Bloomberg — 2026-04-19#

Lead Story#

Tensions in the Middle East reached a new peak after the US Navy forcibly seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, blowing a hole in its engine room. The dramatic escalation prompted Iranian authorities to shut down the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping after a brief reopening, sending oil and gasoline prices surging and reviving broad global market volatility.