It is a big week for potentially market-shaking geopolitical news. Oil prices, the war in Iran, tariffs and AI are among the issues simmering beneath the U.N. General Assembly in New York City and Wednesday's Chinese state visit to Washington.
Here's what is moving markets today:
Oil continues to slip: Saudi Arabia is running tests on its East-West Pipeline, an encouraging sign that route could resume crude exports within days. The pipeline, which was damaged in attacks earlier this month, was a major workaround for stifled tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude is hovering around $100 a barrel.
AI rally: AI stocks are in the green today after pushing the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index up 2.3% to a record high Monday. Investors rallied behind Meta's Muse, the company's new AI assistant, and took data-center developers and chipmakers along for the ride.
All eyes on geopolitics: President Trump on Tuesday defended his "America First" agenda in front of the U.N., offering another glimpse into how he is repackaging his foreign-policy interventions as wins ahead of the November midterms. Chinese leader Xi Jinping will arrive at the White House tomorrow, where Iran, AI, tariffs and Taiwan are expected to be the biggest issues on the table.