Financial Forecasts 5 December 2025 - 6 December 2025

July 9, 2026, 10:51 PM EDT. Brent crude was down 0.08% at $76.24 and U.S. WTI slipped 0.06% to $72.04 on Friday. Both benchmarks are up for the week, with Brent set for a 6% gain and WTI up 5%. U.S.-Iran military action in the Gulf, with attacks on U.S. assets and Iranian nuclear targets, have put supply risks in focus. The Strait of Hormuz is still closed, holding up about 20% of global oil and gas shipments. Comments from the U.S. government have aimed to assure markets by ruling out direct hits on Iranian energy facilities and playing down the threat of a broader war. Inflation concerns are still a drag on demand.