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Pakistan Petroleum Minister: Increase diesel price to 520.35 rupees per liter.

Pakistan Petroleum Minister: Increase gasoline price to 458.40 rupees per liter.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Karas: Iran cannot be allowed to collect tolls from various countries.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Callas: We support the United Nations’ efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor in the Strait of Hormuz to transport food and fertilizer.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Karas: EU Naval Operation Aspides must be expanded. We cannot afford to lose another key trade route.

[The Saudi Public Investment Fund is considering subscribing for $5 billion in shares in the SpaceX IPO] According to two people familiar with the matter, SpaceX has held discussions with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) about the fund potentially subscribing for a major stake in its IPO for about $5 billion. According to relevant sources, this investment will be able to avoid the dilution of less than 1% of SpaceX shares currently held by PIF to a certain extent. Three other sources said SpaceX had begun actively looking for major investors before going public and planned to raise $75 billion. This amount would exceed previous large initial public offerings, such as Saudi Aramco in 2019 and Alibaba in 2014. SpaceX is trying to gauge investor interest in a deal of unprecedented scale, the sources said. No final decision has been made and any investment is subject to change.

JPMorgan Chase: The basic assumption is that the Strait shipping disruption will eventually be resolved, and oil prices are expected to remain high (above $100 per barrel) in the second quarter and fall back in the second half of 2026.

JPMorgan Chase: The near-term risk is that oil prices are pushed to the range of $120 to $130 per barrel.

[ECB Governing Council Member Villeroy: The European Central Bank may raise interest rates next, but the timing is unclear] European Central Bank Governing Council Member Villeroy said on Thursday that as the conflict in the Middle East continues, the European Central Bank's next move is likely to be to raise interest rates, but it is too early to determine when an interest rate increase will be necessary. The European Central Bank last month kept its key interest rate unchanged at 2% but outlined several ways in which developments in the conflict could affect the euro zone's economic outlook. Under the adverse scenario, disruptions to oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will continue until the end of the second quarter and energy prices will remain high. In this case, ECB economists predict that inflation will average 3.5% this year, well above its 2% target. Villeroy said: "A prolongation of the conflict is clearly a negative factor. We are closer to the moderate adverse scenario than the baseline scenario. The ECB must remain vigilant amid signs that inflation expectations are already rising."

[Russian Foreign Minister had a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister, emphasizing the peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Middle East as soon as possible] The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on April 2, local time, that Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal had a phone call that day. Both sides expressed serious concern about the continued deterioration of the military and political situation in the Persian Gulf region. Both sides stressed the need to end military confrontations as soon as possible, which have resulted in civilian casualties and serious damage to civilian infrastructure, including to countries that are not direct participants in the military conflict. Both sides confirmed that they must step up political and diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve the crisis in the Middle East in accordance with international law and taking into account the legitimate interests of all countries in the region. In this context, both sides expressed their firm commitment to maintaining close foreign policy coordination between Russia and Saudi Arabia, especially within the framework of the United Nations.

[Larijani’s brother: The Strait of Hormuz will not return to its pre-war status] Sadiq Larijani, chairman of Iran’s National Interest Committee and brother of the late Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, posted on social media on the 2nd that the United States had better avoid taking futile actions and that the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its pre-war status. He wrote: "The evolution of the regional situation has gone beyond the scope of traditional war and is entering a critical moment for the reconstruction of global order and the reshaping of the balance of power." Sadiq Larijani said that Iran's current counterattack is not only at the strategic level, but also a battle for survival to ensure that its civilization is not destroyed. (Xinhua News Agency)

According to TASS news agency: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz with his Iranian counterpart.

According to TASS news agency: Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov had a phone call with his Iranian counterpart.

[Baker Hughes said U.S. drillers added oil and gas rigs for the first time in three weeks] U.S. energy companies increased the number of oil and gas rigs this week for the first time in three weeks, energy services company Baker Hughes said on Thursday. In an early indicator of future production, the number of oil and gas rigs increased by five in the week to April 2 to 548. Baker Hughes said that despite the increase in the number of rigs this week, the total number of rigs was still 42 less than the same period last year, a decrease of 7.1%. Baker Hughes said oil rigs increased by two this week, reaching 411; natural gas rigs increased by three, reaching 130. The oil and gas rig count will fall by about 7% in 2025, 5% in 2024 and 20% in 2023, as falling U.S. oil prices prompt energy companies to focus more on improving shareholder returns and paying down debt rather than increasing production.

[Amazon imposes 3.5% fuel surcharge on many online merchants] Amazon (AMZN.O) will begin charging a 3.5% "fuel and logistics" surcharge to sellers using its delivery services later this month, joining a number of logistics companies that have raised delivery fees as oil prices rise due to the Iran war. For Fulfillment by Amazon customers, these fees will go into effect on April 17 in the United States and Canada. Starting May 2, Amazon will charge a surcharge for items shipped by merchants who sell items on its own website or at other retailers. An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday: "Rising fuel and logistics costs have led to increased operating costs across the industry. We have absorbed these cost increases to date, but like other major logistics companies, when costs remain high, we will implement temporary surcharges to partially cover these costs." More than 60% of the products on Amazon's platform are sold by independent merchants, who pay Amazon sales commissions as well as warehouse storage and delivery fees. The additional fee shows that Amazon is able to use its marketplace model to pass rising costs onto merchants rather than consumers.

The Fed accepted a total of $327 million from three counterparties in fixed-rate reverse repurchase operations.

Market News: Amazon (AMZN.O) imposes a 3.5% fuel surcharge on many online merchants.

Oil services Baker Hughes: U.S. drilling companies increased the number of oil and natural gas rigs for the first time in three weeks.

According to CNN: US President Trump fired Pam Bondi from her position as US Attorney General.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission said it is suing Arizona over its move to regulate prediction markets.