Economy

Middle East Crisis  Strait of Hormuz
Expert: Saudi decision could drive oil prices even higher

Saudi Arabia’s decision to shut down its vital East-West pipeline following this week’s attacks could cause oil prices to rise again. That is the view of Nordea oil expert Thina Margrethe Saltvedt, according to *Dagens Industri*.

The crucial factor is how long it will take before the pipeline can be put back into operation.

"Most things have moved in the wrong direction. Anxiety is mounting, contributing to an increased risk of lower oil supplies reaching the market—and consequently, higher prices," she says.

By the end of the week, a barrel of North Sea crude oil cost $105, a figure more than 70 percent higher than at the start of the year.

IPO Boom
Nvidia may invest $10 billion in Anthropic IPO

AI company Anthropic, the provider of the Claude service, is expected to launch an IPO this autumn. Reuters now reports that Nvidia is prepared to purchase shares worth $10 billion—nearly 100 billion kronor—in connection with the listing.

In total, Anthropic aims to raise $100 billion through the IPO, targeting a valuation of around $2 trillion.

2026 Election  Perspectives
Analysis: Mixed economic signals – take promises with a grain of salt

The Swedish economy has become a battleground ahead of the election, yet the picture is far from clear-cut. Johan Carlström of *SvD* notes that unemployment has risen, even as Sweden maintains one of the highest employment rates in the EU.

"It is therefore possible for both the government and the opposition to use accurate figures—and yet present completely different pictures of the Swedish economy," he writes. Inflation and interest rates have fallen, but Carlström points out that inflation is being kept down by temporary tax cuts and could rise once they expire.

This is also a reason to view the parties' promises regarding personal finances with caution, writes Frida Bratt of *Dagens Industri* (DI). She notes that inflation caused the Tidö government to postpone several reforms earlier in the term. Furthermore, negotiations lie ahead after the election—negotiations during which promises could be altered, deferred, or scrapped entirely—while some measures might be delayed for strategic electoral reasons.

"My advice is simply to take all promises regarding personal finances with a grain of salt."