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US-sanctioned supertankers enter Gulf despite blockade
Shipping data revealed that a second U.S. sanctioned supertanker entered the Gulf through the 'Strait of Hormuz', despite the U.S. ban on visiting Iranian ports. The U.S. president Donald Trump announced the ban on Sunday, after the weekend talks between the U.S. government and Iran in Islamabad failed to produce a result. U.S. Central Command stated on X, that since Monday's start of the blockade, 10 ships had been turned around. Iran's Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday that despite the blockade, an Iranian supertanker under U.S. sanction crossed the strait to Iran's Imam Khomeini Port despite the sanctions. Fars did neither identify the tanker nor provide any further details about its?journey. Data from LSEG & Kpler show that the empty Very Large Crude Carrier RHN entered into the Gulf on Tuesday. The exact destination of the VLCC (which is capable of carrying up to 2 million barrels) is not yet known. The 'tanker,'s entry into Gulf?comes a few days after the VLCC Alicia (sanctioned by the United States) passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Kpler data indicated that the Alicia was heading for Iraq. Kpler data shows that both tankers are known to have carried Iranian oil over the last few years. The U.S. sanctioned tanker Rich Starry returned to the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, just a day after leaving. In an apparent attempt to gain leverage before further negotiations, the U.S. warned that it may add secondary sanctions against buyers of Iranian crude oil. This warning comes just weeks after Washington relaxed some Iran energy sanctions. Iran may consider allowing ships to pass through the Omani side of Strait of Hormuz unassisted as part of its proposals in the negotiations with the U.S. if a deal can be reached to avoid a new conflict. Analysts predict that the U.S. ban on Iranian crude exports will reduce its production. However, Iran could maintain its current production - at 3.5 million barrels a day (bpd), for weeks by storing oil inside tanks. Kpler data shows that Iran exported 1,84 million barrels per day of crude oil in March, and has shipped 1,71 million so far in April. This compares to an average of 1.68 millions barrels per day in 2025.
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Gulf crisis affects Australian and New Zealand companies, from airlines to banks
The U.S. and Israel war on Iran is causing financial strain on Australian and New Zealand companies, with higher fuel prices increasing inflation, reducing consumer confidence and affecting corporate earnings. Two of Australia's largest companies, Qantas Airways and Westpac?Banking Corporation, warned Tuesday that their earnings may be affected by the soaring price of fuel and by consumers who are struggling with high prices and borrowing rates. Below are some of the Australian and New Zealand companies that have flagged an impact on the Middle East conflict. Air New Zealand New Zealand's Flag carrier announced a price increase in March after suspending its earnings forecast for the full year. The airline announced on April 7 that it would cut flights by 4% and 1% in May and June. a2 Milk New Zealand's A2 Milk has cut its profit forecast for fiscal 2026 as higher freight costs and temporary supply chain interruptions have affected the availability of their China-label infant formula product in the country's biggest market. Cleanaway Waste Management: The company's full-year earnings were cut by A$20m ($14.17m) due to higher costs, reduced activity and differences in timing of cost recovery. Fonterra New Zealand's largest dairy producer stated that the conflict is impacting their supply chain and could increase its inventory levels and cost in the second half year while also contributing volatility in global commodities prices. Orora: Orora, a packaging company, has lowered its earnings forecasts for Saverglass' French unit and canceled?its stock buyback program. The company cited the impact of war. Due to the closure of shipping routes, the company also stopped bottle production at the glass production facility in Ras al Khaimah (the United Arab Emirates). Qantas: Qantas Airways is Australia's national carrier. It has raised its fuel costs outlook for the second-half of the year up to A$800m and announced that it will not be starting its planned A$150m share buyback, citing the sharply higher jet fuel prices. Qantas has raised fares to offset the rising cost of its flights and shifted them towards stronger routes, such as Paris or Rome, where demand is still strong. They have also reduced their domestic capacity in the second quarter by approximately 5 percentage points. Virgin Australia Virgin Australia expects fuel costs to increase by around A$30 to A$40 Million ($21.39 to $28.52 millions) in the second half fiscal 2026. In mid-March, the airlines announced that they were adjusting their fares due to the rising costs in the aviation industry. Westpac: Westpac, Australia's no. The no.2 bank in Australia by assets said that energy market shocks were beginning to show up as profit pressures during the first half. Westpac's net margin for its Treasury and Markets division has been weakened due to interest rate volatility related to the conflict. A weaker outlook is already leading to higher credit provisioning. Westpac's provisioning to cover potential bad debt has reached its highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic. Auckland International Airport Auckland International Airport in New Zealand said that flights between Auckland and the Middle East had been disrupted. According to the airport operator, in March there was an 81% decrease in passenger numbers on Middle Eastern routes and a 73% drop in seat capacity compared to a year earlier. Fletcher Building Fletcher Building in New Zealand said that it is 'indirectly exposed to the Middle East conflict through supply chains, freight lines, energy costs and the wider economic impact across Australasia. Construction materials manufacturer expects to increase prices in all divisions as a result of passing on costs to its customers. The company will increase prices by up to 36 percent in plastics, where it says they are most vulnerable. Other divisions can expect a 1%-5% price increase.
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J.B. Hunt reports higher quarterly profit due to cost reductions and improved volumes that offset fuel costs
J.B. Hunt Transportation Services, a U.S. trucking company, reported on Wednesday a higher profit for the first quarter. Efforts to cut costs and improve volumes in key segments offset increased fuel prices. In aftermarket trading, shares of the company rose by 1.2%. After a four-year hiatus, the U.S. trucking sector showed signs of revival in early 2012. However, higher fuel prices?due the Middle East war have delayed the long-awaited turnaround. J.B Hunt's goal has been to reduce costs and increase efficiency during this time. Fuel surcharges are a way that the company, and other contract trucking companies in the U.S., have historically recouped their higher fuel costs. Fuel surcharge revenues grew by 12.8% in the first quarter compared to a 3.3% increase the previous quarter. In the quarter reported, the volumes of its Intermodal segment, a division that accounts for around 50% of company revenue and involves the shipping of goods using two or more modes?of?transportation, increased 2% over the previous year. Dedicated Contract Services, which accounts for a quarter (25%) of the company’s revenue, grew by 2%. The Arkansas-based company posted a first-quarter profit of $141.6 million or $1.49 per share. This is up from $117.7 millions, or $1.17, per share a year earlier. The company reported revenue of about $3.06billion for the quarter that ended on March 31 compared to $2.92billion a year earlier. (Reporting from Nandan Mandayam in Bengaluru and Megavarshini G. Somasundaram; editing by Vijay Kishore).
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White House does not have an opinion on the potential United Airlines merger with American Airlines
Karoline Lavitt, White House Press Secretary, told reporters that the Trump administration "doesn't have an opinion" on reports United Airlines was considering merging with rival American Airlines. Leavitt stated, "I understand that the idea has been put forward by the private sector.?But it is not something on which the White House or the President have an opinion. Two sources claim that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby discussed the possibility of merging with American Airlines in a late-February meeting with U.S. president Donald Trump. This raises the prospect of a deal which could reshape the industry, but will likely face regulatory obstacles. The combination of two major?U.S. The combination of two of the largest?U.S. According to OAG data, United and American were already the two largest airlines in the world by available capacity, including international flights.
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Source: Iran proposes allowing ships to leave Oman side of Hormuz without being attacked
Iran may 'consider' allowing ships to pass through the Oman side of Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of its negotiating proposals with the United States to avoid a new conflict. Due to Iran's disruption of traffic in the strait that handles around 20% of world oil and liquefied natural gas, the war has caused the biggest-ever global disruption of?oil? and gas?supplies. Since the Iran War began on February 28, 20,000 seafarers, including tankers and other vessels, have been trapped?inside of the Gulf. Source, who declined to be named due to the sensitive nature of the issue, stated that Iran may be willing to allow ships to use the other side in Omani waters, without interference from Tehran. The source did not specify whether Iran would agree to remove any mines that it might have placed in the water, or if all ships would be allowed free passage - including those linked to Israel. The source said that Washington's willingness to meet Tehran's demands was a key condition for any possible breakthrough in the Strait of Hormuz. The White House did not respond to a comment request immediately. Reporting by Parisa hafezi in Dubai, Jonathan Saul in London and Steve Holland in Washington. Editing by Nia William.
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Kalshi expands its prediction hub to include more commodities amid high volatility
Kalshi, a prediction markets platform, announced on Wednesday that it has launched a 'commodities hub', expanding its offering to include markets related to energy, metals, and agriculture. The launch comes at a time when the commodity markets are being roiled by geopolitical conflicts, such as the U.S./Israeli war against Iran, and the disruptions that followed in the Strait of Hormuz as well as inflation uncertainty. Oil prices have been trading around $100 per barrel and this has contributed to an increase in intrading on commodity-linked markets. Kalshi's expansion has added contracts for natural gas, coffee, sugar, corn and soybeans, wheat as well as nickel, diesel, and lithium to the existing markets?for oil benchmarks. These contracts allow users to make a bet on certain outcomes, like whether crude oil prices will rise above a certain level in a given period of time or if gold will close at a higher price. Investors have recently become more interested in the prediction market, which allows them to bet on real-world events. These include sports and politics as well as economic data and entertainment. Kalshi has said that it offers a continuous trading service, even outside of regular market hours, to attract institutional investors. The sector has been scrutinized for speculating on sensitive topics like elections and politics. Kalshi banned politicians and athletes last month from trading in their respective markets. The company wanted to avoid any scrutiny regarding possible insider trading. (Reporting from Prakhar Srivastava and Anirban SEN in New York, with editing by Sahal Muhammad)
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S&P 500 reaches first intraday record since US-Iran War
S&P 500 reached an intraday high on Wednesday. It was its first since the U.S. - Iran conflict began. Investors were drawn back into risky assets by expectations of a de-escalation and a robust outlook for earnings. The market's willingness to accept less severe risks of escalation, at least for the short term, was evident when traders reached a "new record" during an active "geopolitical crisis". After weekend talks in Islamabad failed, U.S. president Donald Trump said that talks with Iran could resume soon and lead to a 'deal. When hostilities broke out last month, equity markets fell sharply. This unleashed a historic shock on oil markets. It also rekindled concerns about inflation and future interest rates in the United States. S&P 500 fell as much as 9 percent after the conflict began on February 28. This did not confirm a correction. Both the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones Industrial Average confirmed a correction. A correction is defined as a closing index that is at least 10% lower than a recent high. The markets have also been boosted by expectations of a robust corporate earnings season. The U.S. consumer remained resilient despite oil shocks, according to executives at the big banks. They also said that the pipeline of deals and IPOs was robust. According to data compiled?by LSEG, analysts expect S&P500 companies to earn a total of $605.1 billion in the first quarter of this year. This is up from the $598.7 predicted at the beginning of the quarter. Many?brokers have seen the sale as a chance to buy equities for a bargain, as the conflict has brought the?values down to a more reasonable level. The prospect of a'renewed escalation' in the conflict is still looming, and any flare-up will likely test the recent confidence on the market. Even if geopolitical risks fade, fears that were prevalent before the war may reappear, notably those about disruptions linked to artificial intelligent. The private credit industry has also had to deal with the redemption risk of investors who are nervous and want to exit. (Reporting and editing by Shilpa Majumdar in Bengaluru, with Niket Nishant from Bengaluru)
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Urals oil price rises in Russian ports due to strong demand and lower freight
According to calculations, the discount for Russian Urals Oil on a FOB Basis for cargoes that?load from the Baltic Port of Primorsk in the month of April?was reduced to $15-$17 a barrel against dated Brent, from $24-$27 a barrel?in the second?half?of March. This was due to falling freight rates which reduced the?costs to Russian sellers. LSEG data show that the urals price in Russian ports has remained at a 12-year high of $100 per barrel. This is due to strong Brent prices and a combination of softer freight rates, firmer premiums, and strong premiums, which are boosting Russian producers' revenues. On Monday, the price of 'physical crude oil cargoes' for immediate delivery to Europe reached a new record near $150 a barrel as global demand remained strong despite disruptions in supplies caused by the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. Three sources confirmed that the premiums for Russian Urals oil in India remained unchanged despite the expiration of U.S. waivers. They added that lower freight rates helped sellers increase their profits. The sources stated that premiums for Urals oil delivered into Indian ports are $7-$9 above Brent on a DAP basis (delivered to port), in line with the estimates of April-loading cargoes, which were sold after the recent rise in price. Prices vary depending on the deal terms and seller. Last week, freight rates dropped to $18-19 million for a Suezmax journey from Russian Baltic ports into India. The cost of shipping Aframax from Primorsk, Russia to India fell to around $16 million, down from $20 million last month. The International Energy Agency reported that Russia's crude oil and refined product revenues rose in March. They had fallen to their lowest level since the beginning of the Ukraine Conflict in?2022. This was due to the price spikes caused by the Iran War. The firmer Urals prices in Russian ports will continue to support?Moscow revenues for April. Indian refiners continue to?buy Russian oil for delivery in May, despite the expiration of the U.S. sanction waiver that allowed the purchase of Russian oil already at sea, traders reported.
Arxis, a manufacturer of aerospace parts, raises $1.13 Billion in US IPO
Arxis, a maker of aerospace?parts in the United States, announced on Wednesday that it raised $1.13 bn. through its initial public offering.
The Bloomfield, Connecticut based company sold 40,5 million shares at the upper end of the price range between $25 and 28 per share.
The listing is a result of the aerospace suppliers tapping equity markets to finance expansion, and meeting rising demand from commercial aircraft and defense customers. Investor appetite for industrial listings remains strong.
In the meantime, increased geopolitical tensions have changed the demand for aerospace and defense equipment. As countries increase military spending, investors are turning to industrial names with a good track record of surviving conflicts.
Arxis manufactures electronic and mechanical components, such as gaskets, seals and metallized fabric, for aerospace, defense, medical technology, and specialized industrial markets.
Arcline, the buyout firm that owns?Arxis, has expanded through more than 30 acquisitions in 2019 including the $1.8 Billion purchase of a rival company?Kaman by 2024.
The stock is expected to begin trading on Nasdaq Thursday under the ticker "ARXS".
The underwriters are Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Jefferies. Reporting by Manya?Saini from Bengaluru, and Natalia Bueno Rebolledo from Mexico City. Editing by Sonia Cheema.
(source: Reuters)