Oil prices today: Brent steadies near $81 as Hormuz disruption drags on and banks flag $100 risk
Brent crude slipped 24 cents to $81.13 a barrel by late morning Wednesday, erasing earlier gains after reports of possible Iran–U.S. intelligence contacts. The Strait of Hormuz remained blocked for a fifth day after a U.S. strike hit an Iranian warship, forcing Iraq to cut output by 1.5 million bpd. Saudi Aramco diverted some crude loadings to Yanbu as tanker rates surged. Goldman Sachs raised its Brent forecast, citing risks from prolonged Hormuz disruptions.