Kuwait has declared force majeure on oil and oil products supplies due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has restricted tanker access to the Persian Gulf and made it difficult to fulfill export obligations, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-20/kuwait-declares-force-majeure-on-oil-shipments-on-hormuz-halt">writes.</a>

Kuwait declares force majeure on oil supplies due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Shell plc

BP p.l.c.

Ryanair Holdings plc

Some strategists warn of correction risks in the U.S. stock market, while others believe that the peak of risk aversion on Wall Street has already passed

"Back to square one": analysts - on what the market has come to after 50 days of war

Eli Lilly and Company

The U.S. Navy <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/ssa-zahvatili-sudno-pod-iranskim-flagom-pri-popytke-prorvat-blokadu-tramp">fired on an</a> Iranian ship in the Gulf of Oman and took control of it after an attempt to break the sea blockade. Against this background, oil <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/gaz-v-evrope-podorozal-na-10-brent-na-7-posle-eskalacii-v-ormuzskom-prolive">rose</a> sharply in <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/gaz-v-evrope-podorozal-na-10-brent-na-7-posle-eskalacii-v-ormuzskom-prolive">price</a>. The UAE began to discuss with Washington financial support in case the situation worsens due to the conflict with Iran. These and other topics - in our review of key events by the morning of April 20.

Highlights for the morning: UAE to ask for help, US intercepts Iranian ship, oil surges

The military conflict in the Middle East will leave scars on the global economy that will not heal for a long time. The IMF warns that its economic forecast is "drifting" towards a more unfavorable scenario. Investors are forced to revise their strategies once again.

The outlook for the global economy is deteriorating. Opinions of investors and analysts

ASML Holding N.V.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited

LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Societe Europeenne

Kering SA

Bank of America Corporation

Morgan Stanley

Donald Trump reiterated the imminent end of the war with Iran, claiming Tehran will suspend its nuclear program. Volatility amid the Middle East conflict helped Wall Street banks earn record trading profits, while sales of luxury brands remain under pressure. TSMC and ASML raised forecasts amid robust demand for AI chips. The main events of April 13-17 are in our review.

Highlights of the week: US-Iran pact, chipmakers raised forecasts, luxury sagged

At least eight oil tankers began moving toward the Strait of Hormuz within hours after Iran <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/iran-ob-avil-o-polnom-otkrytii-ormuzskogo-proliva-na-vrema-prekrasenia-ogna">said</a> the key waterway was fully open to shipping during a cease-fire in Lebanon. This was evidenced by vessel tracking data <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-17/oil-tankers-make-dash-toward-hormuz-as-iran-says-strait-is-open">compiled by</a> Bloomberg.

Who will be the first penguin? Shipowners - on the return to the Strait of Hormuz

On Friday, April 17, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arkakchi <a href="https://t.me/SeyedAbbasAraghchiIr/6266">announced</a> that the Strait of Hormuz has fully opened to commercial shipping. This came after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day cease-fire a day earlier. Araqchi noted that ships could travel through the strait along an "agreed route" during the period of the agreement.

Why did Iran open the Strait of Hormuz? 

The International Energy Agency is already recording the first signs of demand destruction in the oil market

Recovery of oil and gas industry after war will take two years - IEA head

It will take about six months to agree on a peace deal between the United States and Iran, some leaders of European countries and Arab states believe. Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-16/us-iran-deal-will-take-months-gulf-and-european-officials-say">writes</a> about it, citing sources among officials in both regions. Both sides should extend the ceasefire, which expires on Tuesday, March 21, for that six-month period, EU and Gulf countries believe, the agency says.

Bloomberg: approval of US-Iran deal will take six months, EU says. Brent above $99

Aviation fuel stocks in Europe may be left "for six weeks or so," Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-europe-jet-fuel-flight-cancellations-birol-6e67fafd493861b3858de5548aa77703">warned</a> in an interview with the Associated Press. Amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iranian crisis, carriers that depend directly on energy exports from the region continue to face difficulties. Birol said flight cancelations could begin "in the near future" if oil supply problems persist.

Europe may only have enough jet fuel for six weeks - IEA chief

Oracle Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

Palantir Technologies Inc.

Broadcom Inc.

Robinhood Markets, Inc.

The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indices rose to new records on Wednesday, continuing their climb thanks to investors' hopes for a speedy end to the war with Iran. The price of Brent crude oil was virtually unchanged, while the dollar's series of declines reached its highest since 2011. Market optimism is supported by a strong start to the corporate reporting season, notes Bloomberg.

The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq have broken records. The dollar has the longest period of decline since 2011

The US derivatives market regulator has launched an investigation into a series of suspiciously timed trades in the oil futures market that were made shortly before important statements by US President Donald Trump, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-15/us-probes-suspicious-oil-trades-made-before-trump-iran-pivots">reported</a>, citing sources. Billions of dollars worth of futures were bought and sold before sharp turns in the US war against Iran, the agency claimed.

Oil