Brent near $100pb weighs on sentiment

Brent crude is approaching the psychological $100pb mark as geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions keep energy markets on edge. Falling global oil reserves, disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and a potential recovery in Chinese crude demand could add further upside pressure to prices. Higher oil and gas prices are also reviving inflation concerns, pushing bond yields higher and complicating the outlook for central banks. Meanwhile, technology stocks continue to resist the broader risk-off mood, supported by fresh AI developments and major new partnerships. But the AI story has another side: massive capital spending, rising borrowing requirements, leveraged balance sheets and uncertain returns. Listen to find out more! Ipek Ozkardeskaya has begun her financial career in 2010 in the structured products desk of the Swiss Banque Cantonale Vaudoise. She worked at HSBC Private Bank in Geneva in relation to high and ultra-high net worth clients. In 2012, she started as FX Strategist at Swissquote Bank. She worked as a Senior Market Analyst in London Capital Group in London and in Shanghai. She returned to Swissquote Bank as Senior Analyst in 2020, and launched her own website ipekScope.com in 2025.