Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms
Published . Updated .
This report is about oil and tanker shipping. Names like XOM and CVX typically gain because exxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- USO United States Oil Fund+4.8% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+6.5% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- BWET Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF+54.8% 19d
Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “gulf” (tanker shipping) in this story.
- ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF-4.2% 30d
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “gulf” (defense) in this story.
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings+9.0% 13d
ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- CVX Chevron+7.9% 30d
Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- COP ConocoPhillips+8.3% 30d
ConocoPhillips (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- SHEL Shell+0.1% 13d
Shell (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 | -2.37% | +3.62% | base | +2.37% | after close | after close | after close |
| XLE | -0.12% | +1.60% | base | +0.10% | after close | after close | after close |
| BWETNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ITANo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XOM | -1.00% | +1.85% | base | +0.89% | after close | after close | after close |
| CVXNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COPNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SHELNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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.
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Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms Seeking Alpha
Source: Seeking Alpha
19 earlier Persian Gulf stories for United States Oil Fund (USO)
In the last 19 similar stories, United States Oil Fund (USO) moved an average of +2.31% the next day. The best was +6.10% and the worst was -0.68%, from 16 prices.
| Company | When | Average | Largest gain | Largest drop | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | the next day | +2.31% | +6.10% | -0.68% | 16 |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days later | +3.04% | +5.37% | +0.46% | 16 |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | the next day | +0.80% | +2.88% | -0.55% | 16 |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days later | +1.08% | +2.31% | -0.96% | 16 |
| IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) | the next day | -0.42% | +1.17% | -1.48% | 3 |
| IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) | three days later | -2.39% | -2.25% | -2.53% | 2 |
- Shadow fleet sanctions relief unlikely to ease tanker rates
- Trump’s Russia sanctions waiver pushes oil prices down
- Brent Tops $110 as Tanker Attacks Threaten Persian Gulf Supply
- Oil near $110 after Houthi attack claims and Iranian threats
- Iran oil exports through Hormuz dry up under US blockade
- Iraq’s crude exports ‘back to pre-war levels’, says minister
United States Oil Fund (USO) compared with energy stocks (XLE) since 28 Oct 2026
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | that day | +2.37% | still updating |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days earlier | +3.62% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | five days earlier | -2.37% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | that day | +0.10% | still updating |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days earlier | +1.60% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | five days earlier | -0.12% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | that day | +0.89% | still updating |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | three days earlier | +1.85% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | five days earlier | -1.00% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 58 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $250,001 - $500,000 on 31 Jul 2026. That is 89 days before publication. Filed 22 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 35 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 56 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 63 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 63 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 65 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Conocophillips (COP), worth $1,000,001 - $5,000,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 68 days before publication. Filed 8 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 68 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).
Persian Gulf on the map for this story
Geopolitics Alpha has 19 stories about Persian Gulf from the past 7 days and 39 stories from the past 30. That is faster than its usual pace over the past month. “Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms” is tagged to Persian Gulf.
Companies in energy around United States Oil Fund (USO)
The side that tends to collect
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings
ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) tends to benefit, medium confidence in the 28 Oct 2026 story “Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms.” Reason on file: ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- CVX Chevron
Chevron (CVX) tends to benefit, medium confidence in the 28 Oct 2026 story “Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms.” Reason on file: Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- OXY Occidental Petroleum
For “Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms,” Occidental Petroleum (OXY) tends to benefit, medium confidence. Reason on file: Occidental Petroleum (crude petroleum and natural gas): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
No up or down call on file
- USO United States Oil Fund
United States Oil Fund (USO) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 28 Oct 2026 story “Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms.” Reason on file: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- XLE Select Sector Spdr Tr
For “Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms,” Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- BWET Amplify Commodity Trust
Amplify Commodity Trust (BWET) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 28 Oct 2026 story “Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms.” Reason on file: Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “gulf” (tanker shipping) in this story
- ITA IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
In “Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms,” IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “gulf” (defense) in this story
How energy news reaches United States Oil Fund (USO)
On 28 Oct 2026, “Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms” is the story that connects United States Oil Fund (USO) to Persian Gulf.
For United States Oil Fund (USO), the reason on file says United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
Also listed, Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE): Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
The price range for United States Oil Fund (USO), and the dates in the story
BWET traded between 788.51 and 1047.07 across 16 sessions. The latest close on file is 894.54. USO traded between 141.82 and 169.96 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 163.62. XLE traded between 61.05 and 69.86 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 68.23.
How solid the energy case looks
46 out of 100Price not final
“Oil prices rise as U.S. warns Persian Gulf countries to prepare for Iran strikes after midterms” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies. The price is not final yet.