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.

Top story for the morning: the U.S. has declared a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices have risen sharply

Legalizing Iranian fees for tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz would be a negative for the US dollar, Frontier Investments head Louis Laval has warned

The price of the Strait of Hormuz: How much Iran will get from duties on a fifth of its oil supplies

Ship traffic through the key artery for energy supplies - the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran - remains at a minimum level despite the declared <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/ssa-i-iran-soglasilis-na-dvuhnedel-noe-peremirie-cena-nefti-wti-ruhnula-na-16">truce</a> between the U.S. and Iran, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/09/tankers-return-to-hormuz-ceasefire-disruption-to-last-weeks.html">writes</a>. According to experts in shipping and maritime transportation, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will not be restored to pre-war levels in the near future.

"Weeks, if not months": analysts on timeline for normalization of the Strait of Hormuz operation

US President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-09/trump-vows-troops-to-stay-with-iran-talks-set-amid-fragile-truce">has promised to</a> keep US troops in the Persian Gulf ahead of talks with Iran. The day before, both sides accused each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire, after which Iran again reported the suspension of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Markets, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-09/trump-vows-troops-to-stay-with-iran-talks-set-amid-fragile-truce">points out</a>, reflected this uncertainty: oil prices began to rise again, while stocks in Europe and Asia fell.

Stocks fall, oil at $98: Trump promises to keep U.S. troops in the Middle East

Switzerland's largest bank sees investment opportunities in U.S. utility stocks, bonds and gold

Protective assets instead of euphoria: UBS names 5 risks after Middle East truce

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US President Donald Trump has ramped up pressure on NATO and revisited the Greenland issue amid disagreements with allies over war with Iran, while highlighting the fragility of a truce in the Middle East. OpenAI is gearing up for an IPO with retail investors and a massive infrastructure investment. On these and other topics - in our review of key events for the morning of April 9.

Top story for this morning: Trump pressures NATO, Anthropic denied lifting Pentagon sanctions

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Wednesday <a href="https://x.com/mb_ghalibaf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2041943537386958858%7Ctwgr%5Eac820f09da0c076df28ea52805ae974e1d01340f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Flive-blog%2F2026-04-07%2Firan-war-latest">accused the</a> US of violating a two-week ceasefire agreement. The truce <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/mnogie-punkty-uze-soglasovany-tramp-obsuzdaet-s-iranom-smagcenie-sankcij-i-uran">was announced by</a> US President Donald Trump less than 24 hours ago.

Iran has accused the US of violating the ceasefire. What about stocks?

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The Dubai Stock Market (DFM) index <a href="https://www.dfm.ae/">jumped</a> 8.5% at the open on Wednesday on news of a truce between the US and Iran. The UAE has suffered the heaviest bombardment from Tehran during the war in the Middle East - even Iran has fired fewer missiles and drones at Israel. Movchan's Group senior partner Elena Chirkova <a href="https://www.facebook.com/e.v.chirkova/posts/%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%82-%D1%87%D1%82%D0%BE-%D1%8F-%D1%85%D0%BE%D1%87%D1%83-%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BC-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%8C-%D1%83-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81-%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D0%B2-%D1%84%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%8B-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%8E%D1%89%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BC-/26298738293116773/">publishes a</a> version of why on her Facebook page.

Why has Dubai become Iran's top target? Here's what investors in the Middle East think

The VIX Volatility Index, also known as the "Wall Street Fear Index," fell below 20 points for the first time since the U.S. war against Iran began. That's a level that, according to <a href="https://www.investing.com/academy/trading/vix-index-definition/#:~:text=How%20To%20Read%20The%20VIX%20Index:%20What%20Do%20the%20Numbers%20Mean?,-Copied&amp;text=The%20VIX%20index%20typically%20ranges,coincided%20with%20significant%20market%20events">Investing.com</a> grading, indicates "relative calm or complacency in the market."

"Fear Index" signaled détente on Wall Street for the first time since the war began

The decline in oil quotations accelerated

'Many points already agreed upon': Trump discusses sanctions relief and uranium with Iran

Despite the agreement on a <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/ssa-i-iran-soglasilis-na-dvuhnedel-noe-peremirie-cena-nefti-wti-ruhnula-na-16">temporary ceasefire</a> between the U.S. and Iran and the agreement to open navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, more than 800 ships remain blocked on both sides of this waterway, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-08/shipowners-eye-hormuz-ceasefire-window-for-800-trapped-vessels">writes.</a> Their owners are trying to sort out the details of the deal concluded by the parties.

'No renewal in 24 hours': 800 ships stand in the Strait of Hormuz despite the deal

European stocks amid news of a <a href="https://oninvest.com/article/ssa-i-iran-soglasilis-na-dvuhnedel-noe-peremirie-cena-nefti-wti-ruhnula-na-16">two-week ceasefire</a> in the Middle East began trading on April 8 with significant growth, close to the maximum since 2022, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-08/european-stocks-set-for-biggest-rise-since-2022-on-iran-us-deal">writes</a>. Gas prices in Europe also <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-08/european-gas-futures-tumble-on-us-iran-ceasefire-agreement">fell by</a> 20% at the moment, reaching the lowest level since the beginning of the war.

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