The IEA's release of 400 million barrels does not stop the rise in crude oil prices.

BarcelonaOil and natural gas prices continue to rise as the conflict in the Middle East escalates, negatively impacting stock markets. On Thursday, Brent crude oil neared $100 a barrel again, representing an increase of more than 8% compared to the previous day. The price surge accelerated after Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mukhta Khamenei, warned that he would maintain the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Natural gas also rose on Thursday, reaching €50.27 per megawatt-hour (MWh) on the Dutch TTF market, around 0.56% higher than Wednesday's levels. This increase in energy costs has impacted the markets, which, for yet another day since the start of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, experienced losses. The Ibex 35 closed the session with a loss of 1.22% and will start tomorrow at 17,139.90 points. Among the stocks in Spain's main index, banks were the hardest hit: Unicaja fell 4.56%; Sabadell, 4.16%; and BBVA, 3.53%. Conversely, energy companies experienced a rebound, led by Repsol, which posted a gain of 2.63%. The other European stock exchanges followed the same trend: London and Paris fell 0.47% and 0.71%, respectively. Milan also closed lower, down 0.71%, and the best-performing European exchange was Frankfurt, with a drop of 0.29%.

In Asia, the Nikkei, Tokyo's main stock index, closed down 1.04%, and the Seoul stock exchange fell 0.48%. Hong Kong's stock market closed nearly 0.7% lower.

Both Iran and the other countries of the Persian Gulf and the Middle East are among the world's leading exporters of crude oil and gas. The US attacks on Iran have been met with closures. de facto of the Strait of Hormuz, controlled by Iran and Oman and a mandatory passage point for ships leaving the Persian Gulf. Specifically, several Iranian drones have attacked vessels belonging to US allies, adding to the blockade already announced by most of the world's marine insurers, who do not cover their clients' losses in the event of armed conflict.

The conflict has therefore reduced oil and gas production in countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, among others, and has blocked a substantial portion of exports of both commodities, which explains the price increases of recent weeks.

Debt continues to become more expensive

Interest rates on debt have continued to rise in line with the increase in crude oil prices: the yield demanded on the 10-year US Treasury bond is approaching 4.25%. In Europe, the 10-year Spanish bond stands at 3.45%; bund German inflation, meanwhile, has already surpassed 2.95%.

In the currency market, the euro continues to lose ground and is trading at $1.15. Meanwhile, precious gold is below $5,200 an ounce.