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Last updated: June 21, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Geopolitics & Markets

U.S. stock futures slipped 0.8% and oil prices climbed over 2% as renewed threats from President Donald Trump to strike Iran overshadowed initial peace talks between Washington and Tehran. The potential for further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit route, fueled modest gains in crude benchmarks amid uncertainty. The pound also saw pressure, slipping against the dollar on speculation surrounding potential political shifts.

Latin American Politics

Conservative attorney Abelardo de la Espriella appeared poised for a victory in Colombia’s presidential runoff election, with early results showing him in the lead. A win for the rightist candidate, who has no prior political experience, would signal a significant shift away from the country's leftist movements and represent another gain for the right in Latin America following preliminary outcomes.

Currency Markets

The Singapore dollar is expected to strengthen against the U.S. dollar in the second half of the year, defying expectations of continued greenback strength driven by a hawkish Federal Reserve. Strategists anticipate that underlying economic factors will support the Asian currency, even as U.S. monetary policy continues to tighten.