Israel and the United States carried out a wave of attacks on Iran on Monday, killing more than 25 people, and Iran responded with missile fire on Israel and its Gulf Arab neighbours. US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz loomed as mediators circulated a new ceasefire proposal. Explosions rang out in Tehran and low-flying jets could be heard for hours as th...
Israel and the United States carried out a wave of attacks on Iran on Monday, killing more than 25 people, and Iran responded with missile fire on Israel and its Gulf Arab neighbours. US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz loomed as mediators circulated a new ceasefire proposal. Explosions rang out in Tehran and low-flying jets could be heard for hours as the capital was pounded. Thick black smoke rose near the city’s Azadi Square after one air strike hit...
Bank OZK Almost three years ago, I strongly recommended buying the preferred stock of Bank OZK ( OZKAP ) for its 7.8% dividend yield back then and the wide margin of safety of the dividend. I also expected some upside, given my expectations for lower interest rates. Indeed, interest rates have moderated since that article, from 5.5% to 3.75%. As a result, the preferred stock has offered a total re...
Bank OZK Almost three years ago, I strongly recommended buying the preferred stock of Bank OZK ( OZKAP ) for its 7.8% dividend yield back then and the wide margin of safety of the dividend. I also expected some upside, given my expectations for lower interest rates. Indeed, interest rates have moderated since that article, from 5.5% to 3.75%. As a result, the preferred stock has offered a total return of 31%, which is certainly satisfactory for a low-risk, fixed-income security and a period of less than three years. Since that article, I have reiterated my positive view on the preferred stock of Bank OZK three times. I last recommended buying the stock in late 2024. The stock had remained essentially flat until recently, but it has declined 5% off its peak in February, primarily due to the war in the Middle East and the resultant expectations for higher inflation and possibly higher interest rates in the upcoming months. Due to its recent decline, the preferred stock of Bank OZK is currently offering a dividend yield of 7.3% . The preferred dividend has a wide margin of safety (more on this later). The reason behind the high yield is the fear of the investing community that the ongoing war in Iran, which has caused oil prices to skyrocket, will result in higher inflation and interest rates. If this proves correct, the preferred stock of Bank OZK is likely to come under pressure, along with most fixed-income securities. However, the war is unlikely to last for many more months, as both sides are bleeding severely. Iran is being bombarded harshly, while the U.S. has begun to feel the impact of the war via sky-high gasoline prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Given the upcoming midterm elections, the U.S. government will do its best to prevent citizens from becoming frustrated over extreme gasoline prices. In addition, the major oil producers in the Middle East are being severely hurt by the closure of the straits, as they have been forced to drastically...
Dmitry Vinogradov Stock index futures were higher on Monday as traders remained focused on developments in the Middle East, including the status of the Strait of Hormuz. S&P 500 futures ( SPX ) rose +0.56%, Nasdaq 100 futures ( US100:IND ) advanced +0.83%, and Dow futures ( INDU ) edged up +0.36%. President Donald Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormu...
Dmitry Vinogradov Stock index futures were higher on Monday as traders remained focused on developments in the Middle East, including the status of the Strait of Hormuz. S&P 500 futures ( SPX ) rose +0.56%, Nasdaq 100 futures ( US100:IND ) advanced +0.83%, and Dow futures ( INDU ) edged up +0.36%. President Donald Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to comply could trigger U.S. attacks on key infrastructure across the country. The U.S., Iran, and regional mediators are negotiating a potential 45-day ceasefire that could pave the way for ending the war, Axios reported. U.S. Treasury yields climbed across the curve. The 10-year Treasury yield ( US10Y ) rose 4.2 basis points to 4.36%, while the 2-year yield ( US2Y ) moved up 3.1 basis points to 3.86%. The 30-year yield ( US30Y ) edged higher by 1.1 basis points to 4.93%. The ISM Services Index is due during market hours. Top gainers in premarket trading included SBA Communications ( SBAC ) +2.76%, Vulcan Materials ( VMC ) +2.00%, and Targa Resources ( TRGP ) +1.98%. Decliners included Paycom Software ( PAYC ) -3.03%, Invesco ( IVZ ) -1.99%, and Aptiv ( APTV ) -1.93%. More on markets S&P 500 Earnings And A StyleBox Update For March 31, 2026 The First War Inflation Tests - Markets Weekly Outlook S&P 500: Prepare For Change (Technical Analysis) Iran rejects U.S. demands; ceasefire bid breaks down – WSJ Trump threatens to hit Iran ‘extremely hard’ even as war nears end; oil surges, futures dip