// COMPARE

WTI slipped to $88.48 (-0.23%), giving back overnight gains as Hormuz ceasefire optimism overcame US-strike concerns. Tight range as traders waited for the next Iran headline.

Oil is trading the binary — every Iran news cycle whipsaws the tape. The underlying physical market remains tight (OPEC+ disciplined), but headline risk dominates positioning until resolution.

Any Hormuz deal confirmation pushes to $85; failure or fresh escalation reopens $95. Weekly EIA inventories Wednesday remain in the background. $90 is the headline-driven pivot.

S&P 500 climbed to 7,563.6 (+0.58%), printing fresh record territory on US-Iran ceasefire optimism. Dell earnings and a Pentagon software deal added a bid; breadth supportive.

Record highs on geopolitical relief plus the AI capex story still funding bids in mega-caps. Microsoft +3.47% on Pentagon deal news shows the institutional buyer hasn't blinked despite bubble chatter.

PCE Friday is the only big macro print. Above 7,600 opens 7,700; failure of 7,500 turns it into a profit-taking session. Watch VIX 15.74 — sub-15 would confirm the all-clear.