{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Energy Markets Daily","title":"Strategic Positioning: Week 33","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/3832cdc9\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":142,"description":"Monday, August 17, 2026. WEEK 33 OPENS. CRUDE OIL UPDATE: WTI at $82.09, down 0.38% from prior day per CFD/benchmark report; another note indicated rise toward $82.44 amid market movements. Aug 16 around $82.08 (delayed quote/settlement reference); one historical table listed 81.52 with -1.07% change; intraday trading referenced opens near $82.53 and ranges in low $82s. Aug 14 settlement $82.40 (up 1.42%). Aug 13 $81.25 settlement (down 2.43%). Front-month WTI futures CLU26 Sep 2026 traded on NYMEX. NATURAL GAS UPDATE: Aug 11 spot (latest reported) $2.79 (up from $2.72 on Aug 10). Earlier Aug: Aug 7 ~$2.56; Aug 6/5 ~$2.60; Aug 4 ~$2.74. CME Henry Hub futures (mid-Aug 2026) trading around $2.66-$2.72 on Aug 16, 2026, with daily changes roughly -0.4% to -2.7%. Broader natural gas (CFD tracking Henry Hub) around $2.66-$2.73 on Aug 16-17, 2026, reflecting downward pressure. EIA Q3 2026 expectations around $2.87 in some outlooks. 2026 averages low-to-mid $3 range. STRAIT OF HORMUZ SHIPPING: Aug 14 (Friday) only 2 vessels transited (one grain carrier entering Iranian waters, one empty dry bulk carrier exiting); separately empty LPG tanker noted heading through; no crude oil cargoes observed (Kpler analysis); nine vessels passed prior Thursday; five on Wednesday. Aug 13 13 confirmed Strait of Hormuz crossings (MarineTraffic data: 7 entering Gulf, 6 exiting; mix of vessel types including some sanctioned/shadow vessels). Aug 13/14 context Hormuz shipping traffic shows no sign of recovery (per gCaptain reports citing trade data); PortWatch recorded just 1 transit on Aug 9 against pre-crisis baseline of ~73 per day. Aug 10 (Monday) traffic fell to 6 vessels (vs. 10-day average of ~11); included 4 commodity vessels entering (two empty oil product tankers) and 2 exiting (one small LPG tanker, one with residual fuels) (Kpler/Reuters). Around Aug 11-12 5-day average of ~13 transits (all ship types), near three-month low and ~90% below pre-war levels (Kpler data via CNBC...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/U36G3q8LRcUNVnqsKxxoyD29VrpCUp_hS1pTIecj8QA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kNzMw/ZTFlZDQ2NTZmYTAw/YzVkZDJiYzQyNTQw/ODQ5MS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}