The U.S. broad market index S&amp;P 500 rose to a new record during trading on Wednesday, April 15. The index reached a maximum of 7008.45 points by the time of publication of this text. The S&amp;P 500 hit a new high for the first time since January 28, when it rose to 7002.28 points. The index could also set a record closing high if it holds at current levels.

S&amp;P 500 rises to a new record for the first time since January

Inflationary pressures due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with growing worries about layoffs due to artificial intelligence, are creating an extremely stressful time for workers, according to the head of hedge fund Citadel

'Classic shock': billionaire Ken Griffin warned of the risk of a global recession 

Exxon Mobil Corporation

Chevron Corporation

German trader Christopher Eppinger, who made $250 million from trading Russian oil after the war began in 2022, now intends to capitalize on Guyana's oil boom, the Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c58370ba-0d31-4320-ad33-7c2236bd23c8">reports</a>.

A young trader made $250 million on Russian oil. Where is he building his business now? 

'War changes consumption': IEA expects oil demand to fall - for the first time since the pandemic

BP p.l.c.

Amid sharply higher oil prices due to war in the Middle East, British oil giant BP <a href="https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/press-releases/first-quarter-2026-trading-statement.html">said</a> it recorded an "exceptional" oil trading performance in the first quarter of 2026.

BP says 'exceptional' oil trading performance amid war

Alphabet Inc.

The U.S. and Iran are <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/brent-na-vrema-okazalas-nize-100-za-barrel-akcii-rastut-posle-zaavlenij-trampa">trying to agree on</a> a new round of talks before the ceasefire expires. Alphabet faces the risk of lawsuits for more than $200 billion due to antitrust claims. On these and other topics - in our review of key events for the morning of April 14.

Shell plc

The cost of Brent crude oil <a href="https://www.ice.com/products/219/Brent-Crude-Futures/data?marketId=6018433">fell</a> below $100 per barrel in trading on April 13, the price growth slowed to less than 5%. The cost of U.S. oil WTI <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/CL1:COM">declined</a> at a low of $99.04 per barrel, which corresponds to an increase of 2.6% for the day.

Brent temporarily below $100 a barrel, stocks rise after Trump's statements

Naturgy Energy Group, S.A.

E.ON SE

Enel SpA

TotalEnergies SE

EDP, S.A.

Engie SA

RWE Aktiengesellschaft

Iberdrola, S.A.

Ministers of key EU countries - Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria - <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/five-eu-finance-ministers-call-windfall-profit-tax-energy-companies-2026-04-04/">have called for</a> the introduction of a pan-European tax on excess profits of energy companies. By design, a windfall tax could ease the burden on consumers. For investors, this means the risk of pressure on dividends, share buyback programs and free cash flow in the sector.

Tax on excess profits for oil producers: what is the risk of the EU initiative for investors? 

U.S. stocks opened the main trading session on April 13 with a drop after the failure of U.S.-Iran talks over the weekend.

U.S. stocks opened trading lower amid escalation over Iran

Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has come to a halt ahead of the start of the U.S. blockade of the waterway

'Oil at $150': Onyx expects crude prices to soar with US blockade of Strait of Hormuz

Achieving de-escalation of the conflict by escalating it in the case of Iran is very risky, warned former US Navy officer John Bradford

"Stuck with high prices": experts - on the risks of a double blockade of the Strait of Hormuz

The US is <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/tramp-prikazal-blokirovat-ormuzskij-proliv-posle-provala-peregovorov-s-iranom">imposing a blockade</a> on Iranian ports after the breakdown of negotiations with Tehran, which pushed oil above $100 per barrel amid the biggest supply disruption. These and other topics are in our review of key events for the morning of April 13.