WS #11598
The Strait of Hormuz crisis is escalating further, with multiple sources (AP, UKMTO, Al Jazeera, MaritimeAttack) reporting fresh tanker attacks, including a Qatari LNG tanker struck by Iranian forces. Oil is up +2%, and the UK/France de-mining plan suffered a setback after the new attack. Separately, Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia's Omsk refinery are confirmed by satellite imagery (four impact sites), with Zelenskyy stating at the NATO summit that no major Russian refinery remains untouched. The AI trade continues to de-escalate: Samsung's record profit was met with a 7% selloff, SK Hynix is down 25% from its ATH ahead of its US listing, and Micron (MU) and SanDisk (SNDK) are under pressure. Amazon is raising $25B in bonds for AI investments. Trump signaled openness to lifting sanctions on Turkey and selling F-35s. The US trade balance came in at -$77.6B (forecast -$78.4B, previous -$55.9B). The overall narrative is ESCALATING on oil/geopolitical risk, with the AI trade DE-ESCALATING.
Topics
Key developments
- Iran strikes multiple tankers in Strait of Hormuz, including Qatari LNG tanker; oil up 2%
- Ukrainian drones strike Russia's largest oil refinery in Omsk; satellite confirms four impact sites
- Samsung record profit but shares fall 7%; SK Hynix down 25% from ATH ahead of US listing
- Amazon raising $25B in bonds for AI investments
- Trump signals lifting sanctions on Turkey, F-35 sale possible