Entering mid-July, crude oil prices are maintaining a volatile consolidation trend. On the one hand, the U.S. economy has shown significant differentiation, and the market weighs the expectation of interest rate cuts against concerns about economic and energy demand fluctuations. On the other hand, the Middle East geopolitical turmoil has caused market expectations about ceasefire negotiations to be mixed. At present, the market continues to balance weak demand prospects and U.S. destocking expectations, as well as the disruptive effects of geopolitical instability. Short-term crude oil prices are expected to be weak, but the sustainability of the decline is expected to be limited. In addition, the market is waiting for the release of the minutes of the previous U.S. Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday and for Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium on Friday to balance future monetary policy. (Zhuochuang News)