Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly US-Iran hostilities and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, remain the dominant driver elevating WTI crude oil prices into the week of May 18, 2026. Supply disruptions have reduced Middle East output by an estimated 7-9 million barrels per day, contributing to sharp global inventory draws of 8.5 million barrels per day in the second quarter. As of mid-May, WTI futures trade near $98-$105 per barrel, with the EIA projecting an average of $106 per barrel for May amid persistent backwardation in the curve. Robust US production growth and softening Chinese demand provide some counterbalance, while weekly EIA inventory reports and the June OPEC+ meeting represent key near-term catalysts that could recalibrate trader expectations for price ranges.
Experimental AI-generated summary referencing Polymarket data. This is not trading advice and plays no role in how this market resolves. · Updated↑ $135
3%
↑ $130
4%
↑ $125
5%
↑ $120
11%
↑ $115
25%
↑ $110
49%
↑ $105
59%
↓ $100
61%
↓ $95
56%
↓ $90
49%
↓ $85
8%
↓ $80
5%
↓ $75
4%
↓ $70
1%
$4,538 Vol.
↑ $135
3%
↑ $130
4%
↑ $125
5%
↑ $120
11%
↑ $115
25%
↑ $110
49%
↑ $105
59%
↓ $100
61%
↓ $95
56%
↓ $90
49%
↓ $85
8%
↓ $80
5%
↓ $75
4%
↓ $70
1%
Prices will be used exactly as published by Pyth, without rounding.
If the Active Month contract does not trade at all during the listed time frame, this market will resolve to "No".
Only prices achieved during the applicable trading session for the underlying market will be considered. Under the standard schedule, trading is open from 6:00:00 PM ET Sunday through 5:00:00 PM ET Friday, with a daily break from 5:00:00 PM ET to 6:00:00 PM ET, except where modified by holiday or special-session hours.
Per CME contract specifications for WTI Crude Oil (CL) futures, a contract's last trading day is three business days prior to the 25th calendar day of the month preceding the contract's delivery month (or four business days prior if the 25th calendar day is not a business day).
The active month changes at the start of the second trading session prior to the nearest listed contract's last trading session. At that point, the next listed contract becomes the active month (i.e., for the final three trading sessions of the nearest listed contract, the contract for the next month is the active month). The trading session for a given business day typically begins at 6:00 PM ET on the prior calendar date.
For example, if the 25th of the month is a Saturday, the last trading session for the nearest listed contract is the session for Tuesday the 21st, and the next listed contract becomes the active month at the start of the trading session for Friday the 17th (6:00 PM ET on Thursday), assuming a standard trading calendar.
If the relevant Pyth data is unavailable due to a system outage, data failure, or other technical disruption that prevents verification of the required 1-minute candle data, the official daily high price published for the Active Month WTI Crude Oil (CL) futures contract by CME Group may be used to determine whether the listed price was reached during the applicable trading session.
In the event of a contract specification change, feed change, or similar structural modification affecting the underlying market during the listed time frame, this market will resolve based on adjusted prices as displayed on Pyth.
The resolution source for this market is Pyth — specifically, the Active Month WTI Crude Oil futures "High" prices available at https://pythdata.app/explore?search=WTI, with the chart settings configured for 1-minute candles. Historical 1-minute candles may be accessed by appending a Unix timestamp (seconds) to the Pyth chart URL using the "t=" parameter.
Market Opened: May 15, 2026, 6:01 PM ET
Resolution Source
https://pythdata.app/explore?search=WTIResolver
0x65070BE91...Prices will be used exactly as published by Pyth, without rounding.
If the Active Month contract does not trade at all during the listed time frame, this market will resolve to "No".
Only prices achieved during the applicable trading session for the underlying market will be considered. Under the standard schedule, trading is open from 6:00:00 PM ET Sunday through 5:00:00 PM ET Friday, with a daily break from 5:00:00 PM ET to 6:00:00 PM ET, except where modified by holiday or special-session hours.
Per CME contract specifications for WTI Crude Oil (CL) futures, a contract's last trading day is three business days prior to the 25th calendar day of the month preceding the contract's delivery month (or four business days prior if the 25th calendar day is not a business day).
The active month changes at the start of the second trading session prior to the nearest listed contract's last trading session. At that point, the next listed contract becomes the active month (i.e., for the final three trading sessions of the nearest listed contract, the contract for the next month is the active month). The trading session for a given business day typically begins at 6:00 PM ET on the prior calendar date.
For example, if the 25th of the month is a Saturday, the last trading session for the nearest listed contract is the session for Tuesday the 21st, and the next listed contract becomes the active month at the start of the trading session for Friday the 17th (6:00 PM ET on Thursday), assuming a standard trading calendar.
If the relevant Pyth data is unavailable due to a system outage, data failure, or other technical disruption that prevents verification of the required 1-minute candle data, the official daily high price published for the Active Month WTI Crude Oil (CL) futures contract by CME Group may be used to determine whether the listed price was reached during the applicable trading session.
In the event of a contract specification change, feed change, or similar structural modification affecting the underlying market during the listed time frame, this market will resolve based on adjusted prices as displayed on Pyth.
The resolution source for this market is Pyth — specifically, the Active Month WTI Crude Oil futures "High" prices available at https://pythdata.app/explore?search=WTI, with the chart settings configured for 1-minute candles. Historical 1-minute candles may be accessed by appending a Unix timestamp (seconds) to the Pyth chart URL using the "t=" parameter.
Resolution Source
https://pythdata.app/explore?search=WTIResolver
0x65070BE91...Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly US-Iran hostilities and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, remain the dominant driver elevating WTI crude oil prices into the week of May 18, 2026. Supply disruptions have reduced Middle East output by an estimated 7-9 million barrels per day, contributing to sharp global inventory draws of 8.5 million barrels per day in the second quarter. As of mid-May, WTI futures trade near $98-$105 per barrel, with the EIA projecting an average of $106 per barrel for May amid persistent backwardation in the curve. Robust US production growth and softening Chinese demand provide some counterbalance, while weekly EIA inventory reports and the June OPEC+ meeting represent key near-term catalysts that could recalibrate trader expectations for price ranges.
Experimental AI-generated summary referencing Polymarket data. This is not trading advice and plays no role in how this market resolves. · Updated

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