Welcome to Markets Desk, your midday read on the stories moving the needle.
Iran is pushing back against a tightening U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and the pressure is real — exports have dropped sharply, storage tanks are filling fast, and Tehran has already begun curbing production. But analysts warn Washington may be underestimating Iran's resilience, given decades of contingency planning for precisely this kind of economic siege.
Shifting to corporate strategy, Disney's new chief executive Josh D'Amaro is working to tear down the walls between the company's sprawling businesses. Senior executives are exploring a unified super app that would let users book theme park tickets, stream films, shop merchandise, and play games — all in one place — positioning Disney's streaming platform as the single front door to the entire brand.
And in aviation, Spirit Airlines has officially shut down, leaving ticketed passengers scrambling for answers. The carrier's collapse marks one of the more consequential airline failures in recent memory, and travelers holding Spirit tickets are being urged to contact their credit card issuers and explore rebooking options on alternative carriers as quickly as possible.
That's the tape. Markets Desk, signing off the floor.
