Marketplace Morning Report

Iran attacked critical liquefied natural gas and oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, including a major source of gas for Europe. It was retaliating in response to Israeli strikes on a gas field that supplies a lot of Iran's domestic energy. This morning, we delve into what it means for the price of oil, precious metals, government bonds, and more. Plus, we learn how China’s entry into the World Trade Organization impacted local U.S. banks.

War continues to rage in the Middle East, and energy infrastructure is being targeted. The price of oil has surged to $115 a barrel, and gas in the U.S. is now averaging $3.88 a gallon — up almost a dollar from before the war. President Trump recently waived the Jones Act in an attempt to lower oil prices. Will it work? Also: what's next for the Federal Reserve, and where U.S.-China relations currently stand.

The supply chains of gold and precious gems are notoriously difficult to track. Human rights abuses and environmental devastation are often at the root of the work. This morning, we'll hear the story of one jeweler trying to change this by bringing women together from regions scarred by conflict to create a more ethical business model. But first: Microsoft is considering suing Amazon and OpenAI, and we look at what's behind a run on red yarn.

Why not report earnings twice a year? The Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing a proposal to eliminate the requirement for publicly traded companies to report quarterly earnings, according to The Wall Street Journal. It's a move that companies are cheering, but it also means less transparency for investors. Also on this morning's show: a preliminary deal between the WNBA and its players' union, and what older adults should keep in mind this tax season.

Two of the three major credit bureaus are dismissing a larger share of consumer complaints. At the same time, the Trump administration has attempted to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — the government watchdog agency established following the Great Recession. Today, we'll delve into what it means for consumer protections. Also, the price of a barrel of Brent crude is about 50% higher than it was a month ago. Where do things go from here?