
A fresh midterm headache for the GOP just hit a national record
Diesel prices hit a record $6.20 per gallon as the Iran war disrupts the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to raise costs across the U.S. supply chain.
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Diesel prices hit a record $6.20 per gallon as the Iran war disrupts the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to raise costs across the U.S. supply chain.

Lawmakers are seeking to address calls for artificial intelligence guardrails after renewed warnings about the technology's risks. The leaders of top AI frontier companies Anthropic, OpenAI and xAI made stunning admissions in recent days that AI is advancing too fast.

The single most important pipeline in global oil trade is offline, and the clock on the world's fuel reserves is measured in days.

Record diesel prices are exposing a critical constraint in global energy markets as refinery disruptions abroad collide with limited capacity in the US. GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan is on Bloomberg This Weekend and says producing more crude alone won't solve the problem because refiners are already operating near their limits, leaving little room to boost gasoline and diesel supplies quickly.

The information-technology sector stands out when it comes to issuing upbeat earnings outlooks.

This week's focus is the Fed's rate decision, with markets pricing in an 87% chance of a 25bps hike after strong inflation and payrolls data. Sticky inflation and 10-year Treasury yields near 5% are pressuring the Fed, but higher long-term yields may substitute for further rate hikes.

Calls to slow AI development may create near-term uncertainty for markets, but BMO Capital Markets' Jennifer Lee is on Bloomberg This Weekend and says the technology's infrastructure, investment and demand are unlikely to reverse course. She says concerns about jobs, data centers and profitability could temper the pace of growth, even as labor shortages and the push for automation keep AI's longer-term economic expansion intact.

The Fed faces mounting pressure to raise rates by 25 bps as inflation remains above the 2% target. Global central banks are already hiking rates.

Wage growth for workers has slowed and is struggling to keep pace with inflation. It is too soon to say whether AI is contributing to slower wage growth or putting pressure on workers' pay.

"I don't think the Fed should be hiking" in September, says Ted Thatcher on interest rates, arguing that a hike won't shape the inflation picture. A resolution or sharp cooldown in the U.S.-Iran war is what he believes will offer true relief.

Rollins is a resilient pest control rollup with 99 consecutive quarters of revenue growth, now trading at a more attractive valuation after a 47% price decline. I initiate a Buy rating, as ROL's durable business model and disciplined acquisition strategy support the potential for ~13% annual free cash flow growth, below its historical 15%. Recent headwinds include weaker residential lead generation and margin compression, but management notes improving lead volumes and maintains a 6%+ organic growth outlook for 2026.

Rising crop prices are making the current inflation problem bigger than just oil and the Iran war.

Wall Street heads into Fed week with Wednesday's interest-rate decision set to dominate trading, as investors await what would be the central bank's first rate increase of the current cycle.

Gulf states are weighing how to respond to Iran's push for a new arrangement governing the Strait of Hormuz as continued attacks threaten shipping and drive up energy costs. On Bloomberg This Weekend, Bloomberg News Middle East Reporter Dan Williams and Bloomberg News White House Correspondent Skylar Woodhouse discuss growing regional frustration with the conflict, pressure on US allies and signs Gulf governments may be looking for a larger role in shaping a path forward.

The Treasury secretary makes the argument that strong economic expansion is the antidote to climbing out of the deep debt hole.