Crude oil prices saw a significant 5% jump on Thursday, pushing both Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) benchmarks above the $100 per barrel mark. This sharp rally is largely driven by a renewed wave of attacks on maritime shipping, which has stoked fears regarding the stability of global energy supplies. With the ongoing conflict involving Iran and its proxies—including Houthi forces seizing Yemeni ports and strikes on Saudi infrastructure—the market is increasingly worried that these disruptions are evolving into a long-term "new normal" rather than a temporary spike.

Analysts suggest that while the geopolitical instability is the primary catalyst for current price hikes, the long-term trajectory of the market remains tethered to demand from China. Although OPEC has recently lowered its global demand growth forecasts and noted a decline in output due to regional blockades, a sustained recovery in Chinese imports could intensify supply pressures and drive prices even higher. As the threat of conflict spreads beyond traditional chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz to broader regional infrastructure, traders are bracing for continued volatility in the weeks ahead.