Latest news with #RapidanEnergyGroup
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Oil prices could climb higher if mideast tensions escalate
Oil prices , which surged after Israel attacked Iran early Friday, could stay high as long as tensions are elevated in the Middle East. Higher oil prices may eventually lead to more expensive gasoline and diesel, hurting consumers and businesses, and throwing a wrench into the Trump administration's goal of lowering energy costs to keep inflation in check. The benchmark US crude oil price settled at $72.98 a barrel Friday afternoon, up 7per cent . Prices briefly topped $77 a barrel shortly after the attack began. Where oil prices go from here depends on how Iran responds to the Israeli attacks, analysts said. Prices could climb further if Iran attacks energy infrastructure or US bases in the region. But if it retaliates in a more limited fashion, oil prices are likely to fall in the coming weeks. Iran launched missiles at Israel on Friday night, some of which struck parts of Tel Aviv. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear. Either way, US oil companies and big producers in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia are not likely to ramp up production quickly, said Robert McNally, an energy adviser under George W. Bush's administration who is now president of Rapidan Energy Group, a research firm in Washington. Producers know that although geopolitical conflicts often drive up prices in the short-term, which is good for them, the fighting can ultimately lead to recessions, which push oil demand down, McNally said. Saudi Arabia and other members of the oil cartel known as OPEC+ will also not want to be seen as supporting or benefiting from Israel's attack. "They're going to hunker down, stay low and hope it blows over," McNally said of OPEC+. Iran produces around 3per cent of the world's oil but could disrupt far more of it. That is partly because the country sits on the northern side of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route that connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Around a fifth of the world's oil and related fuels moves through the strait every day. And while it would be difficult for Iran to close that waterway for a long time, it could disrupt traffic, RBC Capital Markets analysts wrote Friday. In past periods of heightened political tensions, Iran has seized tankers or interfered with their GPS signals, making it more difficult to navigate the waterway, according to Rystad Energy, a research and consulting firm. That said, Iran has a financial incentive to keep the Strait of Hormuz open because nearly all of its oil exports pass through it. Any interference there could also hurt China, which is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil and relies heavily on energy shipped through the strait. Any disruptions would also affect the United States. While the country depends far less on oil from the Persian Gulf than it used to, many Americans are vulnerable to a big increase in oil prices. The economic and political ramifications of a big jump in energy prices are not lost on President Donald Trump. He was lamenting a recent, more modest price increase before Israel attacked Iran. "I don't like that the oil prices have gone up just a little bit over the last few days," Trump said at a White House event Thursday. He chided the energy secretary, Chris Wright, who was in the audience: "I was going to call and just really start screaming at you. Are we OK? Nothing wrong, right? It's going to keep going down a little bit, right? Because we have inflation under control perfectly." Oil prices remain moderate by historical standards. US oil prices have averaged above $76 a barrel in each of the last three years, according to the Energy Information Administration. They have traded closer to $60 a barrel since early April, when Trump announced plans to place tariffs on nearly all US trading partners. That stoked fears that an all-out trade war could cause a global economic slowdown -- and possibly tip the United States into a recession. Oil prices recovered somewhat after the Trump administration said it would keep many tariffs at a lower level temporarily to give the United States time to negotiate trade deals with other countries. Even so, many domestic oil producers have started to pull back, as some companies cannot make money drilling new wells at prices of $60 a barrel or less. If oil remains above $70 a barrel for a while, however, US producers' plans could change again. Gasoline is now about 9per cent cheaper than it was a year ago, according to the AAA motor club. A gallon of regular gasoline costs $3.13 on average. Other energy costs are rising, however, including for electricity to power homes. Several studies have found that Trump's domestic policy bill, as it was passed by the House last month, would make things worse. Should oil get "caught in the crossfire," RBC analysts wrote, Trump would most likely ask Saudi Arabia and others to pump more to insulate US consumers from the effects of the conflict.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Oil prices could climb higher if Mideast tensions escalate
Oil prices, which surged after Israel attacked Iran early Friday, could stay high as long as tensions are elevated in the Middle East. Higher oil prices may eventually lead to more expensive gasoline and diesel, hurting consumers and businesses, and throwing a wrench into the Trump administration's goal of lowering energy costs to keep inflation in check. The benchmark U.S. crude oil price settled at $72.98 a barrel Friday afternoon, up 7%. Prices briefly topped $77 a barrel shortly after the attack began. Where oil prices go from here depends on how Iran responds to the Israeli attacks, analysts said. Prices could climb further if Iran attacks energy infrastructure or U.S. bases in the region. But if it retaliates in a more limited fashion, oil prices are likely to fall in the coming weeks. Iran launched missiles at Israel on Friday night, some of which struck parts of Tel Aviv. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear. Either way, U.S. oil companies and big producers in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia are not likely to ramp up production quickly, said Robert McNally, an energy adviser under George W. Bush's administration who is now president of Rapidan Energy Group, a research firm in Washington. Producers know that although geopolitical conflicts often drive up prices in the short-term, which is good for them, the fighting can ultimately lead to recessions, which push oil demand down, McNally said. Saudi Arabia and other members of the oil cartel known as OPEC+ will also not want to be seen as supporting or benefiting from Israel's attack. 'They're going to hunker down, stay low and hope it blows over,' McNally said of OPEC+. Iran produces around 3% of the world's oil but could disrupt far more of it. That is partly because the country sits on the northern side of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route that connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Around a fifth of the world's oil and related fuels moves through the strait every day. And while it would be difficult for Iran to close that waterway for a long time, it could disrupt traffic, RBC Capital Markets analysts wrote Friday. In past periods of heightened political tensions, Iran has seized tankers or interfered with their GPS signals, making it more difficult to navigate the waterway, according to Rystad Energy, a research and consulting firm. That said, Iran has a financial incentive to keep the Strait of Hormuz open because nearly all of its oil exports pass through it. Any interference there could also hurt China, which is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil and relies heavily on energy shipped through the strait. Any disruptions would also affect the United States. While the country depends far less on oil from the Persian Gulf than it used to, many Americans are vulnerable to a big increase in oil prices. The economic and political ramifications of a big jump in energy prices are not lost on President Donald Trump. He was lamenting a recent, more modest price increase before Israel attacked Iran. 'I don't like that the oil prices have gone up just a little bit over the last few days,' Trump said at a White House event Thursday. He chided the energy secretary, Chris Wright, who was in the audience: 'I was going to call and just really start screaming at you. Are we OK? Nothing wrong, right? It's going to keep going down a little bit, right? Because we have inflation under control perfectly.' Oil prices remain moderate by historical standards. U.S. oil prices have averaged above $76 a barrel in each of the last three years, according to the Energy Information Administration. They have traded closer to $60 a barrel since early April, when Trump announced plans to place tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners. That stoked fears that an all-out trade war could cause a global economic slowdown -- and possibly tip the United States into a recession. Oil prices recovered somewhat after the Trump administration said it would keep many tariffs at a lower level temporarily to give the United States time to negotiate trade deals with other countries. Even so, many domestic oil producers have started to pull back, as some companies cannot make money drilling new wells at prices of $60 a barrel or less. If oil remains above $70 a barrel for a while, however, U.S. producers' plans could change again. Gasoline is now about 9% cheaper than it was a year ago, according to the AAA motor club. A gallon of regular gasoline costs $3.13 on average. Other energy costs are rising, however, including for electricity to power homes. Several studies have found that Trump's domestic policy bill, as it was passed by the House last month, would make things worse. Should oil get 'caught in the crossfire,' RBC analysts wrote, Trump would most likely ask Saudi Arabia and others to pump more to insulate U.S. consumers from the effects of the conflict. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oil prices surge and stocks tumble after Israel attacks Iran
The price of oil surged Friday in one of the market's largest single-day increases in years, reflecting fears that a wider conflict in the Middle East could lead to serious energy supply disruptions. Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last up 6.3% at $71 a barrel. US oil jumped 8.5% to nearly $74 a barrel, after gaining as much as 13% earlier in the day. Those are the biggest intraday gains for each benchmark since March 2022, a month after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The surge illustrates 'both immediate supply concerns and a growing sense that negative headlines could extend the timeline for escalation unlike prior Israel-Iran episode,' Ahmad Assiri, research strategist at Pepperstone, a financial services firm, wrote in a research note. Meanwhile, US stock futures fell, sending investors retreating to traditional safe haven investments like gold. Dow futures dropped 1.3%, or over 540 points. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq Composite futures were down even more, by 1.4% and 1.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, gold rose about 1% to $3,413.6 per troy ounce. Early on Friday, Israel launched an unprecedented attack against Iran's nuclear and missile facilities, killing at least two of Iran's top military commanders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address that the 'targeted military operation' is expected to continue for 'many days.' 'This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,' Netanyahu said. A state of emergency has been declared in Israel in anticipation of an Iranian retaliation, which appears to have begun. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel will face 'severe punishment' for the attacks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was not involved in the Israeli operation and warned Iran against targeting US interests or personnel. Investors are concerned about how a retaliation by Iran may play out, whether the US may be targeted and whether a critical oil transport route may be disrupted. If the conflict eliminates Iranian oil from the market, oil prices could spike by about $7.50 a barrel, according to Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, a consulting firm. 'Iran knows full well that Trump is focused on lower energy prices and actions by Iran that impact Middle East supply and consequently raise oil prices damage Trump politically,' he said. The bigger fear now is an even broader conflict that impacts the flow of oil from the Strait of Hormuz, the most critical chokepoint for oil supplies on the planet. 'Should oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz be affected, we could see $100 oil,' Lipow said. Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group, a consulting firm, told CNN that the oil market had been 'complacent about the risk of geopolitical disruptions' from the region. 'With Israel having commenced attacks against Iran, we expect significantly more risk premium to come into the price of crude in the coming days,' he said. Iran's preparation for a military response 'raises the risk of not just disruptions but of contagion in other neighboring oil producing nations too,' Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova, told Reuters. 'Although Trump has shown reluctance to participate, U.S. involvement could further raise concerns,' she said. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rapidan Energy Group Expands Team with Addition of Three Industry Veterans
WASHINGTON, June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapidan Energy Group is proud to announce the addition of Richard W. Powers, Bryson L. Rexwinkle, and Kenya Schott to its team. These new hires reflect the firm's continued growth and commitment to delivering forward-looking energy market, policy, and geopolitical data and research to clients worldwide. Richard W. Powers, joining Rapidan in New York City as Vice President of Business Development, brings over three decades of international financial and data services sales experience, most recently as a Senior Sales Executive at S&P Global. A former top producer and Sales Excellence Award winner, Richard pioneered the sale of maritime trade data as alternative data to hedge funds and closed several multimillion-dollar deals with major banks. Prior to S&P Global, he had an impressive 20-year tenure at Bloomberg LP, where he led major institutional accounts, launched innovative financial solutions, and mentored sales teams across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University. Bryson L. Rexwinkle joins Rapidan in Houston as Vice President of Business Development and brings deep experience in the energy sector, having previously served as Sales Manager for New Business at Energy Aspects. Bryson has a proven track record of developing and growing client relationships across North America, from traders to C-suite executives. His background includes business development roles at Hart Energy and a successful entrepreneurial venture as a licensed home inspector. Bryson holds dual bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Communication Studies from the University of Kansas. Kenya Schott joins Rapidan as an Energy Analyst, bringing a strong background in energy economics and market research. She previously held analyst roles at the U.S. Energy Information Administration, where she focused on natural gas, LNG, and upstream energy trends, and at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, where she authored market insights and contributed to oil, gas and renewables analysis. Kenya holds a Master's in Economics from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor's from Whitman College. "We're thrilled to welcome Richard, Bryson and Kenya to Rapidan," said Bob McNally, Founder and President of Rapidan Energy Group. "Their experience and insight will be instrumental in expanding our reach and delivering value to our clients at a time of unprecedented complexity in global energy markets, policy, and geopolitics." About Rapidan Energy Group Rapidan Energy Group provides differentiated and actionable insights on energy markets, policy, and geopolitics. We help leading corporations and financial firms identify opportunities and manage risks in the global energy industry and markets. For more information, please visit For more information on Rapidan's subscription and bespoke research services, please contact us at insight@ Media Contact: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Rapidan Energy Group Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rapidan Energy Group Wins 2025 AMA Crystal Award for Most Improved Website
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapidan Energy Group is proud to announce it has been named the winner of the Most Improved Website category at the 2025 American Marketing Association (AMA) Crystal Awards. The award honors Rapidan's complete in-house website redesign, which was completed in just five months and under budget. The project was spearheaded by Nell Lukosavich, Rapidan's Head of Marketing, and successfully aligns with Rapidan's evolution over the past 16 years into a leading global energy research and advisory firm. "Our goal was to create a site that actually reflects what Rapidan is today—a unique repository of energy market, policy and geopolitical expertise along with broadening and deepening analytical capabilities that is deeply committed to helping clients managing energy risks and opportunities across the globe," said Nell Lukosavich. "To see it recognized by the AMA is incredibly gratifying, and it's a testament to what strategic in-house collaboration and determination can achieve." The new site, launched in May 2024, achieved—and exceeded—every major objective, including increased new users to the site, a significant bump in international site traffic, and new client sales brought in from the site's lead generation strategy. "In today's digital-first world, your website is your front door," said Bob McNally, Rapidan Energy Group's Founder and President. "We realized we had outgrown our old online presence, and thanks to Nell's leadership, we now have a site that matches the strength and ambition of our talented and growing team and will facilitate future growth." The redesign included over 30 new pages of research insights content, integration of Rapidan's 15th anniversary brand campaign, live content updates, and more effective communication with clients and prospects. This recognition by the AMA Crystal Awards marks a significant milestone in Rapidan Energy Group's ongoing growth and commitment to delivering forward-looking energy market, policy, and geopolitics data and research to clients worldwide. About Rapidan Energy Group Rapidan Energy Group provides differentiated and actionable insights on energy markets, policy, and geopolitics. We help leading corporations and financial firms identify opportunities and manage risks in the global energy industry and markets. For more information, please visit For more information on Rapidan's subscription and bespoke research services, please contact us at insight@ Media Contact: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Rapidan Energy Group Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
