International oil prices rallied on Monday following the expiration of a 60-day negotiation window established by a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the war.
Sharp disagreements between Washington and Tehran over critical issues, notably the Strait of Hormuz, have cast a shadow over the future of diplomatic talks, exacerbating investor anxiety regarding potential disruptions to global oil supplies.
The West Texas Intermediate for September delivery went up 2.1 U.S. dollars, or 2.55 percent, to settle at 84.50 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Brent crude for October delivery gained 2.35 dollars, or 2.65 percent, to settle at 90.87 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
Crude futures settle higher as U.S.-Iran negotiation window expires
Crude futures settle higher
Fifty-three percent of U.S. voters feel they are worse off financially since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, compared with only 21 percent who said they are better off, according to a recent poll by the Financial Times.
The poll also showed clear partisan cleavages, with almost 80 percent of Democrats saying they are worse off under Trump, as opposed to 23 percent of Republicans who said the same.
Meanwhile, 64 percent of voters found that the U.S. economy is going in the wrong direction, while only 25 percent said it is going in the right direction.
Eighty-six percent of Democrats believe the economy is heading in the wrong direction, while the share among Republicans stands at 37 percent.
Overall, 55 percent of voters disapprove of the job Trump was doing as president, the poll found. They were especially dissatisfied with his handling of inflation and the cost of living, jobs and the economy, tariffs and trade and Iran.
The findings highlight the significant challenges facing Trump and the Republican Party ahead of November's midterm elections, as public dissatisfaction grew with the war in Iran, which has pushed up borrowing costs, petrol prices and the cost of living, said The Financial Times.
The online August poll reflected the opinions of 1,913 registered voters.
Poll shows most U.S. voters feel worse off financially since Trump took office
