WS #5814

The dominant signal in this window is the escalation of the US-Iran conflict, with Trump ordering the US military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, while the Strait remains effectively closed. This is corroborated by multiple sources including The Guardian, Bloomberg, and Reuters, with Brent crude prices already elevated and the Strait's closure threatening global oil supply. The situation is escalating, with Iran signaling readiness for both diplomatic talks and military conflict. The second major signal is the release of DeepSeek's V4 AI model, which could intensify competition in the AI space and pressure US tech stocks. Third, Intel's revenues soar aided by AI boom, a positive signal for INTC. Fourth, Tesla's robotaxi rollout is going slower than expected, with Musk now saying significant revenue won't happen until 2027, which is bearish for TSLA. Finally, the Bank of England deputy warns stock markets are too high and set to fall, a bearish macro signal.