May WTI crude oil (CLK26) on Wednesday closed down -18.54 (-16.41%), and May RBOB gasoline (RBK26) closed down -0.2993 (-9.06%). Crude oil and gasoline prices plummeted on Wednesday, with crude posting a 1.5-week low and gasoline posting a 2-week low. Crude prices plunged on Wednesday after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, and Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Crude prices were also pressured after weekly EIA crude inventories rose more than expected to a 2.75-year high.
Crude prices recovered from their worst levels on Wednesday after Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said that passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz has been halted due to Israel's continuing attacks on Lebanon.
