Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) US and Israeli forces pressed ahead with attacks on Iran while the Islamic Republic launched missiles across the Persian Gulf, sending oil prices higher once again amid no sign of an imminent peace deal. The Israeli military said on Monday that it’s carrying out airstrikes on Iranian military targets a day after attacks resulted in power outages in the capital, Tehran, and nearby areas. The United Arab Emirates issued multiple alerts overnight and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reported strikes.2) Treasuries firmed, supporting US stocks, as fears that the war in the Middle East will trigger a sharp economic slowdown prompted traders to dial back bets on higher interest rates. Brent hit $116 a barrel.3) The Trump administration is planning to let a Russian oil tanker dock in Cuba, alleviating an energy crisis triggered when the US prohibited deliveries to the Communist regime.The shipment of crude is expected to be allowed to arrive in coming days, according to two people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified without permission to speak publicly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want to build a diversified portfolio, you need to assemble assets that respond to different return drivers. Digital assets can play a central role. For starters, cryptocurrencies like bitcoin behave differently than traditional equities or commodities, giving portfolios exposure to unique sources of risk and return. And within the crypto universe, you can find coins, protocols, and equities that all behave differently under different market conditions. By investing in a wide range of digital assets you can potentially both mitigate risk and improve returns.  This episode is sponsored by Coinbase.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomberg Daybreak Weekend with Host Nathan Hager take a look at some of the stories we'll be tracking in the coming week. In the US – a look ahead to the March jobs report in the U.S and a focus on 3 stocks for the week ahead. In the UK – a look ahead to the upcoming South Africa Investment Conference. In Asia – a look ahead to South Korea shareholder meetings.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) The Senate passed legislation early Friday to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, forging a path to end a lengthy partial government shutdown that snarled airport security and threatened to ripple through an economy already roiled by the Iran war. The bill, which must still pass the House and be signed by President Donald Trump, marks an abrupt reversal for Republicans, who had blocked similar proposals backed by Democrats to partially fund the department for weeks. The legislation passed the Senate by voice vote.2) President Donald Trump again pushed back his deadline for Iran to strike a deal with the US or face more attacks, saying talks with the country were going “very well.” Trump said he would extend by 10 days his pledge to refrain from attacks on Iranian energy sites, his second extension since Saturday’s threat to eviscerate Iran’s power plants in the absence of a deal.3) Anthropic PBC is considering going public as soon as in October, according to people familiar with the matter, as the artificial intelligence company races with rival OpenAI Inc. to hold an initial public offering.The maker of the popular Claude chatbot has had early discussions with Wall Street banks about taking leading roles on a potential listing, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) The White House has insisted that peace talks with Iran are ongoing, even as Tehran publicly rejected US overtures and issued fresh conditions of its own to end the conflict that’s wreaked havoc across the Middle East and global markets. President Trump claimed Iran was desperate to make a deal to end the nearly month-long hostilities. “They want to make a deal so badly, but they’re afraid to say it,” Trump told congressional Republicans Wednesday night in Washington. The comments ran counter to Iran’s earlier statements through state-run media publicly rejecting Trump’s push for talks. Tehran is also seeking its own guarantees, including that the US and Israel won’t resume their attacks, reparations for war damages and recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, according to state-owned Press TV.2) Ticket prices on major routes connecting Asia and Europe have surged up to 560% this month and are likely to stay elevated through the summer and into fall as war-related disruptions ripple through the Persian Gulf, the world’s busiest transit corridor, according to Alton Aviation Consultancy. For June travel, fares across seven popular Asia-Pacific to Europe routes are averaging about 70% higher than a year ago, based on Alton’s analysis of data from analytics firm Cirium and online travel agencies. A Sydney-to-London ticket now averages more than $1,500, roughly double last year’s price. Fares include direct and one-stop flights, as well as transits through Gulf airports. Prices are expected to remain about 30% above last year’s levels even as far out as October.3) Officials in Germany have started mapping vulnerabilities in US supply chains to identify points where Germany and its European Union partners could apply pressure, according to people familiar with the effort. Their goal is to create a consensus among EU nations on how they can use their leverage, if and when they get drawn into another dispute with the White House. The initial findings suggest ways to target the massive US tech firms with close ties to the White House, the officials said. Other options could aim for the AI investment boom that has helped to drive US stocks to record highs this year or push up drug prices for American voters, an issue the president has already shown he’s sensitive to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.