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US Equity Markets Close Lower as Escalating Middle East Tensions Lift Oil Prices

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US equity indexes ended lower Wednesday as US-Iran tensions continued to escalate, boosting crude oil prices.

* The US will destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant, including those in and around Tehran, every time it attacks ships in the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said in a social media post. In a post on X, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, "Our defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye."

* The probability of the Federal Reserve raising the policy rate for July increased to 33.7% from 10.7% a week ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

* August West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $2.24 to settle at $86.62 per barrel, while September Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $2.88 at $93.92.

* Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares rose 20%, the top gainer on the S&P 500, a day after the company said it expects fiscal Q4 GAAP and non-GAAP gross margins in the range of 15% to 17%, above its 8.2% to 8.4% forecast.

* Space Exploration Technologies' (SPCX) SpaceXAI unit is exploring several potential sites in Texas for at least one new large-scale data center, The Information reported. The stock fell 6.7%, the biggest drop on the Nasdaq.

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