🚀 Oil prices jump on Trump rhetoric

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Market Overview
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Year To Date Performances:

1. Oil prices skyrocketed 13% on Thursday after President Donald Trump used a national address to pivot from de-escalation rhetoric to a warning that the U.S. will "hit Iran extremely hard" over the next several weeks. The surge brought West Texas Intermediate to $113.08 USD and Brent crude to $109.29 USD, erasing brief market optimism sparked by a disputed claim that Tehran had requested a ceasefire. While Trump maintained that a diplomatic "peace dividend" remains possible, his insistence that the Strait of Hormuz must be "open, free, and clear" before any cessation of hostilities has deepened fears of a prolonged blockade. Analysts now warn that Washington has effectively "washed its hands" of securing the vital waterway, leaving it to global stakeholders to navigate a transit route that remains, according to Tehran, "decisively" under the control of the Revolutionary Guard.

2. Coca-Cola has launched a first-of-its-kind marketing campaign featuring 13 major restaurant chains—including Wendy’s, Domino’s, and Five Guys—to combat a significant slump in diner traffic. With U.S. restaurant visits down 2% and nearly 40% of consumers reporting reduced spending in early 2026, the "And a Coke" campaign aims to drive high-margin beverage sales that are critical for restaurant profitability. By positioning itself as a strategic business partner rather than a mere supplier, Coca-Cola is funding the advertisements entirely, offering the spotlight to partners like Wingstop and Popeyes as a "perk" to stimulate volume growth. The initiative serves as a vital bellwether for the broader economy; as North American unit case volumes softened last year, the beverage giant is betting that boosting combo-meal appeal will help both the brand and its partners weather the current consumer spending "cold."

3. Tesla reported 358,023 vehicle deliveries for the first quarter of 2026, marking a 14% decline from the previous quarter and falling short of the 370,000 units anticipated by analysts. Despite the sequential drop, deliveries showed a 6% improvement over the same period last year, even as the company navigates the official end of its flagship Model S and X production to prioritize the Optimus humanoid robot. Shares fell over 4% following the report, reflecting investor concerns over the loss of federal EV tax credits and a consumer backlash linked to Elon Musk's political activity. However, the ongoing Iran war and subsequent surge in oil prices have provided a counter-intuitive boost to the used electric vehicle market, offering a potential silver lining as Tesla prepares for a pivotal April 22 earnings call focused on the upcoming electric Semi and the scaling of its energy storage business.

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