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Current Setup and Live Chart Brent crude oil price has inched closer to the $70 mark after it began the week on a weaker note, due mostly to a resurgent US Dollar that has beaten back commodity assets. The easing of geopolitical tensions and concerns over global energy demand amid slowing economic growth are contributing to the weakness in black gold. However, markets are still keeping a close watch on the US-Iran talks as a source of geopolitical risk premium for oil prices. Despite a few comments from US President Donald Trump that have tended towards escalation, the markets continue to hope for a final resolution and a corresponding normalization of oil prices. Lower US inventories are helping to counterbalance the bearish sentiment and are currently capping the downside move. Brent Crude Oil Price: Macro Drivers 1) US-Iran talks There were renewed strikes by both sides over the weekend, but these have been paused. However, the US and Iran still disagree on the next steps. Vessels are still being allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz, which is the main factor markets are considering regarding crude oil pricing. The truce is still holding, but technical discussions aimed at achieving a complete cessation of hostilities have not yet begun. 2) Global demand There are currently concerns about slowing economic activity and reduced global demand. These were the fundamentals governing Brent crude oil price before the war risk premium kicked in. In its May 2026 report, the International Energy Agency had forecast a contraction of 420K-1.1M barrels per day in 2026, bogged down by a drop in demand from the aviation and petrochemical sectors. However, analysts expected demand to rebound strongly, increasing stockpiles that had been heavily drawn down during the war. Furthermore, demand recovery will follow recovery in oil shipping across the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Price Catalysts for the Week 1) US inventory data This is currently the second most important price catalyst for the week. US crude oil inventories are currently at their lowest levels in decades, as the US government drew on them to stabilize domestic prices while the war risk premium was in effect. The Energy Information Administration’s crude oil inventory reports serve as an excellent gauge of market balance. They will currently be a measure of crude oil demand as the US seeks to normalize inventories to pre-war levels. 3) Global macroeconomic data Macro indicators that measure global growth (e.g., China's GDP or manufacturing data) will provide some information about the true state of global demand for crude oil. China is the world’s largest importer, and business conditions around its manufacturing and industrial sectors provide a gauge of demand. Stronger-than-expected data or growth figures improve the outlook for demand. Brent Crude Oil Forecast Scenarios Base case: the base case scenario is currently bearish, as the market seeks to find its level based on fundamentals that predate the onset of the oil-shock risk premium. There are indications that the market has still not fully repriced the unwinding of this risk premium, leaving room for a limited downside move. Bull case: the primary trigger would be any escalation on the geopolitical front. Furthermore, any new blockades of oil shipping routes would now be synergized by severely depleted inventories. While this could push oil prices higher, a move towards the $105-$110 price levels, as occurred at the 28 February onset of the US-Iran war, does not look likely. Bear case: a positive conclusion to the US-Iran technical talks would allow the complete elimination of geopolitical influences, allowing Brent crude oil price to be dictated by the pre-war fundamentals of global growth and demand, and OPEC+ headlines. Takeaway The Brent crude oil price is becoming more of a global demand story and less of a geopolitically-dictated price regime. The market will look for more validation of complete geopolitical resolution, which shifts the fundamentals squarely to demand/supply dynamics and OPEC+ actions. Brent Crude: Technical Outlook The attainment of the 73.07 support marks the completion of the measured move following the breakdown of the 86.34 neckline support of the topping pattern on the daily chart. Any further extension to the south depends on the degradation of this support, bringing downside targets into view at 65.61 (30 June 2025-9 September 2025 lows) and the 5 May 2025/17 December 2025 double bottom at 58.79. Fig 1: Brent crude oil (daily chart) showing key price levels (snapshot taken on 29 June 2026) Otherwise, a bounce that breaks above the 80.27 resistance opens the path back to the degraded neckline at 86.34. If the bulls clear this barrier as well, the 92.80 resistance comes into view.