Updated

Standard Chartered issued a warning that oil markets have entered a period structurally more prone to sharp and frequent price spikes, citing shifting supply dynamics and geopolitical risk factors. The bank's commentary comes as crude prices have already been climbing toward the $100 per barrel level amid ongoing supply concerns. The warning adds to a broader narrative of elevated volatility in energy markets, with analysts pointing to factors including Middle East tensions and China demand uncertainty as contributors to the more erratic price environment. Investors are weighing the implications for inflation and corporate input costs if such spikes become more frequent.