Geopolitical instability dominated the wire this hour, marked by a Russian cruise missile violating Polish airspace and an intensifying military and rhetorical standoff between the United States and Iran. Washington remains focused on these conflicts even as it manages domestic friction, with the administration facing GOP holdouts over appointments and proposing a controversial $100,000 fee for international student work authorization. Market sentiment proved bifurcated: while macroeconomic indicators showed mortgage rates hitting a one-year high, the technology sector experienced a surge driven by Microsoft and broader AI optimism. Investors are balancing these tech-led gains against a heavy volume of corporate earnings, including reports from Amazon and Shell, amid several trading halts and ongoing uncertainty in the retail and energy sectors.