A Missed Opportunity in Munich

You Can Buy Love... (But It's Never Been More Expensive) U.S. adults will spend a record $29.1 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, according to estimates published by the National Retail Federation. You will find more infographics at Statista">As Statista's (ironically named) Valentine Fourreau reports, this is up from last year’s $27.5 billion, with U.S. shoppers planning to spend $200 on average per person, up from $189 in 2025. You will find more infographics at Statista According to the NRF, Valentine’s Day was one of the annual events that shoppers tended to splash out the most on last year....

President Trump Agrees To 2-Week Iran Ceasefire (If Strait Is Opened Immediately) Summary:  President Trump agrees to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, conditional on them "agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz" Israel has reportedly agreed to suspend bombing while talks are ongoing. Axios cites "glimmer" of progress on negotiations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif introduces last minute olive branch extension plan, hoping that the US will avoid its decimation campaign. Israel has begun attacking Iran's railway infrastructure, telling civilians to not take trains, cancelations across country. IRGC still defiant - announces...

U.S. Waives Jones Act After Iran Gas Field Attack Shortly after Israeli fighter jets struck Iran's upstream oil and natural gas production assets for the first time in Operation Epic Fury, sending WTI futures to $98.5/bbl, the Trump administration appears to have pulled another emergency lever from JPMorgan's six-option playbook we recently outlined: a 60-day Jones Act waiver that allows foreign-flagged ships to transport oil, gas, refined products, fertilizer, and related energy cargoes between US ports to boost domestic energy flows and ensure shipping capacity does not become a bottleneck. Bloomberg...