Oil Prices Crash Below $100: Can America's Midterm Elections Bring Stability to the Middle East?
Published . Updated .
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Democrats' victory in the US midterm elections has shaken global energy markets, pushing oil prices sharply lower and raising hopes of an end to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. But does a change in Washington's political balance really mean peace for the Middle East?
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- USO United States Oil Fund-5.0% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+6.9% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- BWET Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF-3.3% 17d
Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “middle east” (tanker shipping) in this story.
- ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF+1.1% 30d
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “middle east” (defense) in this story.
- EIS iShares MSCI Israel ETF-4.5% 11d
iShares MSCI Israel ETF holds stocks listed in Israel, which this story is about (“israeli”).
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings-2.7% 17d
ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- CVX Chevron+5.5% 30d
Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- OXY Occidental Petroleum+10.3% 18d
Occidental Petroleum (crude petroleum and natural gas): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USO | +13.96% | +6.75% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XLE | +13.47% | +8.12% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| BWET | +38.94% | +24.54% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| ITA | +2.67% | +5.93% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| EIS | +7.41% | +7.71% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XOM | +13.27% | +7.37% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| CVX | +10.62% | +5.78% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| OXY | +13.54% | +7.23% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
Oil Prices Crash Below $100: Can America's Midterm Elections Bring Stability to the Middle East? Vocal
Source: Vocal
Middle East
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BWET | three days earlier | +24.54% | final price |
| BWET | five days earlier | +38.94% | final price |
| CVX | three days earlier | +5.78% | final price |
| CVX | five days earlier | +10.62% | final price |
| EIS | three days earlier | +7.71% | final price |
| EIS | five days earlier | +7.41% | final price |
| ITA | three days earlier | +5.93% | final price |
| ITA | five days earlier | +2.67% | final price |
| OXY | three days earlier | +7.23% | final price |
| OXY | five days earlier | +13.54% | final price |
| USO | three days earlier | +6.75% | final price |
| USO | five days earlier | +13.96% | final price |
| XLE | three days earlier | +8.12% | final price |
| XLE | five days earlier | +13.47% | final price |
| XOM | three days earlier | +7.37% | final price |
| XOM | five days earlier | +13.27% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 23 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 67 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 23 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 44 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 65 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Occidental Petroleum (OXY), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 77 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Where this story sits: Middle East
Geopolitics Alpha has 0 stories about Middle East from the past 7 days and 0 stories from the past 30. “Oil Prices Crash Below $100: Can America's Midterm Elections Bring Stability to the Middle East?” is tagged to Middle East.
How solid the energy case looks
12 out of 100
“Oil Prices Crash Below $100: Can America's Midterm Elections Bring Stability to the Middle East?” scores 12 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources.