Hormuz Standoff; US Says No Deadline for Iran Proposal | Horizons Middle East & Africa 4/23/2026

Summary

The video covers the ongoing US-Iran standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, with a fragile ceasefire and continued closures keeping oil above $100. Market experts discuss the divergence between commodity and equity markets, with Standard Chartered's Eric Robertsen calling for a structural bull market in commodities. Natixis' Trinh Nguyen highlights the K-shaped recovery in Asia, favoring chip-heavy economies like Korea and Taiwan. The episode also touches on Tesla's massive capex plans and regional bank earnings.

• US and Iran remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, with no clear deadline for a peace proposal.
• Brent crude trades above $100 per barrel as the strait closure continues to disrupt energy supplies.
• Eric Robertsen of Standard Chartered says commodity markets are more relevant than equities and sees a structural bull market in commodities.
• Trinh Nguyen of Natixis notes that Asian equity performance is K-shaped, driven by chip exposure (Korea, Taiwan) versus energy-vulnerable economies.
• Tesla flagged $25 billion in capex for AI and robotics, causing shares to swing despite better-than-expected earnings.
• IMF director warns that prolonged Hormuz closure could deepen economic disruptions beyond oil and gas.
• European car registrations rose 11% in March, with EV deliveries up 42%, led by BYD and Tesla recovery.
• US Navy secretary was ousted amid infighting over shipbuilding and the Hormuz crisis.