Oil prices have surged to nearly $110 per barrel as escalating Middle East tensions raise concerns about attacks on energy infrastructure and disruptions along major shipping routes. Brent crude, the global benchmark, has traded above $100 per barrel, while Standard Chartered has warned that geopolitical instability could produce sharper and more frequent price swings. Markets are watching developments involving OPEC and the IEA, as well as possible production changes or new sanctions that could alter supply expectations and influence forecasts for whether oil reaches a new all-time high by the end of 2026. The material also promotes live prediction-market analysis from Vera.