Weekly Wrap: JD Vance Hosts Co-op

Welcome to Friday! It’s that time again—let’s take a moment to look back at the news from the past week. It’s clear we’re on Earth, where the chance to invest in companies with aspirations of leading humanity into the future is finally here.

This week, we have a new feature called “Score.” It offers a snapshot of shifts in stocks, bonds, and certain sectors, giving us insight into how the financial markets perceive the current economy.

Let’s dive in.

Markets Pin Hopes on Iran Deal

Sometimes, it seems like the stock and oil markets are just part of a Market for Peace in Iran. When there’s a glimmer of hope for peace, stock prices climb, and oil prices drop. Conversely, when hostilities ramp up, stocks fall and oil prices rise. It’s been a repetitive cycle for months.

However, this time might be a bit different. We often hear the phrase, “The most dangerous word in finance.” Not this time. Reports indicate there are details being hashed out, such as opening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing concerns over nuclear capabilities, while also talking about troop withdrawals and ending sanctions. There’s talk of a potential agreement being signed in Switzerland soon, though some officials caution this may be premature speculation.

One hurdle appears to be Iran’s demand for significant financial aid for reconstruction and unfreezing its assets. The U.S. is hesitant to provide funds unless there’s tangible progress on security. Iran, understandably, probably doesn’t want to wait for that.

There’s still resistance from a pro-war faction in the U.S. that doesn’t appear ready to back down just yet. Both sides seem to feel that a little more fighting will tip the scales in their favor. It raises a question, reminiscent of what Patsy Cline once sang: “After everything that’s happened, how can I still just be friends?”

Trump’s Secret Oil Mission

In a surprising development, analysts suggest that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, oil prices could surge towards $200 per barrel. Currently, they’ve stabilized around $100 since the conflict started.

Up until now, analysts thought that China has limited its imports, leaning on its vast strategic reserves. But, this explanation feels a bit too convenient, as China often becomes the go-to explanation for various market mysteries.

Then, on Wednesday, President Trump announced during a televised address that the U.S. had successfully transported 100 million barrels of oil from the Persian Gulf. He provided additional details on Truth Social.

“Last month, I ordered our military to conduct a secret operation to assist oil tankers and other ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Today, I’m pleased to reveal this operation has successfully facilitated over 100 million barrels to the market. More than 200 vessels have navigated the Strait safely. This effort underscores that the U.S. governs the Strait of Hormuz, not Iran. When military forces falter, economies suffer,” he stated.

Score

stock +0.1%, king dollar -0.2%, 10-year treasury 4.55% (0 bps), 3M Ministry of Finance 3.79% (+1 bp), investment grade bonds: +0.8%, high yield bonds +0.6%, gold -5.7%, copper +1.9%, Bitcoin +4.3%, oil -3.1%, gasoline -2.7%, future +1.3%, factory +0.7%, war +2.9%, A.I. +2.3%.

The Score is basically a weekly snapshot, reflecting what the markets think of our world without just zeroing in on stocks and bonds. We aim to cover different indices that capture key assets relevant to our audience, and we might add or remove elements as needed. Your input on specific assets or indices to focus on is always welcome.

Apologies for the lengthy explanation, but I promise I’m not going to repeat it each week. If you’re ever curious about what any part of “The Score” means, feel free to save it for reference.

JD Vance’s Chicken Adventure

JD Vance has set up a chicken coop at the Naval Observatory, introducing 12 chicks that are housed in a structure modeled after the Vice President’s Victorian-style home.

This coop was custom-made and donated by Carolina Coops, a popular North Carolina company. Vance, perhaps unknowingly, is stepping into the role of a chicken influencer.

I have to admit, I’m a bit behind on the whole chicken trend. Egg prices soared to $6.27 in March 2025 but have since dropped to $2.19. While feed prices have risen, some opportunities remain in the egg market.

Inflation Trends

It’s concerning to see the year-over-year change in the Consumer Price Index starting with a 4. That’s certainly not ideal for a government that somewhat campaigned on reducing inflation caused by a previous administration.

There was some encouraging news in this month’s CPI report. The monthly rate of price increase has slowed from 0.6% to 0.5%, and core inflation has dropped from 0.4% to 0.2%. This suggests that fewer items saw price hikes in May compared to April, with inflation primarily driven by energy and related services like airfare. Prices for core goods have decreased, and both the median and trimmed average CPI fell on a monthly basis.

People have taken notice. A recent University of Michigan survey showed that inflation expectations one year out fell to 4.6% in early June from 4.8% in May, while long-term inflation expectations decreased from 3.9% to 3.4%.

SpaceX Stock Performance

The opening price for SpaceX stock was $150 on Friday, an 11% increase over its IPO price of $135. By midday, shares were trading above $160, giving the company a market cap of around $1.76 trillion. After today’s increase, that valuation has jumped to about $2.1 trillion, with $75 billion raised from selling 555,555,555 shares.

Now, check out these numbers: 135, 1.76, 2.1, 555.

It’s curious how numbers connect. NASA had 135 missions during its shuttle program, which lasted over 30 years, concluding with mission STS-135 in 2011. The number 555 represents the wavelength in nanometers at which our eyes perceive brightness. Speaking of brightness, 17.6 minutes is roughly the travel time to Mars, which currently takes about 1 minute per 100 billion $ valuation of SpaceX. If you were to lay down 2.1 trillion $1 bills end to end, they would stretch about 200 million miles into space, roughly the distance between Earth and Mars as of June 12.

BBD History: Reagan’s Call

On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg Gate, calling for freedom for those held captive in East Germany, symbolically challenging all who suffered under communism.

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Reagan urged.

This statement has had lasting significance, revealing the inherent weaknesses of communism. A free society does not imprison its citizens. The flaws of a command economy eventually become evident through restrictions on freedom, prices, property, and even human potential.