March 11 Member Morning Report: The US Raises Oil Price Forecast Again for This Year, and the Strait of Hormuz Passage Becomes a "Rashomon"

[U.S. Raises Oil Price Forecast Again] The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has significantly increased its short-term energy outlook, projecting Brent crude oil prices at $79 per barrel in 2026 (previously estimated at $58 per barrel).

[Strait of Hormuz Passage Sparks “Rashomon”] Iran and the White House both deny that the U.S. Navy escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, contradicting earlier statements by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wight on X platform. The post was quickly deleted but still caused oil prices to fall. Brent crude, the global benchmark, briefly dropped below $80 per barrel and continued its decline since President Trump’s comments on Iran on Monday.

[Iran Says It Won’t Trust Any U.S. Promises] Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bagheri stated that Iran and the U.S. have held two negotiations in the past year or two, but each time the U.S. launched attacks during negotiations. Therefore, Iran does not trust any U.S. promises. Currently, Iran’s main focus is on safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial security. On the 10th, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement saying Iran launched multiple missiles including “Qadr,” “Emad,” “Fateh,” and deployed the “Habar” hypersonic missile, marking a new phase in military actions against the U.S. and Israel.

[Akemann to “Succeed” Buffett] Bill Ackman has filed to list a new closed-end fund called Pershing Square USA on the New York Stock Exchange. Under the dual listing arrangement, investors will also receive shares of Ackman’s parent company. The IPO aims to raise $5 billion to $10 billion. This plan again reflects Ackman’s long-standing ambition to create a “modern Berkshire Hathaway,” replicating Warren Buffett’s financial empire, though his previous attempts have not been smooth.

[Meta to Acquire AI Agent Company] Meta announced it will acquire Moltbook, a social network platform for AI agents that went viral online after its launch in January. Meta did not disclose the specific acquisition amount. According to the deal, the two co-founders of Moltbook will also join Meta’s “Superintelligence Lab.”