You're tuned in to Markets Desk, let's get you caught up on the stories moving markets right now.
Crude is surging after fresh U.S. strikes on Iran reignited fears over the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply flows. Brent and WTI both pushed sharply higher as traders priced in the possibility of sustained disruption to commercial shipping lanes — a premium the market had only partially unwound in recent sessions.
Shifting to tech infrastructure, Oracle is drawing fresh scrutiny from analysts asking whether its aggressive data center buildout makes the stock a value opportunity or a capital risk. The company is committing enormous sums to AI-driven capacity, and the debate centers on whether those investments translate to durable earnings growth before the balance sheet feels the strain.
And in fintech, SoFi is generating real momentum — membership is climbing and profitability metrics are improving — but investors are watching two pressure points closely. Client losses at its Galileo payments platform raise questions about whether SoFi can sustain the diversified revenue model that underpins its long-term growth thesis.
That's the tape. Markets Desk, signing off the floor.
