Upside Down?
June 26, 2026
The Strait of Hormuz is open again, at least for now. Oil prices have plummeted. Hopes abound for a continued ceasefire between Iran and the US, even if obstacles remain to a lasting peace in the region. Yet equities are not celebrating the good geopolitical news. Instead, the week opened with a sharp drop in most things AI-related, which left US equities down as June draws to a close. Other markets experienced significant volatility – notably, Korea and Taiwan, which had been buoyed by enthusiasm for inputs into AI.