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Each barrel of global crude rose about 8%, while gold prices fell by nearly $80 per ounce as tensions between the US and Iran intensified. At 7:00 a.m. on April 20, Brent crude rose 7% to near $97 a barrel. U.S. WTI crude rose 8% to $90. Global gold prices also fell by $76 to $4,753 per ounce. These developments reversed a trend from the end of last weekend as tensions in the Middle East heated up again. U.S. President Donald Trump on April 19 said the U.S. military fired upon an Iranian container ship in the Gulf of Oman, after which the vessel was detained. He said the ship tried to breach the U.S. naval blockade to access Iran's ports but failed. Earlier, Iran attacked an oil tanker in the Hormuz Strait on April 18. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on this tanker. Another container ship was also hit by an unidentified object, according to the UK's Maritime Coordination Centre. Trump continued to threaten to destroy all power plants and bridges in Iran if its leadership does not accept a deal with the United States. The ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran is expected to expire this week. He called Iran's weekend attacks on ships 'a complete violation' of the ceasefire. It remains unclear whether the U.S. and Iran will hold a second round of peace talks in Pakistan. Trump said the two sides planned to hold talks in Islamabad on April 20. However, Iran said it would not participate while the U.S. blockade remained in place and the two sides still have many other disagreements, according to Israel's IRNA. Mid-East tensions suddenly escalated over the weekend after the U.S. and Iran appeared to approach an agreement. Oil prices slid on April 17 after Iran unexpectedly announced a temporary opening of the Hormuz Strait to merchant ships, in response to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. However, Iran still maintained many restrictions on movement as before. Trump also did not lift the U.S. blockade of Iran's ports. Almost a day later, Tehran announced the closure of Hormuz.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
