WS #10522

The dominant narrative remains the de-escalation of the Iran conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with oil prices declining. Multiple sources confirm that tankers are openly entering the Strait of Hormuz after the peace deal, and the UN's shipping agency is beginning to evacuate stranded seafarers. Iran's State TV confirms Oman has agreed to charge service fees in the Strait of Hormuz, and Pakistan PM Sharif continues to mediate. The situation is STABLE and DE-ESCALATING, with no new material developments to alter this trajectory. However, a counter-signal has emerged: TotalEnergies' CEO stated the company must invest in pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, indicating that some oil majors see the crisis as a structural risk rather than a temporary disruption. Additionally, the Pentagon is reportedly seeking an additional $80 billion in Iran war funding from Congress, suggesting that the US military is preparing for a potential escalation despite the ceasefire. On the tech front, IBM surged 4% on a JPMorgan upgrade and presidential quantum support, while Oracle's SEC filing revealed a 13% headcount reduction and $1.8B in restructuring costs, signaling a major AI-driven pivot. Carnival's Q3 guidance missed estimates, dragging cruise stocks lower. Blackstone plans to invest $30 billion in Japan AI data centers. Chainlink joined Project Pangea with 47 European and Korean banks to develop real-time FX settlement using stablecoins.