WS #1817

The Strait of Hormuz crisis has escalated sharply, with new attacks directly impacting global energy supply and prices. Shell confirmed a security incident at the Ras Laffan LNG plant in Qatar, shutting down production, while earlier reports indicated an Iranian drone struck the Samref oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, co-owned by Exxon Mobil, processing over 400,000 barrels per day. These events corroborate supply disruption fears, pushing oil prices to $118.74 a barrel (highest since 2022) and UK wholesale gas up 28% to a three-year high. Concurrently, CENTCOM confirmed U.S. forces are destroying Iranian naval targets threatening shipping in the Strait, and Iran is considering transit fees on ships, targeting 20% of global energy flow. This intensifies geopolitical risk, likely sustaining upward pressure on crude (affecting XOM, CVX) and energy infrastructure stocks. Cross-source corroboration highlights the severity: multiple jetstream posts report oil surging, gas price spikes, and attacks on Gulf facilities, with Bloomberg noting Yanbu as Saudi Arabia's only remaining export route due to the Strait closure. The IEA chief discussed stabilizing oil markets with China, indicating international concern. Additionally, airlines brace for disruptions from jet fuel shortages, potentially impacting carriers like DAL. Counter-signals include Britain sending military planners to the U.S. to help reopen the Strait, suggesting coordinated mitigation efforts that may dampen bearish energy signals over time. Secondary market effects emerge: Tesla faces an expanded probe over its Full Self-Driving system in poor weather (WSJ), which could weigh on TSLA. Bragg Gaming Group reported disappointing Q4 results and lowered FY2026 sales guidance, affecting gaming stocks. On the bullish side, Mobilicom's cybersecurity solutions were included in the FCC's 'Trusted Drones' list, supporting defense tech, and Myseum was granted a U.S. patent for secure social networking technology. Overall, the dominant signal remains the energy supply shock from the Hormuz crisis, with broadening sectoral impacts.