Iran
Uranium’s bull market remains intact, supported by structural supply deficits, rising nuclear demand, and tightening fuel-cycle constraints. The Iran war reinforces energy security concerns while disrupting key inputs like sulfur, exacerbating supply risks. With contracting strengthening and policy support accelerating, uranium is re-emerging as a strategic commodity with durable upside.
President Trump has announced that the US would impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, in effect exacerbating the partial blockade that has already been in place due to Iran’s threats against shipping in the Persian Gulf. The threat comes after the direct negotiations between Iran and the US in Islamabad failed to make a breakthrough. Oil is up on the news and stock futures are down. How should investors read the situation?
In this report, we deviate from our base case and instead assume that there is an immediate improvement in Hormuz traffic. This exercise allows us to explore how the global oil supply shortfall could eventually be offset if the right conditions are in place.
The relief rally in stocks can continue a while longer. However, much can still go wrong. As such, we are retaining a 12-month underweight to stocks but are moving to neutral on a short-term tactical horizon.
Outside Asian semiconductor producers, EM corporate earnings and profitability have seen little improvement. Despite the ceasefire in the Middle East, the medium-term outlook for EM stocks is still unattractive.
As we publish this regularly scheduled GeoMacro Alpha Report, President Trump is warning of civilization-ending strikes against Iran. A bluff? Stage Five on the Seven Steps of Maximum Pressure? A real threat to use weapons of mass destruction? The odds and pattern of Trump's behavior are skewed towards the former, but even small odds of the latter make trading the next 24 hours dangerous.
Domestic politics suggest that President Trump needs to retreat from the war in Iran, but strategic factors suggest not. Stay defensive for now.