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Quick Answer: Brent crude oil price now trades near $104.34 and the current WTI crude oil price sits near $100.96 as of 09:10 GMT+8 on 18 September 2026. Both benchmarks eased for a fourth session as Saudi Arabia moves to restore its East-West pipeline within six weeks.

Key Takeaways

• Brent crude oil price live sits near $104.34 and the current WTI crude oil price is near $100.96 as of 09:10 (GMT+8), both easing for a fourth straight session. 1,2
• Saudi Arabia is reportedly aiming to restore half its pipeline’s capacity within days and full flow within six weeks; one analyst thinks that is optimistic. 2,5
• The Federal Reserve raised rates 25 basis points to 3.75%–4.00% on 16 September 2026, its first hike since 2023, even as crude oil futures kept easing. 6,7

Some weeks the oil market feels like reruns of the same episode. This week is not one of them. Check the crude oil price ticker or today’s crude oil rate and you will find both benchmarks softer for a fourth straight session.

Today’s crude oil prices on the Vantage feed put brent crude oil price today near $104.34 and the current WTI crude oil price near $100.96, as of 09:10 (GMT+8) on 18 September 2026, a shift from earlier this month, when crude oil futures price action was still absorbing a drone strike on a key Saudi pipeline. 1,2

This piece looks at why crude oil prices have eased, what two named analysts make of Saudi Arabia’s repair timeline, and what the hourly chart shows on Brent and WTI. All levels are indicative Vantage CFD prices, subject to change, for informational purposes only.

Crude Oil News Today: Saudi Arabia Races to Fix Its Pipeline

On 10 September 2026, drone strikes hit Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, a 745-mile link carrying crude from the Eastern Province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. 3 The line was shut as a precaution after the strikes damaged pump stations, alongside a wider Houthi push toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. 9

Saudi Arabia is seeking to restore about half the pipeline’s capacity within days and full operations within six weeks. 2 Not everyone is convinced. Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, warned in a note earlier this week: “Judging from the on-line pictures, it will take months to repair.” 5

Janiv Shah, vice president of oil markets at Rystad Energy, put the wider picture bluntly: “The broader Middle East conflict is already putting a premium on crude.” 4 Either way, the repair timeline lines up with the pullback in crude oil futures more closely than any resolution of the underlying conflict. 1

Brent Crude Oil Price vs WTI Crude Oil Price: The Chart Story

On the Vantage hourly chart, Brent last traded near 104.34, above its 50-period average of 104.02 but below its 200-period average of 106.51, as of 09:10 (GMT+8). The 14-period RSI on the TradingView setup used for this analysis reads 43.26, below the neutral 50 line.

Brent Crude Oil Cash (UKOUSD) 1H – “Price consolidates between the 50 and 200-period averages after the early-September spike” (TradingView, Vantage charting terminal). Screenshot as of 09:10 (GMT+8), 18 September 2026. Data indicative, for informational purposes only.

WTI crude oil shows a similar pattern: price near 100.96, above its 50-period average of 99.60 and below the 200-period average of 102.49, RSI at 42.81. Both benchmarks have pulled back from this month’s highs and now look to be consolidating rather than trending cleanly.

WTI Crude Oil Cash (USOUSD) 1H – “WTI holds above its 50-period average as the range compresses” (TradingView, Vantage charting terminal). Screenshot as of 09:10 (GMT+8), 18 September 2026. Data indicative, for informational purposes only.

The table below lines up both benchmarks side by side, snapshot style, for anyone comparing configurations at a glance.

Table 1: Brent Crude Oil vs WTI Crude Oil – Vantage CFD configuration snapshot, 09:10 (GMT+8), 18 September 2026. Source: Vantage CFD feed; RSI and moving averages per the TradingView setup used for this analysis. Indicative only.

Crude Oil Futures Price Meets a Federal Reserve Rate Hike

The Federal Reserve (Fed) raised its benchmark rate 25 basis points to 3.75%–4.00% on 16 September 2026, its first hike since 2023, citing elevated uncertainty tied partly to geopolitical developments. 6,7 A hike usually supports the dollar and weighs on dollar-priced commodities, yet crude oil futures kept easing the same week.

That combination suggests Saudi Arabia’s supply picture, not the rate decision, has done more to move the crude oil price this week. US commercial crude inventories also fell 600,000 barrels in the week to 11 September 2026, a modest draw with little visible impact on the pullback. [8]

This market has repriced sharply on one pipeline update this week and can reprice again on the next, whether from Riyadh, further Houthi activity, or any outcome of President Trump’s planned meeting with Gulf leaders. 1,9 A Stop Loss does not prevent a loss outright; it limits losses to a planned size, which matters when headline-driven swings can move both benchmarks before the next session opens.

Leverage is a double-edged tool here, always. Trading Oil CFDs on margin magnifies a fast move in both gains and losses, whatever the next Saudi headline brings. Revisiting position sizing relative to account equity, and revisiting how much Leverage a position carries, is worth doing ahead of any repair update or the next inventory print. Please refer to the risk warning at the foot of this article before making any trading decisions.

What to Watch Next: Saudi Arabia’s pipeline restoration progress, further Houthi moves near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and any outcome from President Trump’s planned meeting with Gulf leaders, each a likely fresh input for crude oil prices. 1,2,9

RISK WARNING: CFDs are complex financial instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should ensure you fully understand the risks involved and carefully consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money before trading.

Disclaimer: The information is provided for educational purposes only and doesn’t take into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. It does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary. The information has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained within. This material may contain historical or past performance figures and should not be relied on. Furthermore estimates, forward-looking statements, and forecasts cannot be guaranteed. The information on this site and the products and services offered are not intended for distribution to any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.

References

[1] “Crude Oil – Price – Chart – Historical Data – News – Trading Economics” https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/crude-oil Accessed on 18 September 2026.

[2] “Oil Extends Slump as Saudi Arabia Moves to Restore Key Pipeline – Bloomberg” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-16/oil-extends-slump-as-saudi-arabia-moves-to-restore-key-pipeline Accessed on 18 September 2026.

[3] “Saudi Arabia shut down East-West crude oil pipeline after multiple attacks by drones from Iraq – CNBC” https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/11/saudi-arabia-shut-down-east-west-crude-oil-pipeline.html Accessed on 18 September 2026.

[4] “Oil’s Safety Net Is Fraying as Saudi Arabia Races to Restart a Key Pipeline – CNBC” https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/15/oil-prices-saudi-arabia-east-west-pipeline-iran.html Accessed on 18 September 2026.

[5] “Saudi crude oil pipeline will restart soon, U.S. Energy secretary says – CNBC” https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/15/saud-arabia-east-west-pipeline-iran-war-chris-wright.html Accessed on 18 September 2026.

[6] “Fed meeting recap: Warsh says inflation is still too high as Fed hikes for the first time since 2023 – CNBC” https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/16/fed-meeting-today-live-updates.html Accessed on 18 September 2026.

[7] “Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement, 16 September 2026 – Federal Reserve” https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20260916a.htm Accessed on 18 September 2026.

[8] “Crude Oil News – OilPrice.com” https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/ Accessed on 18 September 2026.

[9] “Saudi Arabia Shuts Critical Oil Pipeline After Drone Attack: What It Means – Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/12/saudi-arabia-shuts-critical-oil-pipeline-after-drone-attack-what-happened Accessed on 18 September 2026.