Thursday saw a surge in crude oil prices, driven by global economic uncertainties due to ongoing conflicts. Despite some easing of concerns about Red Sea shipping disruptions, tensions persist in the Middle East, supporting oil prices.
In the Comex division of IC Exchange in London, Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 0.1% to $79.75 per barrel. Meanwhile, WTI prices in the New York Mercantile Exchange’s Comex division dipped slightly to $74.06 per barrel.
Major geopolitical events, such as the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, have intensified oil diplomacy among key economies: the United States, China, Russia, and India. Facing Western sanctions, Russia has shifted fuel exports to China and India, reducing its European market share.
China has become a pivotal player, with 45-50% of its oil imports now sourced from Russia, surpassing Saudi Arabia as its primary supplier. India, previously a minor buyer, now obtains nearly 40% of its oil from Russia.
To counter sanctions, Russia has expanded its oil exports, reportedly refining Russian crude in India and selling it to European customers through alternative routes. Moscow aims to explore new markets for natural gas and oil exports, expecting significant revenue despite sanctions.
While major shipping companies, including Maersk, have resumed Red Sea operations, ongoing Middle East tensions, along with Iran’s involvement, add complexity to the oil supply landscape.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed a strengthening of ties with India during a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. As global uncertainties persist, geopolitical events continue to influence global oil dynamics, underscoring the interconnectedness of economic and diplomatic factors.
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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index recorded a decrease of 8.71 points, equivalent to 0.42%, from the previous day’s closing, settling at 2,049.28 points. In contrast, the trading session prior to this reported a gain of 27.90 points for the index. The market opened today with the index starting at 2058.57, reaching an intraday low of 2,046.05, and hitting an intraday high of 2,072.08. Throughout today’s trading activities, a total of 303 different stocks were traded in 108,403 transactions. The traded shares amounted to 16,052,101, generating a total turnover of Rs. 5.58 Arba. The market capitalization was reported at Rs. 31.83 Kharba, with a float market capitalization of Rs. 11.00 Kharba. Sonapur Minerals And Oil Limited (SONA) emerged with the highest turnover, reaching Rs. 33.45 crores, and closed at a market price of Rs. 508. Among today’s notable performers, Kalika Power Company Ltd (KPCL) and Singati Hydro Energy Limited (SHEL) experienced the highest gains, both at 10%. Following closely were Nepal Warehousing Company Limited (NWCL) at 9.99% and Muktinath Krishi Company Limited (MKCL) at 9.98%. Conversely, Siddhartha Premier Insurance Limited (SPIL) faced the highest loss of 6.56%. Regarding sector indices, only four sectors closed positively today. The “Trading Index” saw the most significant gain of 2.34%, while the “Others Index” experienced a loss of 3.70%.
