- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Shipping Stocks Surge as Freight Markets Soar
Geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf drive oil prices and shipping rates to record highs
Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:36pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Geopolitical turmoil in the Persian Gulf, including a conflict between the U.S. and Iran, has sent crude oil prices and shipping rates skyrocketing to record levels. This has created a windfall for shipping stocks as freight markets go "vertical", according to investor and CEO Frank Holmes.
Why it matters
The disruption in the Persian Gulf oil and shipping markets could be brief, but the spike in costs is already impacting businesses and consumers globally. Shipping stocks have seen a major boost, but the long-term implications of the geopolitical tensions remain uncertain.
The details
The outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict, followed by Iranian retaliation against oil infrastructure across the Persian Gulf, has sent crude prices surging and shipping rates soaring to record levels. This has created a windfall for shipping stocks as freight markets go "vertical", according to investor and CEO Frank Holmes.
- The U.S.-Iran conflict erupted in early 2026.
- Iranian retaliation against oil infrastructure in the Persian Gulf occurred shortly after the initial conflict.
The players
Frank Holmes
A Canadian-American investor, venture capitalist and philanthropist who is the CEO and chief investment officer of U.S. Global Investors, a publicly traded investment company based in San Antonio, TX, that oversees more than $4 billion in assets.
U.S. Global Investors
A publicly traded investment company based in San Antonio, TX, that oversees more than $4 billion in assets.
What they’re saying
“Markets hate uncertainty, and right now there's plenty to go around.”
— Frank Holmes, CEO and Chief Investment Officer (Seeking Alpha)
What’s next
The long-term implications of the geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf remain uncertain, and the disruption in oil and shipping markets could be brief.
The takeaway
The spike in oil prices and shipping rates driven by the U.S.-Iran conflict has created a windfall for shipping stocks, but the broader economic impacts of the geopolitical turmoil are still unfolding.
