Oil Prices Climb on Fears of Broader Energy Crunch

Oil prices jumped Friday and stocks tumbled as the markets contended with persistent supply disruptions in the Middle East and the absence of meaningful breakthroughs at the summit in Beijing between President Donald Trump and China’s leader, Xi Jinping.

The leaders of the world’s two biggest economies emphasized stability Friday as their high-stakes talks ended. Trump said he had not asked Xi to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz because “I don’t need favors.” The president added: “I think he will. I think automatically he’d like to see it opened up.”

The strait, a narrow waterway that carries a fifth of the world’s crude oil, has remained effectively closed since the United States and Israel went to war with Iran in late February.

Oil Prices Climb Again

The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, jumped more than 2% Friday, to about $108 a barrel. Oil prices have climbed 50% since war broke out in the Middle East.

A barrel of West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, rose about 3% to roughly $104.

Stocks Tumble as Tech Rally Fades

The S&P 500 fell more than 1% after it opened Friday. A strong rally in tech shares in recent weeks had sent the index to record highs.

In Asia, stocks fell broadly, led by a sell-off in South Korea, where the benchmark KOSPI index tumbled more than 6%. The Nikkei 225 in Japan and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong both fell nearly 2%.

The selling spread to markets in Europe. The Stoxx 600, a broad European index, declined more than 1%, as did the FTSE 100 in Britain. The DAX in Germany was down nearly 2%.

Gas Prices Remain Elevated

The average price of a gallon of regular gas held steady at $4.53 on Friday, according to the AAA motor club. Gas prices are up 52% since the war began.

Gas prices typically lag behind changes in oil prices by a few days.

The average price of a gallon of diesel fuel fell a penny to $5.66, 50% higher than when the war started.

What They Are Saying: Expect a ‘Protracted Energy Shock’

Markets have lost momentum because Trump has said the United States does not need the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened, analysts at Deutsche Bank wrote in a research note.

Trump’s comments have added to investors’ fears that the waterway will remain blocked for some time, which would lead to a “more protracted energy shock,” they added.

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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By The New York Times/Kenny Holston
c. 2026 The New York Times Company

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