Oil prices slid on Monday as traders digested a last-minute US tariff waiver on buyers of Russian energy, even as attacks on shipping in Middle East lanes intensified. Bitcoin held above $82,000 while equity markets sold off, and CME launched futures contracts for two more altcoins.
Oil falls as Trump grants last-minute tariff waiver
December Brent fell 1.0 to 1.8 percent to about $107.82–108.72 and WTI dropped 0.6 to 1.7 percent to roughly $97.37–98.40, coming off Friday's five-month high. The slide followed the waiver President Trump signed on Friday under the Graham Act, which had authorized tariffs of up to 100 percent on buyers of Russian oil and gas; signed two days before the measures were due to take effect, it eased the immediate threat of additional tariffs on Indian exports amid trade talks. ANZ described the move as a technical correction after Friday's gains, with downside limited by geopolitical risk.
Attacks on shipping lanes intensify as Hormuz flows stay far below normal
A UN maritime official said attacks have intensified, with 24 ships hit over the last two weeks, after the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported a tugboat attack near the UAE on Sunday. Kpler data showed seven-day confirmed shipments through the Strait of Hormuz at 10.17 million barrels per day through Saturday — about 41 percent below pre-war levels; including Gulf of Oman and Red Sea terminals, flows were 19.04 million bpd, around 19 percent below pre-war. Morgan Stanley estimated supplies from affected Gulf producers plus Russia are running 5.5 million bpd below a year earlier and raised its fourth-quarter Dated Brent forecast to $105.
Bitcoin holds above $82,000 as equities sell off
Bitcoin traded at $82,394, up 0.44 percent, in live Finnhub data on Monday, holding firm while the Nasdaq fell 2.14 percent, the S&P 500 dropped 1.09 percent and the Dow slipped 0.34 percent. ETH stood at $2,422.24, up 0.26 percent. Gold rose 0.3 percent to $4,193 while the VIX jumped 21.5 percent to 19.99, signaling investor unease.
CME launches Bitcoin Cash and Uniswap futures
CME Group launched standard and micro futures for BCH and UNI on Monday, adding regulated trading venues for two more altcoins. Binance separately suspended FIL and IOTX deposits and withdrawals to accommodate network upgrades and hard forks.
Market snapshot: Bitcoin $82,394 (+0.44%); ETH ~$2,422 (+0.3%). Oil: Monday — Brent ~$107.8–108.7 (-1 to 1.8 percent) / WTI ~$97.4–98.4 (-0.6 to 1.7 percent), waiver-driven relief from Friday's five-month high; Hormuz seven-day average flows 10.17M bpd (-41 percent vs pre-war); 24 ships attacked in two weeks. Gold ~$4,193 (+0.3 percent). No new China–US/UK tariff moves.
