Tensions in the Middle East have not yet triggered a surge in oil prices
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a region critical to global oil supply, the expected increase in oil prices has not materialized. This price stability has disconcerted many market analysts, who have historically observed sharp increases in oil costs during previous similar crises. Several factors are contributing to this unexpected stability in oil markets. Increasing production capabilities outside the Middle East, particularly in the United States and Canada, have reduced the world's dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Furthermore, strategic oil reserves have been used more effectively to cushion market shocks. Furthermore, technological advances in the field of alternative…