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A flare stack burns beyond oil storage tanks at the Taneco Oil Refining and Petrochemical complex, operated by Tatneft PJSC, in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, Russia, on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Oil prices on Tuesday rose to their highest level since October as investors closely monitored fresh supply threats amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East and a Ukrainian drone strike on a major Russian oil refinery.

International benchmark Brent crude futures for June delivery traded at $88.58 per barrel at 1:15 p.m. London time, up $1.2 per barrel from the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures with May expiry stood at $84.97 per barrel, roughly $1.3 per barrel higher.

Brent prices haven’t closed above $90 per barrel since Oct. 27 last year.

Brent futures have largely been trading in a narrow interval between $75 to $85 per barrel since the start of the year, but heightened geopolitical risk and robust economic data appear to have prompted a move higher.

“The new week, the new month and the new quarter was greeted with escalating tension in the Middle East with indirect Iranian involvement,” Tamas Varga, analyst at oil broker PVM, said in a research note published Tuesday.

OPEC member Iran has blamed Israel for a deadly Monday air strike on its consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus that reportedly killed seven of its officers.

Tehran on Tuesday pledged to take revenge for the attack, which was seen as a major escalation in the Israel-Hamas war. Israel has not declared responsibility and a government spokesperson said they would not comment on foreign media reports, according to Sky News.

PVM’s Varga warned that the potential for direct Iranian involvement in the Israel-Hamas war could spark a “region-wide conflict with plausible impact on oil supply.”

Ukraine on Tuesday struck one of Russia’s largest oil refineries with a drone attack on the highly industrialized Tatarstan region southeast of Moscow, around 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the front lines of the conflict.

Tatarstan’s head Rustam Minnikhanov in a Google-translated post on Telegram that industrial locations had been targeted by drones in the towns of Nizhnekamsk and Yelabuga.

“There is no serious damage, the technological process of the enterprises is not disrupted,” Minnikhanov said.

Russia — an influential member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+ — has been hit by a flurry of Ukrainian drone strikes in recent months and has sought to escalate its own attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

— CNBC’s Elliot Smith contributed to this report.

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Jeep Wagoneer S EV just got a $5,000 price cut with a new Limited trim

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Jeep Wagoneer S EV just got a ,000 price cut with a new Limited trim

Jeep’s first electric SUV in the US just got more affordable. On Thursday, Jeep launched a new Limited trim at the Chicago Auto Show. The new 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited trim is $5,000 cheaper than the Launch Edition. And it also qualifies for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. Here’s what the new model includes.

Jeep promised a new Wagoneer S trim would be available this month, and it delivered. The new Limited model, with a starting price of $66,995, “further enhances” the electric SUV’s attractiveness.

The new Limited trim joins the Launch Edition in Jeep’s 2025 Wagoneer S lineup. The Wagoneer S Limited model is $5,000 cheaper than the Launch Edition, which starts at $71,995.

Like the initial model, the new Wagoneer S Limited still offers plenty of features and exclusive design elements. It has a black roof and mirror caps, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, 20″ aluminum wheels, and low-profile exterior badging.

Inside, the Limited trim maintains the “best-in-class” infotainment system from the Launch Edition, with 45″ of usable screen space. Buyers can choose from a new Hyrdo Blue exterior color and Arctic Grey interior design.

Jeep-Wagoneer-S-Limited-interior
2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited interior (Source: Stellantis)

Other optional features include a segment-exlusive front passenger screen and a premium 920-watt McItosh sound system, The Propulsion Boost Package and Obsidian Appearance Package will be available later. The Propulsion upgrade is delivered over-the-air (OTA), providing up to 600 hp.

Jeep-Wagoneer-S-Limited
2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited (Source: Stellantis)

Jeep’s new model still includes its signature Selec-Terrain traction management system with five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand, and Eco.

With a 400V, 100 kWh battery pack, the Wagoneer S can charge from 20% to 80% in 23 minutes using a DC fast charger.

2025 Jeep Wagoneer S trim Starting Price Range
Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition $71,995 +300 miles
Jeep Wagoneer S Limited $66,995 +300 miles
2025 Jeep Wagoneer S price and range by trim

The 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited is available to order now, starting at $66,995 (including a $1,795 destination fee). All Wagoneer S models qualify for the $7,500 EV tax credit.

Ready to test out Jeep’s new electric SUV for yourself? We can help you get started. You can use our link to find 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S models at a dealer near you today.

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Trump to help spark a nuclear energy ‘renaissance,’ investor says

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Trump to help spark a nuclear energy ‘renaissance,’ investor says

There's a 'nuclear renaissance,' says CIO

Nuclear energy is set for a “renaissance” that will be accelerated by backing from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

That’s according to Yuri Khodjamirian, chief information officer at Tema ETFs, who noted that the Trump administration is “very, very interested in backing this technology.’ However, he also warned investors that developing this energy source is “going to take time.”

New nuclear technology approvals take “10 years to get done,” Khodjamirian said, but added that the nuclear re-emergence will likely be accelerated under the new Trump administration.

Speaking to CNBC’s Silvia Amaro on Tuesday’s “Squawk Box Europe,” Khodjamirian said his investment fund has its eyes on firms with a history of developing nuclear technology, such as U.S.-based BWX Technologies, which builds nuclear reactors for military carriers and submarines.

Khodjamirian said Tema is being “very selective in a new technology called small scale modular reactors.”

Small scale modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors with the ability to provide around one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

SMRs take up less physical space compared to conventional reactors and produce a large amount of low-carbon electricity.

“There’s a lot of excitement there, and equally, a lot of loss-making companies that have unproven technologies, and we’re going for companies that have projects that are approved,” Khodjamirian said.

The nuclear energy renaissance is partly driven by a wave of people that are “realizing that it’s a stable, clean source of energy,” the chief investment officer said, adding that he believes that “there is a need for extra investment” in nuclear, alongside green energy sources that are variable in their electricity production.

“Renewables are good. They can be put up to speed quickly, but they require battery storage,” he said.

Why Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta are investing in nuclear power

Trump has moved quickly on his energy agenda since his return to the White House. The U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed Chris Wright, a fracking executive and a Trump ally, as energy secretary.

Wright is a known nuclear energy supporter, having previously served on the board of advanced reactor company Oklo, as well as having held the position of chief executive at Liberty Energy. The energy firm has since appointed a new CEO following Wright’s confirmation as U.S. secretary of energy.

In 2023, Wright signed a letter supporting nuclear energy.

Digital borders

Khodjamirian is also closely monitoring artificial intelligence volatility, after the emergence of China’s Open AI model DeepSeek sparked concerns over how much money big tech companies will invest in AI.

European nations have voiced security concerns over DeepSeek.

Italy was the first country to block DeepSeek on data protection concerns. France‘s privacy watchdog has expressed concerns and South Korea’s industry ministry has temporarily restricted employee access to the Chinese startup’s AI model.

Taiwan, meanwhile, banned state departments from using the Beijing-based chatbot, wary of potential security threats from Beijing.

The international pushback shows that “no one really knows exactly how to defend digital borders,” according to Khodjamirian.

Global concern will “limit the growth of this model, because it’s coming out of China, but it’s clearly showing you that the West needs to be aware that there’s a lot of technical development,” he said.

“[But] I do think it redraws some of the lines, and it’ll be interesting to see how the U.S. in particular reacts,” he added.

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Here’s our first look at Volkswagen’s cheapest EV, with prices starting at about $20,000

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Here's our first look at Volkswagen's cheapest EV, with prices starting at about ,000

We are finally getting a look at Volkswagen’s answer to BYD and other low-cost Chinese electric cars. Volkswagen previewed its cheapest EV for the first time on Wednesday. It will kick off a new series of entry-level electric vehicles, with starting prices at €20,000, or just over $20,000.

Volkswagen teases its cheapest EV for the first time

At a meeting at its Wolfsburg plant on Wednesday, Volkswagen gave employees a sneak peek at the new model. The auto giant confirmed it will be a part of a new small electric car lineup.

Volkswagen said the new entry-level EV, with a base price of €20,000 ($20,000), “will be attractive for a wide variety” of buyers.

The first model in the new series will be the production version of the ID.2all, which was unveiled in March 2022. Volkswagen said the first ID.2 models will arrive at dealerships in 2026 with a base price of less than €25,000 ($26,000).

CEO Thomas Shafer said at the meeting, “With the conclusion of negotiations in December, we set the largest future plan in Volkswagen’s history in motion.”

The ID.2 and new entry-level EV (likely the ID.1) will be key to Volkswagen’s plans to catch up with EV leaders like BYD and Tesla.

Volkswagen-cheapest-EV
Volkswagen ID.2all electric vehicle (Source: Volkswagen)

Based on the MEB Entry Platform, the ID.2 is expected to have a range of up to 279 miles (450 km). Volkswagen also teased an SUV version, which will follow in its upcoming entry-level EV lineup.

Volkswagen will introduce the show car for its new entry-level EV. The company plans to reveal the production model in 2027.

Volkswagen-cheapest-EV
Volkswagen’s ID 2all EV interior (Source: VW)

Volkswagen is preparing its Wolfsburg plant for the upcoming entry-level models. Shafer stressed that the plant would “remain the heart of the Volkswagen brand in the electric age.” It will also produce the next-gen electric Golf on Volkswagen’s new SSP platform alongside the new T-Roc EV.

For those in the US, don’t get too excited. The new entry-level EV likely won’t make the trip overseas. Shafer described the model as ” an affordable, high-quality, and profitable electric Volkswagen from Europe for Europe.”

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