WS #1320

The data dump reveals escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with multiple sources corroborating a drone attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, including Reuters reports of explosive drones targeting the facility and U.S. air defenses being activated. This follows earlier signals of Iranian leaders being killed and rocket fire from Lebanon into Israel, directly pressuring oil prices and regional stability. Concurrently, Maersk has suspended reefer bookings to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel, indicating supply chain disruptions that could affect global trade and energy logistics, potentially impacting sectors like shipping and oil. In corporate developments, New Fortress Energy is spinning off its Brazilian operations into an independent platform, which could signal strategic restructuring in the energy sector. Dragonfly Energy's stock slid 20% after a Q4 earnings miss and weak outlook, highlighting bearish pressures in energy storage. Additionally, a dark pool alert shows a large institutional order for BlackRock (BLK) shares, suggesting significant behind-the-scenes activity that could influence market sentiment. Market structure signals include Goldman Sachs pushing the first Fed rate cut to September amid PCE at 2.9% and oil above $100, indicating monetary policy concerns that may outweigh geopolitical fears, potentially explaining previous slumps in gold and silver. Bitcoin has reclaimed $74,000, reportedly boosted by US-Iran de-escalation and ETF inflows, suggesting some market participants perceive reduced escalation risks, which could dampen safe-haven flows into traditional assets.