Geopolitical instability dominates this hour, as military strikes in Iraq and missile exchanges between Iran and regional neighbors prompt a sharp rise in oil prices and renewed tension across energy markets. This volatility is compounded by macroeconomic uncertainty ahead of the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decision, with Treasury yields climbing as markets weigh conflict risks against hawkish sentiment. On the domestic front, the Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence while hosting a contentious hearing featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci. Meanwhile, the corporate landscape reflects a fractured reality: heavy investment in AI infrastructure continues, marked by massive data center projects, even as major technology and industrial firms report mixed quarterly earnings that have driven volatile stock performance.