BUSINESS

A pernicious import tax on fertilizer is raising food prices and must go.

Suspending taxes may win votes — but the math doesn’t add up for drivers.

Wall Street was SOOOO excited on Tuesday. President Donald Trump said he could live with not taking over the Strait of Hormuz. And investors around the world celebrated. Celebrated is the only word for a gain of 1,125-point gain in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and a 3.8% gain in the Nasdaq Composite Index. Except that the futures markets for oil aren’t so bearish. Yet. And getting oil prices down is a big objective for the Trump White House.Related: Goldman Sachs resets oil-price bets as war rages onAs stock rise, crude oil slidesCrude oil in New York settled at $101.38 a barrel, down 1.5% on the day but was up to $102.34 early in the evening. Brent crude, the global benchmark, fell 27 cents to $103.97 at the close and was off another 22 cents to $103.75. Energy stocks mostly fell, but they recovered some of their early losses by the close. The Energy Select Sector SPDR exchange-traded fund recovered some of its early losses during the day and closed down 70 cents to $61.26 and was drifting lower in after hours trading. We’ll see how these market trend develop overnight and in the next few days. But the conclusion that may be drawn is there is skepticism things are about to wrap up. If it was over, oil prices would be falling much harder than they have so far. Brent crude is just 5.5% off its peak of March 9 and nowhere $72.87 a barrel, its close on Feb. 27, the day before the first missile and air attacks were launched on Iran. More Oil and Gas:The world’s biggest gas field matters just as much as oil right nowGoldman Sachs reveals top oil stocks to buy for 2026U.S. economy will show resilience, despite rising oil pricesMany are betting on high prices The options markets for oil suggest many traders see more upside on oil, Mandy Xu, head of derivatives market intelligence for CBOE, said during a CNBC appearance. And, she added, they’re betting oil prices will stay higher for a “rather prolonged” period of time.Not much news for motorists to cheer about. Yet.AAA put the national average price of gasoline at $4.18 a gallon, up 41% for the year. GasBuddy’s national average quote was $4.042, up 43% on the year. Related: Longtime oil analyst sends dire oil price messageConfusion reignsSo, do we really know what’s going on? Sort of. Here’s what we mean. The United States is not withdrawing from the Persian Gulf region. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a third U.S. aircraft carrier was on its way to the Gulf.China and Pakistan offered a five-point peace plan to end the fighting. End is the operative word. Neither the U.S. nor Israel nor Iran has reacted positively to it.President Trump told members of NATO they should commit forces to reopening the Strait of Hormuz because the United States might withdraw altogether. The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow body of water that links the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and the key military piece of the war. The war, ostensibly, is being waged to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons (a key Israeli goal) and gaining control over the oil-rich nations in and around the Gulf.About 20% of crude oil and maybe 20% of liquid natural gas normally passes through the strait every day. Most of it is headed to Asia, which is reeling from the shortages. Other products come out of the Persian Gulf region as well, including fertilizers used around the world. So, the situation is filled with drama, wild rhetoric and wilder confusion.No wonder that one sees military boats patrolling harbors all over the region.

The harbor at Muscat, Oman, with military board patrolling.

Security has been tightened even in Muscat, the capital of Oman, which is located on the outside of the Strait of Hormuz and, theoretically, less exposed to the violence.Since the war began, The Times of London noted, “Trump has been sending out a blizzard of conflicting messages: the war is won; it is not a war but an ‘excursion;’ Iran has ten more days to stop fighting and make a deal; shipping companies should ‘show some guts;’; Iran should ‘open up the Strait of Trump, I mean Hormuz;’ and ‘we don’t need it anyway.'”The report suggested the noise may really be a ploy to give the U.S. time to prepare for a ground invasion of Iran, maybe in the next week. Speculating on the warThe conflict is still an investable event, even if the major indexes ended March down about 5%. The risk is the volatility of the situation and whether you can stomach the .If you believe the war will end relatively soon and oil prices will come down, that’s good for something like an S&P 500 Index fund. State Street SPDR S&P 500 is down 4.6% for the year and 8.2% peaking in late January. It was up 2.9% in the big rally. Wait for the second bounce before buying.Technology should do better if only because geopolitics is weighing less on the sector.Total SE, the French oil giant, has made a speculation on Persian Gulf oil, buying up 70 cargoes of crude that it can sell later on much higher prices, perhaps as soon as the next few weeks, if the Strait of Hormuz opens up. A Euroworld report said the company is looking at a profit of perhaps $1 billion. Related: Costco shares key news on inflation beyond gas prices

The contracts are regulated by Brazil’s securities regulator and designed for professional investors with at least 10 million reais ($1.9 million) in assets.

Dorsey’s plan strips out middle management, with AI handling coordination, product decisions, and internal alignment.

Advanced metrics have moved the game forward, but at times their underpinnings aren’t very sturdy. Case in point – the Opening Day clash that gave Webb the FIP advantage.

Your day-ahead look for April 1, 2026

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealA simple console table is a furniture solution that can streamline multiple spaces within your home. By the front door, this narrow entryway table can serve as a go-to spot for your house keys, umbrella, or whatever else you need before heading out the door. In the living room, it’s the perfect height to place behind a couch as a sofa table, giving you a surface for an accent lamp or displaying family photos. It could also be put against the wall and used as an entertainment center with a television on top. Not all console tables are equal, and some have additional convenience with built-in storage and power strips, like the Laintene 3-Drawer Console Table, which is currently on clearance at Walmart. With 38% off its original $130 price tag, this console table is now discounted to only $80, which is a great deal given the furniture’s modern design and upgraded features. It even comes in your choice of a charming rustic brown, pictured below, or a solid and sleek black. We suggest that you add this affordable console table to your cart if you want it, as a third color option has already sold out. Laintene 3-Drawer Console Table, $80 (was $130) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?Featuring three fabric drawers and two rows of shelving underneath, this narrow console table measures 43.3 inches long, 11.8 inches wide, and 30.7 inches tall. The spacious drawers pull out smoothly and are great for hiding away clutter like charging cords and television remotes. Equipped with a power strip on the side, which includes two regular plugs and two USB ports, there’s no more rearranging the outlets when you need to charge your smartphone or tablet. The console table itself has a 4.9-foot power cord at the base, so you have more freedom when arranging the furniture in the room.Related: Walmart’s charming $112 wishing well planter is just $63, and it’s a magical addition to the yardConstructed with a steel frame, scratch-resistant medium-density fiberboard, and adjustable feet, this console table is stable. One shopper, who called the furniture “sturdy,” explained, “Although the drawers are fabric, there’s a board that stabilizes the bottoms.” In fact, the furniture is so durable that each fabric drawer can hold 20 pounds, the lower shelves can hold 40 pounds each, and most impressive of all, the tabletop has a weight capacity of 110 pounds, so it’s up to the task of holding heavy electronics or appliances. Details to know Dimensions: 43.3 inches long, 11.8 inches wide, and 30.7 inches tall.Color options: The black and brown console tables are both on sale for $80.Is assembly required?: Yes.It’s typical that furniture at this price point requires assembly. The manufacturer estimates that the assembly process should take around 20 minutes, and there’s also a video guide to make the process easier for those who are less handy. According to one shopper, “It was extremely easy to put together, and it looks amazing.”Shop more dealsNegylim Console Table and Charging Station, $103 (was $117) at WalmartGikpal Modern Console Table with Power Outlet, $80 (was $130) at WalmartHoobro Skinny Console Table with Power Outlet, $47 (was $60) at WalmartThe Laintene 3-Drawer Console Table is a great deal for just $80 while it’s on clearance at Walmart. You won’t want to wait to add this practical furniture to your home, as the two remaining colors could also sell out soon.

Nike reported quarterly results that were a bit better than Wall Street’s expectations, but investors still didn’t appear convinced of the sneaker giant’s turnaround efforts.

Alger Focus Equity Fund co-manager Patrick Kelly says investors should not lose sight of AI’s impact, with major secular trends in place.