Today marks the two-month anniversary of the conflict in Iran. A ceasefire continues to hold with some minor transgressions. However, peace talks have yielded little progress to this point, and the critical global chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to most traffic.
This week will be dominated by first quarter results flowing rapidly across the wires. Over 40% of S&P 500 companies are scheduled to post Q1 numbers and guidance during the week. However, over the next month, nothing will be nearly as important as getting the Strait of Hormuz reopened as far as the markets and the global economy go.
The shutdown of this critical global chokepoint has resulted in a huge surge in prices in many key energy and commodity products. Average gasoline prices have moved to over $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022. Diesel prices have shot up by some 50%. And nearly every locomotive and trailer truck runs on diesel. This boosts the costs of moving any goods to the market.
U.S. consumers were already in a foul mood before the latest war in the Middle East. This latest headwind to consumer health is already showing up in polling. Americans who rated the economy poor jumped in April compared to March.
And there is U.S. consumer sentiment, which just hit its lowest point in April since this metric started to be recorded in 1978. Lower than the trough during the Great Financial Crisis. Yet, the market is at all-time highs.
And there is no easy path to a resolution to this conflict in the weeks ahead. Regime change in Iran simply isn't going to happen via airpower alone, as it never has in history. That leaves "boots on the ground," which is a non-starter politically in the United States. A full-scale invasion is impossible without reinstituting
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