Welcome to Markets Desk, your midday read on what's moving markets and the headlines driving the conversation.
U.S. Central Command has confirmed the completion of its latest round of strikes against Iran, as the military continues enforcing a naval blockade. Kuwait and Bahrain have both reported intercepting Iranian projectiles, signaling that regional tensions remain far from resolved and keeping energy and shipping markets on edge.
Turning to the broader investment picture, Warren Buffett is sounding alarms. In a rare interview, the Berkshire Hathaway chairman warned against speculation in markets and raised pointed concerns about the scale and cost of AI infrastructure buildout. Close followers say he appears genuinely worried, even as Berkshire holds a nearly thirty-one billion dollar position in Alphabet.
That AI buildout commentary connects directly to a pushback making noise today. Kevin O'Leary, who is developing data centers of his own, argued that fears over water consumption at AI facilities are overblown, comparing modern data center usage to that of a golf course. Critics would note that framing the comparison as reassurance may say more about our tolerance for resource use than it does about the data.
That's the tape. Markets Desk, signing off the floor.
