Crude oil is hot: What are the investment options? in Oil & Companies News 12/03/2026 The world currently consumes over 100 million barrels of oil each day, showing how deeply crude oil is woven into global transportation, industry, and energy structures.Those who want to invest in crude oil have multiple options, depending on their willingness to take risks, investment duration, and understanding of the market. Crude oil is one of the world’s most actively traded commodities, and its price movements often mirror shifts in the global economy and geopolitics. The world currently consumes more than 100 million barrels of oil each day, highlighting how deeply crude oil underpins global transport, industry, and energy supply. In financial markets, however, trading activity far exceeds physical demand, with WTI futures alone seeing an estimated 1.2 to 2 billion barrels traded each day on paper. Due to the high daily trading volume, even small disruptions in supply, production or demand can lead to notable price fluctuations. As a result, many investors consider oil a useful asset for diversifying their portfolios or taking advantage of price movements. Oil markets remained volatile amid uncertainty over the war in Iran and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. While US President Donald Trump suggested that the conflict could end soon, US officials said military operations were intensifying, and diplomacy looked unlikely. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude stayed below $85 per barrel after reports that the IEA (International Energy Agency) planned a record oil reserve release. How crude oil price jumped amid conflict WTI crude oil has delivered a strong gain over the past year, rising from $67.04 per barrel on March 12, 2025, to about $83.40 per barrel as of March 11, 2026, an increase of roughly 24.4 percent. However, most of the annual rise has occurred only in recent days. For much of the year, prices largely moved within a $55–$70 range before a sharp rally emerged in early March. Since the conflict between Iran and the US began on February 28, 2026, crude oil price has jumped from about $66.65 per barrel to $83.40, a surge of nearly 25 percent, highlighting how geopolitical tensions can rapidly drive oil prices higher. Those who want to invest in crude oil have multiple options, depending on their willingness to take risks, investment duration, and understanding of the market. These options range from directly trading oil derivatives to investing through funds or shares of energy companies. Oil Exchange-Traded Funds Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) that track oil prices or oil-related indices have become a popular method for investors to access oil markets. Oil ETFs provide a simpler way for retail investors to gain exposure to crude oil without directly trading futures. These funds may track crude oil benchmarks, such as WTI crude oil or Brent crude oil. “The most direct way is to open a global account for US-listed ETFs like USO (United States Oil Fund). It’s great for tracking the price, but you need to hold for at least two years to qualify for the 12.5 percent long-term tax; sell earlier, and it’s just added to your regular income at your slab rate. Also, remember that moving more than Rs 10 lakh abroad in a year triggers a 20 percent TCS (Tax Collected at Source) at the bank,” said Ankit Patel, Co-founder & Partner, Arunasset Investment Services. “You can use Indian Energy ETFs that hold companies like ONGC. They follow domestic equi