Oil prices fell sharply Monday as traders focused on prospects for U.S.-Iran diplomacy and signs of improving crude flows, outweighing escalating fighting between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
Brent crude futures for November dropped 3.7% to $100.07 a barrel after briefly slipping below $100. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 4.3% to $91.98.
Supply concerns eased after U.S. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper said CENTCOM had supported the movement of more than 1 billion barrels of crude through the Strait of Hormuz in recent months. He added that crude oil, cargo and liquefied natural gas traffic through the waterway during the past two weeks reached its highest level in six months.
Saudi supply fears also diminished despite continued fighting in Yemen. The kingdom has increased east coast exports and permitted ship-to-ship transfers off Oman to offset the shutdown of its East-West Pipeline. Kpler data showed Saudi crude exports recovering to slightly above 4 million barrels per day in September from 2.4 million bpd in August.
Markets also reacted to hopes that Washington and Tehran could make diplomatic progress during the United Nations General Assembly. Reports indicated President Donald Trump was open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, although both countries continued exchanging threats.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s U.S. visit added another diplomatic angle because China remains the largest buyer of Iranian crude. Beijing said Xi and Trump would discuss major bilateral and global issues.
Meanwhile, high U.S. fuel prices prompted Republican lawmakers to call for restrictions on diesel exports. GasBuddy data showed average gasoline prices rising 18.5 cents over the past week to $4.44 a gallon, while diesel climbed 30.7 cents to $6.49.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Ashley Hinson backed measures aimed at easing costs for farmers and truckers. Hinson proposed options including pausing diesel exports, suspending the gas tax, expanding E-15 fuel availability and restoring the $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit.


Bolivia Approves $1.9 Billion IMF Financing Deal
Bessent, He Lifeng to Discuss AI Security and Trade in New York
Europe Jet Fuel Deficit Drives South Korean Imports to Four-Year High
S&P 500 Historically Rallies After Midterm Elections, UBS Says
Gold Prices Hold Steady Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit, Middle East Risks
Yen in Focus as BOJ, Fed Rate Hikes Reshape Currency Markets
U.S. Stock Futures Rise Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit, Middle East Risks Weigh
Wall Street Mixed as Treasury Yields Rise After Fed Hike
Oil Prices Rise as Houthi Strikes on Riyadh Fuel Middle East Tensions
Yen Slides After BOJ Rate Hike as Dollar Holds Near Seven-Week High
Vietnam Stocks Join FTSE Emerging Market Indexes, Unlocking Billions in Foreign Investment
Bessent Presses Japan on Fiscal Policy as Yen Struggles
Fed Rate Hike Threatens Housing as U.S. Growth Leans on AI, Citi Says
U.S. Dollar Hits Eight-Week High After Fed Rate Hike
Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments Hit Six-Month High as U.S. Clears Mines 



