Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) Iran hit a fully laden Kuwaiti oil tanker off Dubai in a drone attack, a sign it’s willing to escalate strikes on energy sites and infrastructure as the war drags on. Despite the attack, crude prices were steady in early trading, with US benchmark prices trading at about a $102 a barrel. That was partly because of a report in the Wall Street Journal saying US President Donald Trump is willing to wind down hostilities and pressure Tehran diplomatically to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
2) US gasoline climbed above an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since August 2022, one of the most visible measures of consumer pain in the world’s largest economy resulting from the war in Iran. The nationwide average retail price for regular unleaded gas rose to $4.018 a gallon on Monday, according to the American Automobile Association. Prices have surged by more than $1 since the start of the war, up from $2.98 on the day before the US and Israel launched attacks against Tehran.
3) Unilever Plc said talks to sell most of its food business to McCormick & Co. are advanced and a final deal could be announced later on Tuesday in a historic move that will transform both companies. The Anglo-Dutch maker of Hellmann’s mayonnaise will offload most of its food unit, excluding some parts like its operations in India, for $15.7 billion cash upfront and the rest in McCormick equity, according to a statement Tuesday.
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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.
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This episode is sponsored by Coinbase.
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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.

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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.
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