WS #5742

The data window is dominated by escalating Strait of Hormuz tensions, with multiple corroborating sources confirming President Trump's declaration of total US Navy control over the strait, ordering engagement against mine-laying vessels, and stating no ship may enter or leave without US approval. This follows the previous window's reports of a blockade and IEA warnings. The situation is escalating, with the Navy Secretary fired amid the crisis and Iran's parliament preparing a draft law requiring tolls in Rials for passage. This directly impacts oil prices and energy stocks. On the corporate side, Texas Instruments (TXN) reported strong Q1 results and raised guidance, with analysts boosting price targets. ServiceNow and IBM earnings disappointed, dragging software shares lower. QuantumScape (QS) stock is soaring on business momentum signals. Netflix (NFLX) announced a $25 billion buyback boost. American Express (AXP) beat Q1 estimates with strong affluent consumer spending. Tesla (TSLA) earnings reopened the road to $415 per Seeking Alpha, but a separate report notes Musk admitted millions of Tesla cars won't get unsupervised FSD, creating a mixed picture. The Dow Transports sent a classic danger signal with an 8.4% plunge. Overall, the energy crisis narrative is escalating sharply, with potential for oil price spikes and impacts on airlines and consumer stocks. The tech sector shows mixed signals with TXN strength but software weakness.