risers on Monday morning as oil prices rebounded sharply over renewed anxiety over the US-Iran ceasefire.
BP shares rose 3.2% and Shell’s climbed 2.5% as Brent crude oil jumped 6% to $95.90 a barrel, recovering from levels below $87 at the end of last week.
The move followed a renewed escalation in Middle East tensions after Iran threatened not to participate in peace talks, due to the US naval blockade in the Gulf.
Tehran’s position said it was closing the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, with its position further hardened by the US seizing an Iranian cargo ship on Monday, prompting threats of retaliation and raising concerns over the ongoing standstill of the key oil shipping route.
Trading late on Sunday and early Monday saw oil prices move higher as markets reacted to the developments.
The rise in energy stocks meant London’s FTSE 100 fell less than European peers, down 0.6% to 10,602, while Germany’s DAX fell 1.4% and France’s CAC 1.3%.
“Today’s jump in oil prices and the pullback in stocks is a reminder that the current ceasefire that expires on Wednesday is fragile,” said market analyst Kathleen Brooks at XTB, adding that the latest round of peace talks in Pakistan scheduled for today are now “in jeopardy”.
“Although a US delegation is in the region, Iran has rebuffed these talks, and it is unclear if they will take place. Failed negotiations at this stage is problematic since it is an obstacle to negotiating a longer ceasefire.
“Unless relations between the US and Iran improve in the next two days, we could see a resumption of the bombing campaigns from both sides, and more volatility for financial markets.”