Oil Ends Higher as U.S. Deploys Second Carrier and OPEC+ Signals April Supply Return

Markets priced a modest geopolitical premium as expectations for higher OPEC+ supply plus an IEA demand downgrade limited upside.

Overview

WTI March settled at $62.89 on NYMEX and Brent April at $67.75 on ICE, with weekly declines of 1.04% and 0.44%.
Prices fell early then firmed after President Donald Trump said he is sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East if no deal with Tehran is reached.
The U.S. government decided to send the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the region in support of another already deployed.
Reuters reports OPEC+ is likely to resume output increases from April as members prepare for the Northern Hemisphere summer demand peak.
The IEA cut its demand-growth forecast and expects global supply to recover by about 2.5 million barrels per day this year, while BOK Financial estimates a $5–$7 per barrel geopolitical premium in futures.