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Today we're covering how the Iran-Israel conflict affects you, the “buy now pay later” problem, and the secret to investing like the Oracle of Omaha.

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Oil markets surged after the U.S. bombed Iran's nuclear infrastructure, with investors analyzing potential Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway carries roughly 20% of global petroleum through its 20-mile width. Oil prices could reach triple digits if Iran blocks the strategic shipping route.

America's fracking revolution provides an economic buffer against Middle East disruptions. U.S. oil production can increase rapidly within months, unlike conventional wells requiring years. The nation shifted from importing 14 barrels per capita in 2003 to exporting 2.5 barrels per capita today through hydraulic fracturing technology improvements (world economy embraces for impact).

U.S.-based oil exploration stocks rallied 9% since diplomatic staff evacuated the region earlier this month. Iran remains capable of attacking neighboring facilities beyond strait closure, experts cautioned. The fracking industry's quick response capability may limit broader economic panic, though immediate supply replacement remains challenging. As of now, U.S. frackers see no reason to pump more oil.

President Trump announced Monday that Israel and Iran have “fully agreed” to a complete ceasefire beginning six hours later. The announcement came via Truth Social at 6 p.m. EDT, with Trump stating Iran would stop fighting first, followed by Israel within 24 hours. The proclamation followed U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend (what’s Truth Social?)

Trump dubbed the conflict "the 12 day war" and expressed confidence the ceasefire would hold. He did not outline negotiation details or which countries facilitated talks between the adversaries. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the announcement, while strikes inside Iran continued Monday.

An Iranian official told CNN they received no ceasefire proposal and would continue fighting. "Iran is on the verge of intensifying its retaliatory strikes," the official said. Trump warned the conflict could have destroyed the entire Middle East but praised both nations for ending hostilities before escalation. See the conflict on a map.

FICO announced plans to launch new credit scores this fall incorporating Buy Now, Pay Later loan data for the first time. The FICO Score 10 and FICO Score 10 T models will track consumer repayment behavior on installment loans previously invisible to credit agencies. Major lenders requested the change to address BNPL's "phantom debt" problem affecting credit decisions.

BNPL loans have surged in popularity among younger consumers seeking flexible payment options for purchases ranging from clothes to groceries. A Bankrate survey found nearly half of users experienced problems, with overspending topping concerns. The largely unregulated industry doesn't require providers to report activity to credit bureaus, creating data blind spots (read more about credit score basics).

The rollout may progress slowly due to credit industry complexity. Most lenders still use FICO Score 8 from 2009 rather than newer models. FICO developed novel scoring approaches after studying with Affirm, aggregating multiple BNPL accounts to avoid over-penalizing frequent account openings typical with installment loans. Here are 8 companies who run BNPL.

Warren Buffett's framework: Ignore market noise, focus on business fundamentals.

The Oracle of Omaha discovered that watching stock prices daily guarantees poor decisions—studying business quality guarantees wealth. After early losses from trading on tips, Buffett stopped checking ticker symbols and started analyzing balance sheets. His investment philosophy demanded understanding every detail of a company's operations while ignoring short-term market fluctuations entirely.

The breakthrough: compound interest works when you stop interrupting it. Buffett turned modest savings into billions by focusing on businesses he understood rather than hot stock tips. Patient analysis beats emotional reactions to market swings. His wealth grew because he perfected research while competitors chased momentum.

Why this matters: Most investors fail because they react to price movements instead of understanding the businesses behind the stocks. Read his shareholder letters here. Stream the documentary on Max.

Jeff Bezos' meeting principle that saved Amazon billions: if two pizzas can't feed your meeting, it's too big. Bezos discovered that teams obsessing over inclusion miss the productivity killer: communication overhead that grows exponentially with group size. His rule: cap meetings at 6-8 people maximum, where everyone can actually contribute meaningfully. This isn't about excluding people, but creating something more effective than corporate theater. The rule forces hard choices about who truly needs to be there versus who just wants to feel important (More).

> 12 House Democratic veterans support war powers resolution requiring congressional approval for Iran strikes (More).

> Celebrity lawyers tout $150M #MeToo verdicts against billionaire, but clients collect almost nothing (More).

> New York launches first major US nuclear plant project in two decades with one gigawatt capacity (More).

> Fervo adapts oil drilling technology to unlock deeper geothermal energy reserves using horizontal drilling (More).

> Thunder beat Pacers 103-91 in NBA Finals Game 7 after Tyrese Haliburton tears Achilles; could be out for the 2026 season (More).

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