WSJ reported Trump told aides he will end the Iran war even without reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The shock reversal marks day 20 of the conflict. Oil markets whipsawed on the news as traders parsed whether Trump would accept permanent closure of the key shipping lane.
European stocks head for their worst month since 2020 per CNBC citing war volatility. Asian currencies collapsed as Japan warned decisive intervention might come soon. Eurozone borrowing costs soared on fiscal deterioration fears as FT noted bonds face one of their worst months in a decade.
ULVR Unilever confirmed talks with MKC McCormick over a $15.7B foods combination. The deal would give Unilever cash plus majority McCormick equity. The European consumer giant moves to restructure amid geopolitical chaos.
Daimler Truck joined VOLV B Volvo and Toyota in a fuel cell joint venture. The three trucking leaders signed equal shareholding terms today advancing hydrogen infrastructure. European automakers pushed hydrogen as energy security concerns intensified.
BLK BlackRock eyes HSBC's Canary Wharf tower for its new London headquarters per FT. The move signals continued City presence despite regulatory pressure.
MNSO MINISO beat Q4 estimates with $0.40 EPS up from $0.28 year over year. Sales hit $894M topping $859M consensus. The Chinese discount retailer demonstrated defensive strength as consumers traded down.
NKE Nike and PVH PVH report after today's close testing apparel demand. Energy names DVN Devon and EOG EOG Resources dominated options activity as traders positioned for crude volatility ahead of potential war resolution.
ORTEX Market Intelligence content is generated by AI from a snapshot of ORTEX's proprietary data. Content is informational only and does not constitute investment advice.
