Trump's Iran standoff rattles markets and bonds
Stocks fell and oil jumped as the Iran ceasefire looks set to collapse, which is bad for investors, drivers, and anyone hoping the Middle East calms down.
- Iran ruled out extending an interim deal, and Trump refuses to extend the ceasefire, sending Brent oil above $90 and knocking the Dow down.
- US government bonds sold off hard, pushing 30-year yields to their highest since 2007, as investors expect heavy borrowing to pay for the war on top of existing deficits and inflation.
- Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it interferes with reopening the Strait of Hormuz, even though Oman had been trying to broker talks with Iran.
- Iran appears emboldened rather than beaten, weighing a push to rebuild its regional network of allied militias, while a drone strike hit the Kurdish prime minister's office in Iraq.
- Higher gas prices are landing on Americans already gloomy about the future, with more people now saying their opportunities are worse than their parents' than better.
Outlook: With no deal in sight and shipping through Hormuz still far below pre-war levels, expect oil and interest rates to stay high and markets to stay jumpy.