Crude Oil Prices Surge Amid Volatility

S&P 500 earnings data suggests potential peak in crude oil prices

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Crude oil prices have surged more than 3 standard deviations above their 50-day moving average as of March 6th, 2026, according to data analyzed by portfolio manager Brian Gilmartin. Gilmartin, who founded Trinity Asset Management in 1995, has a background in fixed-income analysis and has written for various financial publications over the years.

Why it matters

The sharp rise in crude oil prices could have significant implications for the broader economy and financial markets, as energy costs are a major input for many businesses and consumers. Analyzing S&P 500 earnings data may provide insights into whether the current oil price surge represents a peak or if further increases are likely.

The details

Gilmartin, who has a BSBA in Finance from Xavier University and an MBA in Finance from Loyola University, noted that crude oil prices have become highly volatile in recent weeks. This volatility could signal that the market has reached a potential peak in oil prices, which could have ripple effects across various sectors of the economy.

  • As of March 6th, 2026, crude oil prices were more than 3 standard deviations above their 50-day moving average.

The players

Brian Gilmartin

A portfolio manager at Trinity Asset Management, a firm he founded in 1995. Gilmartin has a background in fixed-income analysis and has written for various financial publications over the years.

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What they’re saying

“Crude oil was more than 3 standard deviations above its 50-day moving average as of Friday, March 6th.”

— Brian Gilmartin, Portfolio Manager, Trinity Asset Management (Seeking Alpha)

The takeaway

The sharp rise in crude oil prices could have significant implications for the broader economy and financial markets, and analyzing S&P 500 earnings data may provide insights into whether the current oil price surge represents a peak or if further increases are likely.