The Israeli-American airstrikes against Iran, commencing February 28, generated substantial profits for speculators and oil companies, while airlines and consumers incurred significant losses due to inflation and soaring energy prices. Brent crude oil prices surged from approximately $70 to nearly $150 per barrel initially, then fell to $83 after the Iran-US peace deal on June 14, creating high-return opportunities for commodity speculators.
Oil giants like TotalEnergies (stock up 28%) and BP (stock up 22%) reported super profits. The arms industry also saw major gains, with Elbit Systems' stock rising 20%, Lockheed Martin's 30%, and Northrop Grumman's 26%. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (up 18%) and Ethereum (up 22%) rebounded, acting as safe havens and enabling capital flight from Iran. Conversely, American and European consumers faced a 40% rise in US gas prices to over $4 per gallon, increasing household expenses. Airlines and energy-intensive data centers were heavily penalized by escalating fuel and electricity costs.
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