Oil prices advanced on Thursday as renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure heightened concerns over escalating Middle East hostilities. Two people were killed and two injured in a drone strike on Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field, according to reports, adding to pressure on the kingdom’s critical energy facilities. The US State Department also ordered non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia amid growing threats from Houthi militants in neighboring Yemen.

Tensions across the Persian Gulf intensified as Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy warned that continued US efforts to direct vessels through what it described as illegal routes in the Gulf could trigger confrontation involving American regional bases. The warning underscores the risks to commercial shipping and energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, even as exports through the waterway accelerate. Saudi Aramco CEO Nasser said the company was seeking partnerships with other countries to expand strategic oil reserves.

In Asia, New Zealand’s annual inflation slowed more than expected in the third quarter as fuel prices retreated, offering some relief ahead of the country’s upcoming election. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is likely to state that inflation has reached its 2% target, according to reports, keeping attention on the outlook for Japanese monetary policy.

In the technology sector, Tesla and NVIDIA are reportedly set to invest $2.8 billion in a Samsung-related plant, highlighting continued investment in advanced technology and semiconductor infrastructure.

Elsewhere, a drone strike targeted energy infrastructure in the Kremenchuk area of Ukraine’s Poltava region, according to a local official, reinforcing concerns over continued disruption to energy facilities amid the wider conflict.

With attacks on energy infrastructure intensifying and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remaining elevated, oil markets face renewed supply uncertainty. Investors will continue monitoring developments across the Persian Gulf for potential consequences for crude prices, inflation and the global interest-rate outlook.

FISG Daily Market Wrap provides a concise view of the forces moving global markets, helping investors stay informed and better prepared for what comes next.

FISG — Interstellar Group