Welcome into Retail Edge — I’m Michele Steele with Tom Bruni. This week the market is focused on instability in the Middle East, an extended-war outlook, U.S. forces being added, and the Strait of Hormuz, a critical choke point where 20% of the world’s oil supply passes. What we cover: Asset class reaction: USD, crude, natural gas, precious metals, stocks, and the crypto “wild card” Energy trade: why exploration & production names can act like leveraged oil bets, vs “set-it-and-forget-it” integrated majors Natural gas exporters: LNG disruption risk and why names like Cheniere and Sempra get attention Shipping split: why tankers can catch a tailwind in a Hormuz disruption while container names face a murkier macro outlook Defense trade: the shift from $100M jets to $100K drones—plus the AI software and components behind them The losers: airlines, cruises, and fuel-sensitive names—and what happens if oil stays elevated long enough to hit consumer confidence Drop a comment: are you trading this as a short-term headline spike, or positioning for a longer-duration shift in energy, shipping, and defense? Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this show are solely the opinions of the hosts’ and guests’ and do not reflect the opinions of Stocktwits, Inc. or its affiliates. The hosts are not SEC or FINRA registered advisors or professionals. The content of this show is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor before making any investment decision. Read the full terms & conditions here: https://stocktwits.com/about/legal/terms/ Chapters / Timestamps 00:12 - Middle East escalation + Strait of Hormuz focus (20% of world oil supply) 00:49 - What moved first: USD, crude, nat gas, precious metals, stocks, crypto 01:54 - “Sell the news” reversals + which moves might stick 02:13 - Energy deep dive: why E&P names are the high-beta oil trade 03:08 - Small-cap E&P volatility: INDO + BATL spike example 03:25 - Midstream vs services vs integrated majors (Exxon/Chevron) 04:26 - Natural gas exporters + LNG disruption angle (Qatar) 05:25 - Profit-taking risk vs buying pullbacks (E&P vs integrated) 06:19 - Shipping: tanker traffic collapse + why not all shipping is equal 06:51 - Tankers: route length, rates, and structural capacity deficit 07:41 - Containers (ZIM/Maersk) vs dry bulk “middle ground” 09:15 - Defense: drones + AI OS vs legacy hardware 10:05 - Drone stack: AVAV / KTOS / Red Cat + bans and replacements 11:33 - Defense tech + counter-drone components (Palantir/L3Harris + others) 12:23 - Drone batteries angle (Amprius CES convo) 13:50 - The losers: airlines, cruises, fuel-sensitive margins 14:20 - Inflation + consumer confidence + discretionary risk 15:32 - Wrap: keep it locked on Stocktwits