The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. — Reuters picNEW YORK, March 25 — Oil prices surged today following the blockage of the Suez canal, while stocks were mixed as governments struggle to contain the latest wave of the coronavirus.
“We’re sort of taking a pause for breath,” said FHN Financial economist Chris Low. “There’s definitely some rotation going on.” Europe’s two biggest economies, Germany and France, have been forced along with other countries to impose new restrictions to battle the disease, as they also struggle to get vaccination programs rolling properly.