Oil rally draws in retail traders as Iran tensions loom over markets

Oil prices climb toward $100 a barrel as the Iran conflict raises supply fears, prompting a surge of retail buying through the USO ETF while broad markets wobble. Institutions are weighing longer‑term implications and possible rotations out of energy into utilities, financials and other sectors as traders consider a six‑ to twelve‑month horizon, with the inflation and rate backdrop from the Fed and ECB shaping decisions amid Europe’s ongoing bank/tank theme.