VIX
- Oil Craters 7%, Asia Rips, AI Keeps Dancing: Welcome to the Most Confusing Pre-Market of 2026
WTI crashes 7% on Iran diplomacy hopes, Asia surges, AMD +7.8% leads tech — S&P 500 eyes record highs. Retic's pre-market brief, April 17 2026.
- The Hormuz Premium Meets the Bottoming Thesis: Who Blinks First?
S&P futures up 1.2%, KOSPI surges 2.1%, but WTI at $92 and IMF recession warnings keep the bull case on a short leash.
- Tech Dispersion, $92 Oil, and a Globe That's Bullish — Wall Street Wakes Up Confused
KOSPI +2.7%, STOXX +1.4%, Mag7 surging — but $92 WTI, record-low consumer sentiment, and Hormuz fears keep bulls honest.
- Oil at $104, AI Bulls Undeterred: Two Narratives Enter, One Market Opens
WTI surges 7.8% past $104 on Hormuz fears as Mag7 AI bulls hold firm. S&P flat, NASDAQ +0.35%. Which narrative wins at the open?
- Peace Dividend: US-Iran Ceasefire Lights a Fire Under Tech
US-Iran ceasefire crushes the geopolitical risk premium. Nvidia +3.5%, Tesla +5% premarket. VIX at 19.3, DXY sub-99. Here's what it means for the open.
- Oil at $99, Goldman Calling Generational Lows, and Tesla on Deck: Pick Your Narrative
WTI surges to $99 on Iran war premium, Goldman calls tech a generational buy, and Tesla reports after close. Two narratives, one session.
- Oil Craters $20, Asia Rips — The Strait Fear Trade Just Unwound
WTI crashes 17% overnight as Hormuz tensions ease. Asia surges. But gold hits $4,810 and the inflation narrative isn't dead yet. US open preview.
- Hormuz or Bust: Gold at $4,705, Oil at $112, and the Market That Can't Look Away
US-Iran escalation dominates pre-market. Gold +1.15% to $4,705, WTI at $112. S&P eyes 6,550 support as VIX holds 24.5.