WS #10922

The dominant signal in this window is the escalating US-Iran military confrontation, with multiple sources (BBC, Al Jazeera, Bluesky alerts) reporting US strikes on Iranian targets and IRGC retaliation against US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. This follows a drone attack on a Panama-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC has warned Gulf neighbors that their oil infrastructure will be targeted if used for US attacks. This escalation threatens oil supply routes and could push crude prices higher. Separately, Israel has resumed airstrikes on Lebanon, violating a days-old peace deal, as confirmed by Al Jazeera and multiple Bluesky posts. The Ukraine-Russia conflict continues to escalate with drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, now with confirmed fatalities. The Saudi Aramco helicopter crash (14 killed) is a tragic but isolated incident with limited market impact. Tech sector signals are mixed: Apple and Microsoft are hiking device prices due to AI-driven memory costs, which could pressure consumer demand, while Goldman Sachs sees strong Q2 earnings on AI boom. Bitcoin remains under pressure with sub-$60K closes and Strategy sitting $13B underwater.