{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Energy Markets Daily","title":"Strategic Positioning: Week 34","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/78ca2544\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":149,"description":"Monday, August 24, 2026. WEEK 34 OPENS. CRUDE OIL UPDATE: WTI at $85.42-$85.66 as of Aug 24 (intraday or close); one live update $84.97 spot with range $84.89-$86.15. Aug 21 futures close ~$87.06; spot/futures references ~$86.34-$86.76 (one source lists $86.66-$86.76). Aug 20 futures close ~$86.83; other references ~$85.97-$87.83. Aug 23 ~$85.79-$86.02 (daily range examples: low ~$85.78, high ~$86.14 or $86.56). Aug 19 ~$84.08-$84.39. Aug 18 ~$84.06-$84.38. Aug 17 ~$84.01-$84.50. Aug 14 ~$81.53-$82.40. GuruFocus oil price (WTI futures proxy) on/around Aug 21 $86.76 (down ~1.22% from prior day). YCharts WTI spot (Aug 20) $89.75 (noted as potentially higher/outlier vs. other benchmarks). Twelve Data WTI/USD (Aug 24 close example) ~$84.97. FRED/EIA WTI spot references (weekly/daily, e.g., around mid-August) ~$83.99-$86.48. Broader trend Prices notably higher than year-ago levels (~+35% YoY in some reports). General trend Futures closes tended to be in high $86s earlier in period before easing; spot prices often bit lower. NATURAL GAS UPDATE: Aug 18 (latest available daily spot) $2.82. Aug 17 $2.77. Aug 14 $2.79. Aug 13 $2.82. Aug 12 $2.82. CME Henry Hub Natural Gas futures (e.g., prompt-month contracts) around Aug 21-23, 2026 Settlements or last prices in ~$2.75-$2.76 range, with modest daily changes. Broader 2026 forecasts (EIA STEO) Project annual average around $3.44/MMBtu, with Q3 2026 averaging near $2.87. Note EIA releases daily spot price data with lag (typically updated mid-week for prior period); next release expected around Aug 26; no trading on weekends. STRAIT OF HORMUZ SHIPPING: Aug 21 US officials reported ~40 oil tankers carrying ~16 million barrels of crude transited southern channel. Aug 21-22 overnight Windward intelligence noted 9 vessels transited southern corridor \"dark\" (7 inbound, 2 outbound)—largest single-night count on record at time. Aug 21 Windward recorded 5 vessels transiting (including Panama-flagged product tanker, sanctioned LPG...","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}