Investors ‘afraid’ to take position on oil, data chiefs say as tankers face potential Hormuz fees

Global oil markets were volatile on Tuesday, reflecting investor jitters over possible Iranian plans to impose a permanent fee on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz as part of any peace agreement with the U.S. International Brent crude oil prices ticked higher , while WTI fell, as traders attempted to reconcile fresh U.S. attacks on Iran Tuesday — dubbed "defensive strikes" by Central Command — with President Donald Trump's hints this past weekend that a peace agreement could now be in sight. The mixed backdrop unfolded amid speculation that Tehran may look to extract fees for vessels passing through the critical shipping lane as part of any lasting resolution to the three-month conflict with the U.S. "People are afraid to take a position with so much mixed messaging going on about the status of negotiations," said Dave Ernsberger, president, S&P Global Energy. One possible plan involves Iran and Oman jointly regulating the Strait and charging a so-called "environmental fee", or transit toll, on ships. "It's an interesting question… as to whether the global markets, market participants, governments are going to be willing to allow for any kind of transit fee or toll in the first place," Ernsberger told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" Tuesday. …