The markets reacted with relief this Monday morning. After weeks of escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which threatened to choke off the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most critical energy passage—President Donald Trump announced a sudden five-day pause on planned strikes against Iranian power plants. This announcement sparked a surge in stock markets and a sharp drop in oil prices, with Brent crude falling from nearly $120 a barrel to around $101.
