GoKawiilThis is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox. Good morning. We're minutes away from the release of February's personal consumption expenditures price index. Watch CNBC live for the numbers and analysis. Stock futures are lower this morning. All three major averages posted major gains yesterday. Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:
1. Murky waters
US President Donald Trump during a prime-time address to the nation in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Alex Brandon | Getty Images
The Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded its best day in a year yesterday, closing more than 1,300 points higher, even despite Iran's accusation that the U.S. breached the countries' ceasefire agreement. Here's what to know: In a statement posted on social media, Iran's parliamentary speaker said Israeli attacks on Lebanon, a drone's entry into Iranian airspace and the denial of Iran's right to enrich uranium all amounted to violations of the ceasefire deal.
Iran state media, meanwhile, reported that oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — the opening of which was a key condition of the ceasefire agreement — was halted following Israel's strikes in Lebanon.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied those reports: "We have seen an uptick of traffic in the strait today," she told reporters Wednesday.
U.S. oil prices are back higher this morning after seeing their biggest one-day drop since 2020 yesterday. Brent crude futures are also on the rise as the ceasefire hangs in the balance.
Follow live market updates here.
2. DenAIed
The Anthropic logo appears on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration, as the AI firm files lawsuits against the United States Department of Defense after the Pentagon moves to blacklist the company following disagreements over safeguards limiting the use of its AI systems for surveillance and autonomous weapons. Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images
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