WS #9532
The US-Iran conflict continues to escalate with new airstrikes and retaliatory missile strikes, including IRGC claims of hitting US aircraft at a base in Jordan. The Strait of Hormuz is fully closed, cutting off ~12M bpd of oil. Brent crude has hit $92, and Asian equities are mixed. The ECB is set to raise rates for the first time since 2023 due to Iran war-driven inflation. Oracle reported strong Q4 results with 21% revenue growth and guided 34% FY27 revenue growth, planning $70B net cash capex. Alibaba and JD.com slid after Beijing slammed price-cut promotions. Bitcoin demand is weak with ETF outflows and corporate buying drying up. SpaceX IPO continues to draw attention with Gary Black predicting TSLA selling ahead of the IPO. The dominant theme is the US-Iran conflict ESCALATING, with the Strait of Hormuz closure deepening the energy crisis. The ECB rate hike signal adds a hawkish macro layer. Oracle's strong results are a positive for tech, while Chinese e-commerce faces regulatory headwinds.
Key developments
- US launches second round of airstrikes on Iran; Iran retaliates with missile strikes on Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain; Strait of Hormuz fully closed
- ECB set to raise interest rates for first time since 2023 due to Iran war-driven inflation
- Oracle reports record Q4 revenue up 21%, guides 34% FY27 revenue growth, plans $70B net cash capex
- Alibaba and JD.com slide after Beijing slams price-cut promotions
- Bitcoin demand weakens as ETF outflows and corporate buying dry up; Bitcoin in deep bear-market zone
- Gary Black predicts TSLA selling ahead of SpaceX IPO as retail investors look to fund participation