Energy Stocks Slide as US-Iran Deal Eases Oil Supply Concerns
Shares of $XOM ExxonMobil and $OXYOccidental Petroleum dipped notably on Thursday following the announcement of a US-Iran interim agreement that lifts sanctions on Tehran and reopens the Strait of Hormuz. This development removed a key geopolitical risk premium that had buoyed oil prices for months, causing WTI crude futures to drop to their lowest levels since early March. $XOM fell 2.7% while $OXY declined 3.2%, reflecting investor anticipation of increased Iranian oil supply entering the market and a shift from energy sector defensive positioning toward growth sectors. Despite the pullback, $OXYremains up over 21% year-to-date, though still trading well below its 52-week highs. The easing of Middle East tensions signals a potential shift from supply deficits to surpluses, prompting a rotation away from energy stocks that had benefited from conflict-driven price spikes.
Semiconductor Stocks Rally on Apple-Intel Chipmaking Deal and Positive Outlook
After President Trump announced that Apple will collaborate with Intel to design and manufacture chips domestically, semiconductor stocks surged in after-hours trading. $WDC Western Digital jumped 7.2%, $FORM FormFactor rose 6.4%, and $VSH Vishay Intertechnology soared 9.5%, buoyed by renewed investor confidence in the chip sector’s growth prospects. This deal serves as a crucial validation for Intel’s foundry ambitions and helped lift the entire industry’s sentiment, supported further by analyst upgrades and price target hikes for memory stocks like Micron. Meanwhile, $QCOM Qualcomm climbed 4.7%, benefiting from the same positive momentum and growing optimism around its AI-focused data center products. Despite recent volatility and sector-wide concerns about crowded trades, these moves highlight the market’s responsiveness to strategic partnerships and easing macro pressures, including the recent US-Iran ceasefire that helped lower inflation fears.
Talen Energy Gains After Goldman Sachs Initiates Buy on Power Grid Tightness
$TLN Talen Energy shares jumped 5.5% following Goldman Sachs’ initiation of coverage with a Buy rating and a $499 price target. The firm highlighted structural supply-demand imbalances in the PJM regional power grid, which serves a large portion of US data centers and has seen rising power prices due to plant retirements and slow new builds. Talen’s long-term power purchase agreement with Amazon Web Services and near-total exposure to PJM position it well to capitalize on these tightening fundamentals. In contrast, Goldman started coverage on $CEGConstellation Energy with a Neutral rating, citing its premium valuation as already reflecting key growth factors.
ETF Monthly Distributions Announced by Xtrackers Funds
Several Xtrackers ETFs declared their monthly dividends payable June 26 for shareholders of record June 18. $KOKUXtrackers MSCI Kokusai Equity ETF announced a distribution of $0.6812 with a 30-day SEC yield of 1.33%. $USSGXtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF declared $0.2143 per share with a 1.03% yield, and $QARP Xtrackers Russell 1000 US Quality at a Reasonable Price ETF set a payout of $0.1750, yielding 1.02%. These steady distributions reflect the ETFs’ ongoing income generation amid current market conditions.
Monarch Casino’s $MCRI Atlantis Brand Campaign Wins Multiple National Awards
Monarch Casino & Resort’s $MCRIAtlantis Casino Resort Spa earned top honors from the Hermes Creative Awards and Viddy Awards for its 2025 “Once Is All It Takes” integrated brand campaign. The campaign, which highlights Atlantis’ premier hospitality and entertainment offerings in Northern Nevada, won multiple Platinum and Gold awards across branding, advertising, and digital marketing categories. These accolades underscore the campaign’s creative excellence and effectiveness in reinforcing Atlantis’ position as a leading resort destination.
Kroger Reports Solid Q1 Growth Fueled by eCommerce and Media Profitability
$KR The Kroger Co posted a 1% identical sales growth excluding fuel, driven by a 19% surge in eCommerce led by delivery services. The company achieved profitability in its eCommerce and media businesses for the first time, with Kroger Precision Marketing growing over 20%. Adjusted EPS rose 6% to $1.58, supported by strong cost savings and pricing investments. However, rising operating costs, transportation expenses, and pharmacy segment challenges pose ongoing margin pressures. CEO Gregory Foran highlighted efforts to close execution gaps across stores and emphasized the higher spending of omnichannel customers, signaling Kroger’s focus on integrated growth strategies.
U.S. markets are currently closed and will reopen on Monday, June 22nd, 2026 at 9:30 AM ET. After-hours trading continues until 8:00 PM ET today.
Did you know?
The stock market has historically shown stronger average returns in the months following major geopolitical tensions easing, as reduced uncertainty often encourages investor confidence and risk-taking.
Disclaimer
This content is for entertainment and discussion purposes only. It is based on publicly available headlines and social media commentary, which can be messy and ever-evolving. We are not financial advisors, and this is not investment advice. The publisher may hold positions in securities mentioned. We aim to keep things accurate—if you catch something off, please let us know.
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June 18, 2026 @ 4:23 pm
U.S. Stock Market is closed tomorrow for Juneteenth.
Next upcoming closed day is Friday, July 3rd, which will be when Independence Day is observed.
Happy 3 Day Weekend!