Energy CEOs cautious on forecasting oil prices

Fire and smoke rise into the sky after an Israeli attack on the Shahran oil depot on June 15, 2025 in Tehran, Iran.

Getty Images | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The CEOs of two major energy companies are monitoring the developments between Iran and Israel — but they aren’t about to make firm predictions on oil prices.

Both countries traded strikes over the weekend, after Israel targeted nuclear and military facilities in Iran on Friday, killing some of its top nuclear scientists and military commanders.

Speaking at the Energy Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Lorenzo Simonelli, president and CEO of energy technology company Baker Hughes, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” that “my experience has been, never try and predict what the price of oil is going to be, because there’s one sure thing: You’re going to be wrong.”

Stock Chart IconStock chart icon

hide content

Simonelli said the last 96 hours “have been very fluid,” and expressed hope that there would be a de-escalation in tensions in the region.

“As we go forward, we’ll obviously monitor the situation like everybody else is. It is moving very quickly, and we’re going to anticipate the aspect of what’s next,” he added, saying that the company will take a wait-and-see approach for its projects.

At the same conference, Meg O’Neill, CEO of Australian oil and gas giant Woodside Energy, likewise told CNBC that the company is monitoring the impact of the conflict on markets around the world.

She highlighted that forward prices were already experiencing “very significant” effects in light of the events of the past four days.

If supplies through the Strait of Hormuz are affected, “that would have even more significant effects on prices, as customers around the world would be scrambling to meet their own energy needs,” she added.

As of Sunday, the Strait remained open, according to an advisory from the Joint Maritime Information Center. It said, “There remains a media narrative on a potential blockade of the [Strait of Hormuz]. JMIC has no confirmed information pointing towards a blockade or closure, but will follow the situation closely.”

Iran was reportedly considering closing the Strait of Hormuz in response to the attacks.

'Closely' watching Israel-Iran to be able to help meet energy needs: Woodside CEO

O’Neill said that oil and gas prices are closely linked to geopolitics, citing as examples events that date back to World War II and the oil crisis in the 1970s.

Nevertheless, she would not make a firm prediction on the price of oil, saying, “there’s many things we can forecast. The price of oil in five years is not something I would I would try to put a bet on.”

Stock Chart IconStock chart icon

hide content

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. About 20% of the world’s oil passes through it.

It is the only sea route from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration has described it as the “world’s most important oil transit chokepoint.”

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

A person looking at a laptop PC with a digital circuit image superimposed.

Will IonQ Stock Trounce Palantir in the Second Half of 2025?

Few stocks have been as hot as Palantir Technologies (PLTR 1.64%) in 2025. Shares of the artificial intelligence (AI) software company have skyrocketed close to 80% year to date. However, if we only look at the last three months, IonQ (IONQ -2.38%) has been an even bigger winner than Palantir. Will IonQ stock trounce Palantir

USD/ZAR Analysis Today 16/06: Liquidity Warning (Chart)

USD/ZAR Analysis Today 16/06: Liquidity Warning (Chart)

The USD/ZAR saw a spike on early Friday as global Forex markets turned risk adverse, but the currency pair has come off near-term highs and has resumed its lower range as concerns persists. Traders need to know that South Africa is celebrating a national holiday today, which means financial institutions from the nation will be

USD/MXN Today 16/06: Watch Energy, Risk Shifts (Chart)

Watch Energy, Risk Shifts (Chart)

The USD/MXN has seen a rather solid trading range emerge the past handful of days, and as of this morning the currency pair is around the 18.88875 depending on fluctuations being demonstrated. The USD/MXN has provided traders with a rather tempting range the past handful of days. This doesn’t mean it is particularly safe to

XM Launches Revamped Competitions Platform | New Formats

XM Launches Revamped Competitions Platform

By DailyForex Press Release Created on June 16, 2025 XM has officially launched its revamped competitions platform, introducing enhanced features, new competition types, and powerful tools designed to elevate the trading experience. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just starting out, the newly enhanced platform delivers a more dynamic, competitive, and engaging environment tailored to

ET logo

Rupee ends nearly flat following choppy trading; forward premiums dip

The Indian rupee experienced choppy trading before ending nearly flat on Monday as a broad based decline in the U.S. dollar blunted risk aversion spurred by the escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict. The rupee closed at 86.0650 against the U.S. dollar, nearly unchanged from its close of 86.08 in the previous session. The South Asian

BTC/USD Forex Signal Today 16/06: Bullish Breakout (Chart)

BTC/USD Forex Signal Today 16/06: Bullish Breakout (Chart)

My previous BTC/USD signal on 9th June was not triggered, as there was no bearish price action at any of the identified resistance levels. Today’s BTC/USD Signals Risk 0.50% per trade. Trades must be entered prior to 5pm Tokyo time Tuesday. Long Trade Ideas Go long after a bullish price action reversal on the H1

AUD/USD Price Technical Analysis

AUD/USD Price Gains Amid Upbeat Chinese Data

The AUD/USD price recovers as Israel may head for a ceasefire with Hammas. China’s upbeat retail sales data boosts Aussie. US dollar stays weaker amid improved risk and dovish FOMC. The AUD/USD price recovers ground as the geopolitical tension cools down after Israel proposed a revised deal to negotiate with Hammas for the hostages. The

A stock chart displayed on a computer monitor that's being reflected on the eyeglasses of a money manager.

Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller Dumped His Entire Stake in Palantir and Has Piled Into This Suddenly Unstoppable Drug Stock for 3 Straight Quarters

Duquesne Family Office’s billionaire chief sold every share of Wall Street’s hottest artificial intelligence (AI) stock in favor of a drugmaker whose shares have surged 142% in two years. There’s nothing more valuable on Wall Street than data, and investors rarely have to dig to find something that’s pertinent to the U.S. economy, the stock

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x