September WTI crude oil (CLU26) on Wednesday closed up +5.20 (+6.56%), and September RBOB gasoline (RBU26) closed up +0.0815 (+2.59%).
Crude oil and gasoline prices rallied sharply on Wednesday amid a fresh round of hostilities in the Middle East, which threatens global energy supplies. Gains in crude accelerated on Wednesday after President Trump said the US will “hit Iran hard” after a recent attack from Iran that targeted a US base in Jordan. Crude prices raced to their highs after weekly EIA crude inventories unexpectedly fell to a 7.75-year low and after crude supplies at Cushing sank to a nearly 12-year low.