Oil prices are being supported by geopolitical tensions, with President Trump threatening escalation against Iran and the Houthis opening a new front. The balance of risks is tilted to the upside, especially if the Strait of Hormuz disruption worsens and supply remains constrained, as demand is relatively inelastic in the short term.
Hyperscaler AI capex spending is unambiguously positive for semiconductor and chip stocks, as evidenced by outperformance of memory makers in Asia; the tech trade today directly benefits the picks-and-shovels chip names.