Keyword → Strait of Hormuz

Middle East War Keeps Markets on Edge as Oil Steadies, S&P 500 Inches Higher

U.S. equities edged modestly higher Wednesday as the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran showed early signs of cooling, with Brent crude pulling back from Tuesday's highs after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled forthcoming measures to protect oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The S&P 500 gained 0.3% while the Nasdaq advanced 0.5%, though investor anxiety over inflation and delayed Federal Reserve rate cuts kept gains in check.

Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz as U.S.-Israeli Strikes Deepen, Sending Oil to Eight-Month Highs

The Islamic Republic declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic on Tuesday as U.S. and Israeli forces launched a fourth consecutive day of strikes, pushing Brent crude above $84 per barrel. The closure of the world's most critical oil chokepoint — through which roughly a third of global seaborne crude exports pass — has ignited fears of a prolonged supply shock and rattled equity markets worldwide.

U.S.-Israel Strikes on Iran Trigger Broad Market Selloff as Oil Surges and Safe Havens Rally

A joint U.S.-Israeli military offensive against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, sent shockwaves through global financial markets on Monday, pushing oil prices up as much as 13 percent, gold above $5,400 per ounce, and sparking a broad equity selloff as investors repositioned into safe-haven assets amid fears of prolonged conflict and energy supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.

Strait of Hormuz Effectively Closed: Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM Halt All Transits as Shipping Stocks Surge

The world's four largest container shipping carriers suspended all vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz following Iranian attacks on tankers transiting the waterway, triggering a 70 percent drop in traffic and sending shares of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd surging more than 4 percent as investors anticipated higher freight rates, war-risk surcharges, and prolonged rerouting of global cargo around Africa's Cape of Good Hope.