Fresh US military action against Iranian forces has reignited supply concerns and lifted crude prices. On August 30-31, American troops struck a missile launcher on Iran's Larak Island, claiming the Revolutionary Guard was preparing to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran responded by attacking a US base in Jordan housing American forces.
During early US trading on August 31, Brent crude climbed 2.20% to $90.29 per barrel, while WTI gained 2.25% to $85.65, with Brent briefly trading above $91 at certain points. As this confrontation enters its sixth month with renewed escalation, the market is once again pricing in the possibility of disrupted transit through the strait, which normally handles roughly 20% of global seaborne oil, driving a rapid rebuilding of the supply premium.
Before the conflict, about 130 tankers passed through Hormuz daily, but commercial traffic has contracted significantly since hostilities began. While exports showed some improvement last week, the weekend exchange of fire reveals how fragile the recovery remains. Oil prices rebounding from their pullback zone to above $90 suggests traders are scaling back expectations for a swift and complete reopening of the waterway.
The investment case centers on a sustained elevated oil price environment acting as a tailwind for resource and high-yield energy weights in the MSCI Asia Pacific Select High Dividend Index. Components such as PetroChina and China Shenhua Energy capture energy pricing in Hong Kong-listed shares, while Australian constituents like Woodside Energy Group Ltd are directly tied to realized Brent and LNG prices, linking their dividend capacity more closely to oil price movements.
The E Fund High Dividend ETF (03483) provides one-stop exposure to these positions while diversifying risk through Japanese industrials and Hong Kong banks. Three near-term signals warrant attention: whether Brent can hold the $90 mark; whether commercial traffic through Hormuz declines again; and whether Australian resource and oil majors revise earnings and dividend guidance upward alongside crude prices. If all three prove firm, interest in high-yield resource plays may persist. Conversely, if diplomatic de-escalation and restored traffic cause the oil premium to unwind, cross-market dividend cash flows still offer a buffer.
The E Fund product tracks the MSCI Asia Pacific Select High Dividend Index, spanning mature markets in Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia, with a focus on energy, resources, and banking as stable dividend sectors. Its differentiator lies in Hong Kong Stock Connect accessibility combined with core Australian resource assets, making it suitable for disciplined allocation as a defensive cross-regional base position during phases of elevated oil prices.