WS #7695

The dominant narrative in this window is a DE-ESCALATION in US-Iran tensions, with multiple sources corroborating that President Trump postponed a planned attack on Iran after requests from Gulf allies (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE). This counters the previous bearish macro thesis of escalating conflict. Al Jazeera and BBC both report the delay, with Trump stating 'serious negotiations are now taking place.' However, the Israeli Security Cabinet is discussing potential war with Iran, and Iran's IRGC struck groups linked to the US/Israel in Kurdistan, indicating continued regional volatility. Separately, the WHO is convening an emergency committee on Ebola with 500 suspected cases and 130 deaths, a potential new pandemic risk. In corporate news, Standard Chartered announced cutting ~7,800 back-office roles by 2030 due to AI adoption, signaling ongoing disruption in financial services. Hedge funds are 'all-in' on semiconductors with SOXX exposure at record highs, bullish for the sector. The UK energy price cap is seen surging 13%, the biggest gain since 2023, which could pressure consumer stocks. The narrative arc is STABLE on the US-Iran de-escalation, but with new risks emerging from Ebola and Israeli-Iranian tensions.