Oil surges most since 2020, stokes inflation fears

The S&P/ASX 200 has closed flat, despite Donald Trump saying the US would reinstate a blockade on Iranian ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20 per cent toll fee. As a result, crude prices surged in their biggest one-day increase since 2020. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Marcus Today senior market analyst Henry Jennings. The latest consumer sentiment reading by Westpac and the Melbourne Institute has shown confidence rose to 83.9 in July, as lower petrol prices and easing interest rate expectations provided some relief for households, though pessimists still outnumber optimists. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan.The S&P/ASX 200 has closed flat, despite Donald Trump saying the US would reinstate a blockade on Iranian ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20 per cent toll fee. As a result, crude prices surged in their biggest one-day increase since 2020. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Marcus Today senior market analyst Henry Jennings. The latest consumer sentiment reading by Westpac and the Melbourne Institute has shown confidence rose to 83.9 in July, as lower petrol prices and easing interest rate expectations provided some relief for households, though pessimists still outnumber optimists. For more, Stephanie Youssef spoke with Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan.