WTI Crude Oil futures experienced significant selling pressure to start the week, dropping over 5 percent to trade near the 80.25 level. The primary driver of this decline was a reduction in Middle East geopolitical tensions over the weekend. Market concerns regarding potential escalations, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, failed to materialize, effectively removing the geopolitical premium from the market. Technically, prices retreated from the mid-80s seen last week, moving back down toward the lower end of the recent multi-week range and testing lows established in early July.