WS #5978

The dominant signal remains the assassination attempt on Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, with Trump confirming it won't deter his Iran war objectives. This reinforces geopolitical risk, particularly for energy and defense sectors. New developments include: (1) Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and Gaza ceasefire violations, escalating Middle East tensions; (2) Mali's Defence Minister killed in coordinated attacks, adding to African instability; (3) Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia's Yaroslavl refinery (6% of Russian refining capacity), potentially impacting global oil supply. The Ethiopia fuel crisis linked to Iran war disruptions highlights supply chain stress. No market-moving economic data or corporate news. Overall, the narrative is escalating: geopolitical risk intensifies with multiple flashpoints.