Oil prices spiked to six-week highs after U.S.-Iran clashes, pushing Brent crude past $99. The ripple effect? U.S. stocks fell; Dow dropped 511 points; as investors worry surging energy costs could reignite inflation, forcing the Fed to hold rates higher for longer. Meanwhile, U.S.-Canada trade tensions flared up, with Ottawa slapping 50% tariffs on $20B worth of American goods. Tech stocks offered a glimmer of hope; Nvidia, Intel, and Broadcom all rose ahead of earnings. All eyes are now on Friday’s CPI report. If inflation doesn’t cool, markets may brace for more pain. Bottom line: global jitters are back; and they’re hitting portfolios faster than expected.