Hedge Funds Boost Brent Longs by 75,996 as Iran-US Conflict Disrupts Hormuz Shipping
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 18
Hedge Funds Boost Brent Longs by 75,996 as Iran-US Conflict Disrupts Hormuz Shipping
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 18
Summary
Money managers lifted long-only Brent positions by 75,996 to 357,154 in the week ended July 14, the biggest weekly increase since December 2016.
The surge in bullish bets followed escalating Iran-US fighting, which weakened expectations that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would recover and stay stable.
That repositioning reversed part of a recent retreat, with overall Brent positioning rebounding after falling to a seven-month low just a week earlier.
The move signals that investors are again pricing geopolitical supply risk into the global oil benchmark as disruptions around Hormuz persist.
Why are algorithmic funds scaling back oil bets as the Hormuz crisis deepens?
With the US oil reserve at a 40-year low, what options are left to prevent a global supply shock?
How will the Hormuz blockade threaten global food security by cutting off critical fertilizer shipments?
Strait of Hormuz Under Siege: 2026 Oil Market Disruption, Supply Chain Chaos, and Global Economic Fallout
Overview
As of July 18, 2026, the Strait of Hormuz is at the center of a severe geopolitical crisis, with heightened tensions and a volatile security environment causing major disruptions to global oil markets. Military confrontations have led to severe impediments for commercial shipping, yet some entities continue oil transport despite official disruptions. This turmoil has triggered volatility in tanker freight rates and sent shockwaves through international markets. The crisis is not only impacting energy flows but also driving up costs and creating uncertainty for economies worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for stability and diplomatic solutions.