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Super Micro Computer Plunges 28% After DOJ Charges Co-Founder in $2.5 Billion AI Chip Smuggling Scheme to China

Super Micro Computer shares collapsed nearly 28% on Friday after the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed criminal charges against co-founder Yih-Shyan 'Wally' Liaw and two associates for allegedly orchestrating a $2.5 billion scheme to smuggle advanced AI servers packed with Nvidia GPUs to China through Southeast Asian shell companies, in direct violation of U.S. export control laws. The indictment — described by prosecutors as the highest-profile AI technology smuggling crackdown to date — sent shockwaves through the AI hardware supply chain.

Pentagon Sends USS Boxer and 2,500 More Marines to Persian Gulf as Iran Escalation Deepens; Oil Resumes Climb

The Pentagon on Friday approved the deployment of the USS Boxer amphibious ready group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit — comprising roughly 2,500 Marines and three additional warships — to U.S. Central Command, marking the second major marine deployment in a week and bringing total American personnel in the Middle East to approximately 50,000. The development, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, accelerated an already weak stock market selloff and pushed Brent crude back toward $110 as Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions showed no signs of easing.

Brent Crude Spikes to $106 After Iran Strikes South Pars Gas Field; Strait of Hormuz Fears Escalate

Global oil benchmark Brent crude spiked 3.1% to above $106 per barrel on Wednesday after Iran reported an attack on its South Pars natural gas processing complex — the world's largest gas field — in apparent retaliation for recent Israeli strikes. The development reignited fears that the conflict could escalate toward a full blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply transits daily.

Micron Technology Reports Q2 Fiscal 2026 Earnings After the Bell; $19.3B Revenue and $8.66 EPS Expected as HBM Demand Hits Record

Micron Technology reports its fiscal second-quarter 2026 earnings after the close on Wednesday, with Wall Street consensus projecting revenue of approximately $19.3 billion — a 138% year-over-year explosion — and EPS of $8.66, up more than 450% from the prior year. The chipmaker has already sold out its entire 2026 HBM allocation and guided for record gross margins near 68%, positioning the report as a potential inflection catalyst for the entire semiconductor sector.

Oil Prices Ease as Select Tankers Resume Hormuz Transits, But Geopolitical Risk Remains Elevated

Oil prices retreated Monday after a handful of tankers successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, offering the first signs of limited resumption in the world's most critical energy corridor since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran began February 28. Brent crude settled around $100 per barrel while WTI fell to $93.50, though continued Iranian missile strikes on Gulf nations and near-paralyzed tanker traffic underscored the fragility of the relief rally.

Brent Crude Surges Past $96 as Iran Mines Strait of Hormuz, S&P 500 Extends Losses

Brent crude climbed above $96 a barrel Thursday as Iran's new supreme leader signaled no intention of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. forces confirming Tehran is actively mining the waterway. The S&P 500 lost 1.3%, falling to its lowest level since November, as stagflation fears intensified across equity, credit, and currency markets.

Strait of Hormuz Attacks Drive Brent Above $90 as Iran War Rattles Global Shipping Markets

Three commercial vessels were struck by projectiles in or near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, including one ship forced to evacuate its crew after a fire broke out 11 nautical miles north of Oman. Brent crude climbed back above $90 per barrel despite a proposed record release of emergency reserves by the International Energy Agency, as military escalation between the U.S. and Iran continued to unsettle global energy markets.

Iran War Enters Day 11: Oil Retreats From Highs as Trump Signals Conflict Nearing End

U.S. crude oil tumbled to approximately $88 per barrel on Tuesday after President Trump indicated the war in Iran may be approaching its conclusion, offering markets a measure of relief after oil had briefly surpassed $110 per barrel. Iranian authorities, however, signaled readiness to continue the conflict, keeping geopolitical risk premiums elevated across energy, defense, and airline sectors.

Defense Contractors Hold Gains as Iran Conflict Enters Second Week, Munitions Replenishment Cycle Accelerates

Shares of Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and RTX Corporation extended their month-to-date gains in Monday trading as the U.S.-Israel military operation against Iran continued into its tenth day. Analysts have framed the conflict as the beginning of a multi-year munitions replenishment supercycle, with the Pentagon fast-tracking procurement for interceptors, precision-guided weapons, and autonomous systems.