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US-Iran War Reignites: 90 CENTCOM Strikes After Ceasefire Collapses — Oil Climbs 4.4% to $73.52 as Hormuz Risk Returns

US Central Command struck 90 Iranian military targets overnight after President Trump declared the fragile ceasefire "over" following Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, and the US revoked its waiver on Iranian oil sales sanctions. WTI crude rose 4.4% to $73.52, Brent climbed 5.4% to $78.19. Dow futures fell 0.1% while Nasdaq-100 futures rose 0.7% as AI names decoupled from the geopolitical shock.

U.S. Navy Seizes Iranian Cargo Ship Touska, Tehran Shuts Hormuz Again; Ceasefire Talks Collapse as Oil Surges 7%

The USS Spruance fired on and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo vessel Touska in the Gulf of Oman after it defied U.S. blockade warnings over six hours, triggering Iran to reimpose full closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Tehran's foreign ministry announced Monday it has no plans to attend a second round of Islamabad peace talks, sending WTI crude surging 7% above $89 and U.S. equity futures falling sharply as the fragile ceasefire — set to expire Wednesday — appears on the brink of collapse.

Trump Orders U.S. Naval Blockade of Strait of Hormuz After Iran Peace Talks Collapse

President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to blockade the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday after weekend peace negotiations in Islamabad between the U.S. and Iran ended without a deal. The move sent oil prices surging past $103 per barrel, rattled global equity markets, and reignited fears of a prolonged energy supply shock that could deepen inflationary pressures across the global economy.

Intel Surges 70% in 2026 as Terafab Partnership and Google AI Deal Cement Semiconductor Comeback

Intel has emerged as one of the S&P 500's most dramatic turnaround stories in 2026, with its stock gaining approximately 70% year-to-date after confirming its role in Elon Musk's Terafab AI chip megafab initiative and deepening a strategic AI partnership with Google Cloud. Analysts have raised price targets as high as $92, though the stock currently trades at a stretched forward P/E of around 94 times, reflecting high expectations for future earnings growth.

Iran Ceasefire Hangs by a Thread as Vance Heads to Islamabad; Strait of Hormuz Remains Effectively Closed

Vice President JD Vance departed Friday for Islamabad to lead U.S. peace talks with Iran this weekend, even as the fragile two-week ceasefire announced Tuesday showed serious cracks — with the Strait of Hormuz still effectively closed, oil prices hovering near $98 per barrel, and both Iranian and Israeli leaders trading accusations of violations just days into the truce.

March CPI Surges to 3.3% Annual Rate as Iran War-Driven Energy Shock Accelerates Inflation

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday morning that the Consumer Price Index rose at a 3.3% annual rate in March 2026, the largest monthly gain since 2022, as the U.S.-Iran war sent gasoline prices soaring above $4 per gallon and sharply widened the gap between headline and core inflation, further complicating the Federal Reserve's rate path ahead of its May 1 policy decision.

TSMC Posts 35% Revenue Surge in Q1, Powered by Insatiable AI Chip Demand Despite Middle East Turmoil

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company reported Friday that first-quarter 2026 revenue surged 35% year over year to $35.71 billion, beating analyst forecasts as relentless demand for AI chips from Nvidia and Apple proved resilient through the opening weeks of the U.S.-Iran conflict — with March revenue alone jumping 45% annually, signaling no letup in the AI infrastructure buildout cycle.

Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Leaves Strait of Hormuz Blocked, Oil Back Above $100

A two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran sparked a historic rally on Wednesday, but optimism faded Thursday as Iran continued restricting tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing WTI crude back above $100 per barrel and sending equities lower after the prior session's surge.

Energy Crisis Deepens: Hormuz Blockade Removes Nearly One Billion Barrels From Global Supply as Gasoline Hits $4.11

The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has removed nearly one billion barrels of oil equivalent from global supply according to TD Securities estimates, as WTI crude climbed to $112.41 per barrel Tuesday. National average gasoline prices reached $4.11 per gallon — 38% above pre-war levels — while the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas warned a sustained closure could shave 2.9% from quarterly U.S. GDP. Goldman Sachs forecasts WTI could reach $130 if the Strait remains shut through month-end.