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Rising Tensions Leave Ships Stranded in Key Oil Passage

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ⁠was closed for a fourth day on Tuesday, choking off a key artery accounting for about 20% of global oil and gas supply. Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vassilis Kikilias, has raised urgent concerns over an increasingly alarming situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where dozens of vessels remain stranded amid escalating conflict involving Iran. He emphasized the need to safeguard global shipping and protect seafarers as the strategic waterway—responsible for roughly 20% of global oil and gas flows—remains closed for a fourth consecutive day.  The closure has disrupted international trade routes and heightened anxiety across the maritime sector. Greek authorities have urged shipowners to exercise maximum caution and avoid high‑risk zones in the wider Persian Gulf region as tensions continue to rise. The prolonged shutdown underscores the vulnerability of global supply chains to geopolitical instability and highlights th...
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Stock Market Today: US Futures Edge Higher as Walmart Surges with Retail Sales, Jobs Data Ahead


Stock futures nudged higher Thursday as Wall Street looked to two key signals of US consumer health, as well as more insight on the jobs market. Here are the highlights:

  1. Futures Performance:

    • Futures tied to the S&P 500 (ES=F) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq (NQ=F) rose 0.1%.
    • Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) pointed up 0.2%.

  2. Walmart’s Strong Quarter:

    • Retail giant Walmart (WMT) shares surged nearly 6% after a largely positive earnings report.
    • Walmart posted both earnings and revenue beats and raised its full-year outlook.

  3. Retail Sales Data:

    • Monthly government retail sales data is set for release at 8:30 a.m. ET.
    • Economists expect a 0.3% month-over-month increase in July, an improvement from June’s flat reading.

  4. Jobs Market Update:

    • The weekly jobless claims report is also in focus.
    • Last week, claims fell more than forecast, sparking a market surge.

  5. Market Resilience:

    • Stocks have rebounded in August, with the S&P 500 recouping most of its losses from the earlier sell-off.
    • As inflation eases, the jobs market remains a key focus for the Fed.

Wall Street continues to monitor these indicators closely, shaping market sentiment and investor confidence.


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