GOOD MORNING.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world's oil markets. It carries roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day, along with about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas. Since the U.S.-Iran conflict began on February 28, that channel has been largely shut down. And today, a deadline President Trump set for Iran to reopen it was set to expire at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Oil prices jumped and stocks fell in another volatile trading session as President Trump's deadline approached without resolution. The price of U.S. crude oil jumped as high as $117.63 per barrel but later fell back to trade around $112.

The wild swings came from two forces pulling in opposite directions. In the morning, tensions were high. Iran rejected the U.S. ceasefire proposal, presenting its own 10-point plan, including a permanent end to hostilities, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait, lifting of sanctions, and reconstruction. Then in the afternoon, stocks climbed after Pakistan proposed a two-week extension to Trump's deadline, offering a potential off-ramp to the hostilities. Markets closed modestly mixed, with the S&P 500 barely positive.

Every time hostilities flare up overseas, the Western energy grid shudders.

The U.S. government is tired of being held hostage by foreign supply chains. That's why Washington is officially dedicating $7B to boost the domestic supply of critical minerals.

They are throwing everything they have at securing lithium.

And one U.S. startup is perfectly positioned to capture the windfall.

Meet EnergyX. They earned a $5M grant from the Department of Energy to scale their operations.

Why them? Because EnergyX has patented tech that can recover up to 3X more lithium than conventional methods.

They now control nearly 150,000 acres of prime lithium territory across Chile and the US. A recent independent study projects their flagship Chilean project alone could generate $1.1B annually once fully operational, at projected market prices.

40,000+ investors are already on board.

This reflects the significant progress we've made across our business, including:

EnergyX's share price will increase from $12/share after April 16.

Here is why this matters to you directly. The average price per gallon of retail gasoline was $4.14 on Tuesday. Diesel fuel was $5.64, nearing its 2022 all-time high of $5.82 per gallon. That is money leaving your wallet every time you fill up the tank or buy groceries that arrived by truck.

The closure of the Strait has triggered the largest oil supply disruption in history. Crude, jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline prices have surged since the war started.

Chicago Federal Reserve Bank president Austan Goolsbee said Tuesday he is concerned that the energy shock from the Iran war could potentially create a stagflationary price spiral. Stagflation means slower economic growth combined with rising prices. It is one of the trickiest environments for retirees because the value of fixed income streams can decline in real terms even if the dollar amount stays the same.

The practical takeaway: if you have not reviewed your monthly budget for energy-related costs, now is a good time. Rising diesel costs push up prices on nearly everything shipped by truck, which is most of what you buy at the store. Keep cash reserves in place and avoid making drastic portfolio moves based on daily swings. This situation is fluid and could resolve quickly or drag on for weeks.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowly resumed, with eight tankers transiting Monday, up from an average of fewer than two transits per day in March, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. That, however, is a fraction of prewar levels, with an average of 20 million barrels of crude oil and products transiting the strait per day in 2025. A genuine ceasefire and reopening of the strait would send oil prices lower quickly. Futures markets are already pricing in that possibility over the coming months. The oil futures market currently sees Brent declining to $90 a barrel by August and dipping below $80 by December. If that happens, some relief at the pump would likely follow. But it is not guaranteed, and the timeline is uncertain.

The Federal Reserve, which had been cautiously eyeing rate cuts for later in 2026, now finds its hands tied as energy-driven inflation threatens to unanchor price expectations once again. For retirees holding CDs, money market accounts, or short-term Treasuries, the pause in rate cuts is a double-edged situation. Yields stay elevated, which is good for savers. But it also signals that the Fed sees inflation risk as real. The 10-year Treasury yield will hold above 4% for the time being, according to fixed income strategists at Schwab. That means bonds issued right now carry decent yields, but existing bond prices remain under some pressure.

First quarter S&P 500 earnings per share growth is currently pegged at 13.2%, according to FactSet. That is a healthy number heading into the quarter, and earnings season kicks off in earnest next week. The concern is what companies say about the second quarter. Higher energy costs mean higher operating expenses for most businesses. Airlines, trucking companies, manufacturers, and retailers are all dealing with fuel bills that are sharply higher than they were 90 days ago. If corporate guidance weakens, stock prices could respond. Keep an eye on what major companies say about the rest of the year when they report.

*Disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for EnergyX’s Regulation A+ Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energyx.com. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.