WS #5748

The Strait of Hormuz crisis continues to escalate, with Trump claiming 'total control' and ordering the Navy to shoot vessels laying mines. This is corroborated by multiple sources (Bluesky, GDELT, FT), reinforcing the high-significance geopolitical risk. Oil prices remain elevated, and second-order effects are visible: Europe cancels thousands of flights amid fuel shock (France24), and Al Jazeera reports soaring medicine and condom prices due to the war. On the corporate side, Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved the acquisition by Paramount Skydance (Bluesky, Alpaca), a major M&A development. Avis Budget Group shares plummet 57% in two days after Fugazi Research alleges a manufactured short squeeze (Bloomberg, Benzinga). The DOJ reclassified marijuana as Schedule III, which could benefit cannabis stocks like IIPR (Bluesky). Tesla plans to hire 1,000 new workers in Grünheide (GDELT), while Mizuho lowered its price target to $480. PulteGroup Q1 earnings miss as home closings and selling prices fall (Seeking Alpha). Las Vegas Sands beat Q1 estimates and analysts raised price targets (Benzinga, Alpaca). The overall narrative is one of escalating geopolitical risk in the Middle East, with oil prices elevated and second-order effects on airlines and consumer confidence, while AI and tech continue to show strong demand signals.