WS #2880

The dominant market-moving theme remains the Iran conflict, with significant new developments that introduce both escalation and de-escalation signals. President Trump claims Iran has made a 'great gift' on oil and gas and wants a deal, while Tehran denies negotiations, but Axios reports high-level peace talks are being considered for Thursday, creating volatility. Concurrently, the European Commission delays a proposed total ban on Russian oil imports due to the Strait of Hormuz closure, indicating energy supply pressures. Oil prices surged 4.79% to $92.35/barrel, directly impacting energy markets. In technology, Arm announces it will sell its own AI chips for the first time, with Meta as a key customer, potentially challenging Intel and AMD, which could affect NVDA, AMD, and INTC. Additionally, Volkswagen is reportedly shifting a plant to produce components for Israel's Iron Dome defense system, signaling defense sector involvement and potential impacts on auto stocks like VWAGY. The U.S. Homeland Security partial shutdown continues, with over 450 TSA officers quitting, causing airport delays, which may affect travel stocks. In crypto, Coinbase and Circle stocks slide after Senate draft targets stablecoin yield, continuing regulatory pressure.