WS #9461

The dominant signal in this window is the escalation of US-Iran tensions following the exchange of strikes. Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran has 'taken too long to negotiate' and will 'now have to pay the price,' contradicting his earlier statement that a deal was near. Iran's foreign minister warned they would 'leave no attack or threat unanswered.' This is corroborated by BBC, Benzinga, and multiple Bluesky sources. The narrative is ESCALATING. Separately, US May CPI came in at 4.2% YoY (highest in 3 years), driven by a spike in gasoline prices due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. Core CPI was 2.9%. This makes Fed rate cuts unlikely near-term. The inflation data is corroborated by NPR and a Bluesky post. A counter-signal: gasoline prices have eased recently amid hopes of a negotiated settlement, but pump prices remain $1.17 above pre-war levels. MicroVision signed a Master Development Agreement with an undisclosed construction/mining equipment manufacturer to integrate lidar into autonomous solutions, which is a positive signal for MVIS. Core AI Holdings is falling 31% premarket on a $5.4M dilutive offering. DraftKings surged 11% on strong Predictions metrics with a FIFA World Cup catalyst.