WS #4766

The data dump reveals a significant escalation in geopolitical tensions with direct implications for energy markets and global trade. Multiple sources corroborate that ships are sitting idle in the Strait of Hormuz, awaiting Iran's permission to pass, with the European airport association ACI Europe warning of a potential systemic kerosene shortage within three weeks if transit does not resume in a stable manner. This development directly counters the de-escalation narrative from the previous situational awareness, reintroducing immediate supply chain risks. Concurrently, Ukraine has conducted strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, including the Krymskaya pumping station and Gvardeyskaya oil depot, which could further pressure global oil supply. India has responded to the global conflict by hiking windfall taxes on diesel and aviation fuel exports to curb domestic shortages, a move that may tighten global refined product markets. In corporate developments, Meta has signed a $21 billion AI cloud deal with CoreWeave, signaling aggressive AI capex spending that could benefit cloud and semiconductor sectors. The Artemis II mission has successfully splashed down, a positive for aerospace but with limited immediate market impact.