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Rising Tensions in the Gulf as Iran Threatens Oil Blockade

                                     An aerial view of the Iranian shores and Port of Bandar Abbas in the strait of Hormuz Iran has escalated regional tensions by declaring it will block all oil shipments from the Middle East if U.S. and Israeli attacks persist, prompting a stark warning from President Donald Trump of a far stronger American military response.  The Revolutionary Guards’ vow to halt “one litre of oil” from leaving the region has already rattled global markets, contributing to falling crude prices and surging equities as investors brace for potential disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—a vital chokepoint for global energy supplies. Trump responded by threatening unprecedented retaliation should Iran follow through, insisting the U.S. would strike “much harder” to ensure oil exports remain uninterrupted.  Despite the heated rhetoric, he expressed confid...

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Stock Market Update: Stocks Find Footing as Powell Chills Rate Cut Hopes



US stocks rose on Friday after a stellar month, as investors awaited Fed Chair Powell’s remarks on monetary policy. The S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq all gained around 0.5% or more.

Powell warned that it would be “premature” to conclude that the Fed was done with rate hikes or to speculate when rate cuts could begin. He said the Fed would be guided by data and not by market expectations. He also said inflation had cooled to its lowest levels since 2021.

Oil prices steadied after falling on Thursday, when OPEC+ agreed to cut output by 1.2 million barrels per day. However, investors remained skeptical about the effectiveness of the deal to balance the oil market and support prices. WTI crude traded around $76 a barrel, while Brent was below $83.


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