Bloomberg — 2026-04-13#

Lead Story#

US President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after weekend peace talks with Iran collapsed in Islamabad, sending oil prices surging back above $100 a barrel. Tensions escalated rapidly as Iran threatened to target all Gulf ports and Trump vowed to attack approaching Iranian vessels, though the US president later claimed Tehran had reached out to revive negotiations. The unfolding energy shock is rattling global markets, raising the prospect of $150 oil, and forcing energy-dependent economies across Asia and Europe to scramble for alternatives.

CNBC — 2026-04-13#

Lead Story#

U.S. President Donald Trump initiated a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after weekend peace talks with Iran collapsed in Pakistan, sending crude oil prices surging and escalating the world’s worst energy shock,,.

Markets & Economics#

Despite the Strait of Hormuz blockade and an initial 8% spike in crude oil futures, equities staged a massive comeback, with the S&P 500 jumping 1.02% to 6,886.24 to erase its Iran war losses,,. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rebounded from a 400-point deficit to close 301 points higher, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.23%. Treasury yields ticked lower, with the 10-year note slipping 2 basis points to 4.291%, as investors priced in hopes of a diplomatic resolution to the conflict,. On the economic front, March existing home sales fell 3.6% to a nine-month low of 3.98 million annualized units as rising mortgage rates sidelined potential home buyers,.

CNBC — 2026-04-07#

Lead Story#

Global markets whipsawed today as President Donald Trump’s looming deadline to bomb Iran’s infrastructure culminated in an eleventh-hour two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz,,,,.

Markets & Economics#

In response to the ceasefire announcement, West Texas Intermediate crude futures plunged nearly 15% to below $100 per barrel, reversing massive spikes that had pushed domestic gas prices over $4 a gallon,,,. Stock futures surged immediately on the news, with the Dow jumping over 1,000 points in early trading. Before the deal was struck, experts like John Sfakianakis warned in Markets ‘completely wrong’ on Iran war, oil could hit $200 a barrel: Economist that energy markets were dangerously underpricing the risk of a regional escalation. Meanwhile, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva cautioned that the conflict’s supply shock guarantees a period of stagflation, noting that “all roads now lead to higher prices and slower growth”,. Domestic real estate is also feeling the pinch; the latest CNBC survey shows skyrocketing mortgage rates and economic fears driving buyers and sellers out of the spring housing market,, highlighted in Realtors report buyers and sellers exiting market in Q1 2026 CNBC Housing Market Survey.

CNBC — 2026-04-06#

Lead Story#

The market’s attention is squarely fixed on the Strait of Hormuz as President Trump set an 8 p.m. EST Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the critical waterway or face the decimation of its power plants and bridges. While geopolitical tensions run high, Helima Croft cast skepticism on a major diplomatic breakthrough on Morning Call as the global oil supply disruption stretches into its sixth week.

Bloomberg — 2026-04-14#

Lead Story#

Optimism over a renewed push for US-Iran peace talks is fueling a rally across global stocks and Treasuries, easing some of the persistent upward pressure on oil prices. The diplomatic maneuvering comes as a US-sanctioned Chinese tanker, the Rich Starry, tests President Donald Trump’s naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the fragile geopolitical backdrop and the ongoing risks to global energy supply chains.

CNBC — Week of 2026-04-04 to 2026-04-10#

Story of the Week#

Global markets were dominated by the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict that choked the Strait of Hormuz, culminating in a fragile, Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire that temporarily triggered a massive 1,325-point relief rally in the Dow. However, the truce immediately showed deep cracks as Iran reportedly planned cryptocurrency tolls for ships, and physical spot prices for dated Brent crude hit a record $144 a barrel, highlighting the severe and ongoing disruption to the global energy supply chain.