Oil Prices Surge Despite Record-Breaking Strategic Reserve Release

Oil prices climbed sharply on Wednesday even after the International Energy Agency announced the largest coordinated release of strategic oil reserves in its history, underscoring the scale of supply concerns stemming from escalating tensions in the Middle East. At the time of writing, WTI crude was trading at $93.96, up 7.69%, while Brent crude stood at $91.98, up 4.76% on the day. The price surge came as shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz intensified fears of a prolonged supply shock, offsetting any downward pressure from the IEA’s…