Oil prices surged and the stock market's "fear gauge" spiked as the war between the U.S. and Iran escalated again on Wednesday. Violence in the Middle East continues to impede traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while even exponential growth for AI-related companies is letting down investors, traders and speculators.
"We'll be hitting them hard," President Donald Trump told Fox News after Iran struck a U.S. base in Jordan. "They're going to get a beating." The front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures contract was up 7.2% at $84.94 per barrel.
