MONITOR CONFLICT

“The US naval blockade on Iranian ports took effect April 13 at 10AM eastern after peace talks in Islamabad collapsed over the weekend according to NPR. As a reminder, rough estimates, 12,000,000 barrels per day normally transit the straight, and now that is going to roughly zero. Trump warned Iran's fast attack ships if any ships come anywhere close to our blockade, they will be immediately eliminated.”

“I think the bottom's in for markets overall. That doesn't mean you don't get a pullback, especially going to OpEx later this week. But I think, overall, I think you've you've got a bottom. There's so much hedging, so much shorting taking place. There's not many people left to sell, and I think there there are great opportunities out there.”

“And now they put the IRGC in a vice. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't vice. They have two choices. They can escalate. Right now, they've enjoyed calm and peace for the last two weeks. They've seen their families. They're starting to formulate a picture of what the future might look like. They're glad that they don't have bombs raining down their head.”

“The US naval blockade on Iranian ports took effect April 13 at 10AM eastern after peace talks in Islamabad collapsed over the weekend according to NPR. The fact that this occurred, it seems to have been relatively well received by the market. That is to say this blockade didn't happen, the negotiations didn't fall apart, and we didn't immediately go straight back to hell in the market.”

“It's also interesting to me to see the pressure around this vis a vis their regional, like, neighbors because after they launch rockets and everybody, you know what we're not seeing for the Strait Of Hormuz blockade by The US is criticism from the other regional powers. This moves the war for both sides to a different layer of the strategic level of war.”

“The post was deleted after many, including Trump supporters, criticized the imagery. Trump also said he won't apologize to to pope Leo after lashing out at the pontiff for his comments criticizing the war in Iran. Pope Leo called the president's threats last week to destroy Iranian civilization unacceptable.”

“The US Navy now restricting the movement of ships in and out of the Strait Of Hormuz, part of a blockade of Iranian ports announced by president Trump Sunday after peace talks with Iran produced no agreement. Iran has remained defiant, saying it will not surrender to threats from The US.”

“Democratic California congressman Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzalez are stepping down from their house seats, both bowing to pressure to leave congress or face expulsion following sexual misconduct allegations.”

“The defendant is alleged to having traveled across state lines with the intent to both target an individual and a major technology company. This was not spontaneous. This was planned, targeted, and extremely serious.”

“The NAR is revising its housing forecast down for the year. That's because the war with Iran has raised the cost of borrowing, and that sent mortgage rates up. The association went from rejecting a double digit increase in existing home sales to just 4%.”

“A war few expected to last this long is exposing how fragile global systems really are.”

“The Strait of Hormuz and how shifting power dynamics are reshaping global markets and strategy.”

“We're witnessing a temporary disruption or the end of a the U.S. unipolar era.”

“China’s quiet advantage is part of the shifting power dynamics we unpack.”

“Markets may be underestimating cascading global disruptions.”

“Diplomats indicate that the latest round of talks has ended without a clear path forward.”

“A new bipartisan bill seeks to create a regulatory framework for large-scale AI models.”

“Brent crude prices jumped three percent following news of the refinery shutdown.”

“Residents across three states are being told to seek shelter as the storm front moves east.”

“The findings suggest a direct correlation between plastic particles and heart disease markers.”

“And now the Straits of Hormuz have been closed for a couple of days, and that's putting pressure on China.”

“Up six bucks today.”

“30 percent AI is sentient like it's a living mechanism, like it has a certain things for itself. And that's concerning.”

“House kills effort to release all congressional sexual misconduct and harassment reports.”

“This week, Spain categorically denies White House claim it will cooperate on Iran war.”

“President Trump says the US Navy will begin a blockade of ships moving in and out of the Strait Of Hormuz today. The move follows twenty one hours of peace talks between The US and Iran and Pakistan where no agreement was reached to end the war.”

“Word of the blockade sent oil prices higher to more than $100 a barrel. Ships traveling between non Iranian ports are expected to be allowed to transit the Strait Of Hormuz during the blockade.”

“Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, is conceding defeat to his former ally in yesterday's election. As Brussels now looks forward to working with a more pro European Hungarian leader, Moscow and the current White House administration have lost in Orban, a key ally in Europe.”

“Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell is suspending his campaign for governor of California. He announced the suspension last night in a post on x amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, accusations the congressman denies.”

“When he sank a short putt on the eighteenth hole, Rory McIlroy joined legendary golfers Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Nick Faldo as the only back to back masters champions. He beat American Scottie Scheffler by one stroke.”

“The US Central Command says it will begin a blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas starting in six hours. President Trump ordered the blockade after peace talks collapsed this weekend in Pakistan.”

“Iran effectively closed down the Strait Of Hormuz, this, 21 mile wide waterway, and very few ships have been going in or out of the Gulf in recent weeks. It was more than a 100 ships a day before the war. Now it's just a handful.”

“Israeli air strikes hit the Mediterranean resort city of Tyre and border villages Israel says it's seizing from Lebanon to create what it calls a buffer zone where Hezbollah can't fire rockets. The Lebanese Red Cross says one of its ambulance teams was directly targeted by an Israeli drone, killing one paramedic and wounding another.”

“Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and other big banks will report results from the last three months, giving investors a window into the economic fallout from the war in Iran and the resulting energy crisis. Surging oil prices have pushed up costs for both companies and consumers, and banks like JPMorgan do business with both.”

“Once a month or once every other month, we're encountering something that we we've never seen before, and we haven't seen indications of it being seen in The United States before either.”

“The US military is blocking ships from entering or exiting Iranian ports absent a peace agreement. The blockade was due to take effect two hours ago. US central command says the action will not, quote, impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait Of Hormuz to and from non Iranian ports.”

“The Hungarian government under Orban has not been using the veto to protect Hungarian interest. It was using the veto to protect Russian interest. So that very clearly will need to stop.”

“Within hours of those reports, nearly all of his major endorsers abandoned him. On x, Swalwell apologized for mistakes in judgment but denies the allegations. He's now facing calls from fellow Democrats in California to resign his house seat.”

“So far, the average refund is about 11% higher than this time last year, about $350 more according to data from the IRS. Michael Pierce with Oxford Economics expects that average will go up. That's because higher income filers typically procrastinate on filing and seem to be benefiting more from the new tax changes.”

“World Cup tickets are getting even pricier. FIFA, the international governing body for professional soccer, is adding a more expensive tier. A ticket for a front category one seat at the US opener against Argentina in Los Angeles will cost as much as $5,470 according to the Associated Press.”

“President Trump said today in a post on social media that the US Navy will begin to blockade any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait Of Hormuz. He also said any ship that paid a fee to Iran to pass through the waterway will not have safe passage through the Strait. Trump said the US Navy will begin destroying all mines that Iran has put in the Strait, and he called the mining of the Strait extortion.”

“Israel's military says this weekend, it struck more than 200 Hezbollah targets, and Hezbollah said it continued rocket, drone, and artillery attacks on Israel and Israeli troops inside Lebanon. Lebanon says the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington will hold their first direct meeting Tuesday at the state department to discuss a ceasefire and a date for starting negotiations.”

“Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the cease fire from 4PM Saturday through end of Easter Sunday, a proposal to which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky agreed. Yet the Russian side accused Ukraine of launching overnight drone attacks on several border regions injuring civilians, and Ukraine blamed Russia for waves of drones and shelling that killed several people and injured scores more.”

“The Manhattan District Attorney's Office says it has opened a sexual assault investigation against California congressman and Democratic candidate for governor Eric Sawell. He is facing allegations of sexual abuse, one involving a reported incident in September 2024 at a New York City hotel involving a former staff member. Other women have come forward to accuse Sawell of sexual misconduct.”

“For nearly a week, slow moving convoys of tractors and trucks have blocked major highways and roads across the country, including some of the busiest streets in Ireland's capital, Dublin. Protestors are demanding more support from the government as fuel prices continue to rise because of The US and Israel's war against Iran. The Irish government has been meeting with farmers and truckers over the weekend and say more support is coming.”

“The US Central Command says it will begin a blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas starting in six hours. President Trump ordered the blockade after peace talks collapsed this weekend in Pakistan.”

“Iran effectively closed down the Strait Of Hormuz, this, 21 mile wide waterway, and very few ships have been going in or out of the Gulf in recent weeks. It was more than a 100 ships a day before the war. Now it's just a handful.”

“Israeli air strikes hit the Mediterranean resort city of Tyre and border villages Israel says it's seizing from Lebanon to create what it calls a buffer zone where Hezbollah can't fire rockets. The Lebanese Red Cross says one of its ambulance teams was directly targeted by an Israeli drone, killing one paramedic and wounding another.”

“Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and other big banks will report results from the last three months, giving investors a window into the economic fallout from the war in Iran and the resulting energy crisis. Surging oil prices have pushed up costs for both companies and consumers, and banks like JPMorgan do business with both.”

“Once a month or once every other month, we're encountering something that we we've never seen before, and we haven't seen indications of it being seen in The United States before either.”

“The US military is blocking ships from entering or exiting Iranian ports absent a peace agreement. The blockade was due to take effect two hours ago. US central command says the action will not, quote, impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait Of Hormuz to and from non Iranian ports.”

“The Hungarian government under Orban has not been using the veto to protect Hungarian interest. It was using the veto to protect Russian interest. So that very clearly will need to stop.”

“Within hours of those reports, nearly all of his major endorsers abandoned him. On x, Swalwell apologized for mistakes in judgment but denies the allegations. He's now facing calls from fellow Democrats in California to resign his house seat.”

“So far, the average refund is about 11% higher than this time last year, about $350 more according to data from the IRS. Michael Pierce with Oxford Economics expects that average will go up. That's because higher income filers typically procrastinate on filing and seem to be benefiting more from the new tax changes.”

“World Cup tickets are getting even pricier. FIFA, the international governing body for professional soccer, is adding a more expensive tier. A ticket for a front category one seat at the US opener against Argentina in Los Angeles will cost as much as $5,470 according to the Associated Press.”

“President Trump says the US Navy will begin a blockade of ships moving in and out of the Strait Of Hormuz today. The move follows twenty one hours of peace talks between The US and Iran and Pakistan where no agreement was reached to end the war.”

“Word of the blockade sent oil prices higher to more than $100 a barrel. Ships traveling between non Iranian ports are expected to be allowed to transit the Strait Of Hormuz during the blockade.”

“Hungary's prime minister, Viktor Orban, is conceding defeat to his former ally in yesterday's election. As Brussels now looks forward to working with a more pro European Hungarian leader, Moscow and the current White House administration have lost in Orban, a key ally in Europe.”

“Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell is suspending his campaign for governor of California. He announced the suspension last night in a post on x amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, accusations the congressman denies.”

“When he sank a short putt on the eighteenth hole, Rory McIlroy joined legendary golfers Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Nick Faldo as the only back to back masters champions. He beat American Scottie Scheffler by one stroke.”

“And now the Straits of Hormuz have been closed for a couple of days, and that's putting pressure on China.”

“Up six bucks today.”

“30 percent AI is sentient like it's a living mechanism, like it has a certain things for itself. And that's concerning.”

“House kills effort to release all congressional sexual misconduct and harassment reports.”

“This week, Spain categorically denies White House claim it will cooperate on Iran war.”

“If Iran does not fully open without threat, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first. So he wrote that on Saturday night, which means that 48 hour clock expires tonight.”

“Oil prices at the $100 mark now for a while. There's concern that could go up to $150, $170 a barrel. Over the weekend, United Airlines CEO says they're preparing for that scenario and you see a lot of companies adapting to a scenario where we could have high oil prices for a while.”

“Now to those massive, sometimes 6-hour TSA lines at some US airports over the weekend. As this partial DHS shutdown nears its 40-day mark, ICE agents are set to arrive to help speed things up at some airports today.”

“To the AI economy, where real estate developers are now spending more on data centers than office space. And is it time to call a boomer? Public phones in Boston and Nevada are connecting generations. We'll explain.”

“Helium plays a very important role in a number of industrial processes. Also, fertilizer, that's raising prices for farmers around the world, including here in the US. The fertilizer price goes up because there's a lack of fertilizer. Well, the prices for farmers go up and then food prices go up for consumers.”