Market Open: Oil on watch after ships struck near Strait of Hormuz; Dow’s lowest close this year | March 12

Market Overview - Australian shares are expected to decline following a drop in Wall Street and the Dow Jones, which is at its lowest this year [1][2] - The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is contributing to market instability, affecting major indices like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq [2][4] Oil Market Insights - Oil prices are under pressure due to missile strikes on three commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude currently around US$93 per barrel [3][4] - The International Energy Agency (IEA) is set to release approximately 400 million barrels from strategic reserves, indicating concerns over oil price stability [3][4] Company News - Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company, plans to establish new operations in Sydney and is seeking partnerships with local policymakers and customers [5] - Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC) has seen a 30% increase in stock price over the past month after signing a long-term supply agreement with Japan Australian Rare Earths, with a floor price of US$110 per kilogram for rare earths [6] - South32 (ASX:S32) is positioned to acquire BHP's $1 billion West Musgrave project, focusing on copper opportunities [6] - Marimaca Copper Corp (ASX:MC2) has reported significant drilling results at its Pampa Medina deposit in Chile, indicating potential for further exploration [6] Commodity Prices - The Australian dollar is trading at US$0.715 [7] - Iron ore prices have increased by 0.5%, currently at $104.25 per tonne [7] - Brent crude has risen by 6%, now priced at $93.03 per barrel [7] - Gold is trading at $5,192 per ounce [7] - US natural gas futures have increased by 6.9%, reaching $3.22 per gigajoule [8]