The U.S. military completed its ninth straight night of attacks on Iran as it fights for control over the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. death toll rising to 17 after three service members were killed over the weekend. The wave of attacks raises concern the war could be entering a new phase, occurring a month after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict. Brent crude broke past the $90 per barrel mark while the national average price for regular gasoline climbed back above $4 per gallon this morning, according to AAA.
US Death Toll Reaches 17 in Iran Conflict
The U.S. military said three service members were killed in recent fighting, bringing the total U.S. death toll from the Iran war to 17 over the weekend. The U.S. completed its ninth straight night of attacks on Iran yesterday. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman indicated Tehran could pursue negotiations with the U.S., according to the source.
Brent Crude Breaks Past $90 Per Barrel
Brent crude broke past the $90 per barrel mark, building on its roughly 16% advance last week. The international benchmark gave back some of its gains after Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman indicated Tehran could pursue negotiations with the U.S. Rising fuel prices continue to hit American drivers, with the national average price for regular gasoline climbing back above $4 per gallon this morning, according to AAA.
Stock Indexes Closed Lower Last Week
All three major indexes closed last week lower as investors felt pressure from climbing oil prices. Stock futures are higher before the bell as Wall Street looks to a new week.
CNBC Poll Shows Americans Oppose Government Equity Stakes
Nearly half of U.S. voters said they believe it is not appropriate for the federal government to take ownership stakes in U.S.-based companies, according to CNBC's All-America Economic Survey. Just 19% approved of government equity stakes, while 32% were undecided. The poll's findings come after President Donald Trump's administration inked deals with several well-known firms, including Intel. The White House has negotiated 30 ownership agreements worth almost $27 billion, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
Housing Top Political Issue for Young Voters
CNBC's survey also found that housing is the top political issue for young voters heading into the midterm election. Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers have celebrated the passage of a recent bipartisan housing bill, but respondents to the survey indicated they trust Democrats more on the issue.
American Airlines CEO Targets Margin Gap with Rivals
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told CNBC that the airline's "long-range plan is certainly making up the margin gap" and that it wants "to be best at everything that we do." American Airlines has a margin gap compared to rivals United and Delta. Last month, the carrier's top executives described new initiatives such as making bigger and higher-end airport lounges and refreshing interiors for long-haul planes. Isom said American should be seen as "a premium global airline with the largest footprint in North America." Isom did not offer a timeline for the plan.
F/m Investments Releases WarshGPT AI Tool
F/m Investments recently released WarshGPT, an AI-powered tool that scans nearly 1,800 documents to give users a sense of how Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh is thinking about the economy and monetary policy. Investment firms have been racing to adapt as Warsh reshapes the central bank's communication strategy. UBS has its own interactive dashboard that tracks the Fed's policy tone. The bank last month told clients that Warsh's policy-relevant comments were "overwhelmingly hawkish" following his first policy meeting as chairman.
The Odyssey Earns $264 Million Global Opening Weekend
The Universal film adaptation from director Christopher Nolan raked in around $124.5 million domestically in its opening weekend. The film also brought in nearly $140 million internationally, raising the total haul to above $264 million. That marks Nolan's third-biggest domestic debut weekend and his highest global debut. More than 40 IMAX locations had showings between midnight and 3 a.m. this weekend due to high demand. IMAX is adding a fifth week of screenings in its theaters, and some of those showings are already sold out.
FAQ
What is the current US death toll in the Iran conflict?
The U.S. death toll from the Iran war rose to 17 over the weekend after the U.S. military said three service members were killed in recent fighting. The U.S. completed its ninth straight night of attacks on Iran as it fights for control over the Strait of Hormuz.
How did Americans respond to government equity stakes in companies according to CNBC's poll?
Nearly half of U.S. voters said they believe it is not appropriate for the federal government to take ownership stakes in U.S.-based companies, according to CNBC's All-America Economic Survey. Just 19% approved of government equity stakes, while 32% were undecided.
How much did The Odyssey earn in its opening weekend?
The Odyssey raked in around $124.5 million domestically in its opening weekend and brought in nearly $140 million internationally, raising the total haul to above $264 million. This marks director Christopher Nolan's third-biggest domestic debut weekend and his highest global debut.
