Oil prices hover near $90 a barrel and gold hits two-month high as Trump makes new demands on Iran – as it happened
Guardian AU Business
•Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:11:51 GMT
📰 What Happened
Oil prices hovered near $90 a barrel and gold hit a two-month high as markets reacted to new US demands on Iran that complicated the standoff. Brent crude briefly exceeded $90 before easing, while safe-haven demand lifted gold.
🔍 The Backstory
Geopolitical tensions centered on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz have kept an elevated risk premium in oil markets. Gold has risen as investors sought safe havens amid the uncertainty, and the US president's demand for compensation added pressure to the Iranian negotiations.
🎯 Why It Matters
The movements highlight how geopolitics continue to drive commodity prices, with implications for inflation, energy costs and investor sentiment, as the uncertain Iran standoff keeps markets on edge over energy supplies.
Oil prices hovered near $90 a barrel and gold hit a two-month high as markets reacted to new US demands on Iran that complicated the standoff. Brent crude briefly exceeded $90 before easing, while safe-haven demand lifted gold.
Geopolitical tensions centered on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz have kept an elevated risk premium in oil markets. Gold has risen as investors sought safe havens amid the uncertainty, and the US president's demand for compensation added pressure to the Iranian negotiations.
The movements highlight how geopolitics continue to drive commodity prices, with implications for inflation, energy costs and investor sentiment, as the uncertain Iran standoff keeps markets on edge over energy supplies.