Iran just mined the world's most important oil route — load up on energy and defense stocks before prices catch up
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress that Iran has placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global oil supplies. At the same time, European defense contractor Rheinmetall just landed a massive $6.7 billion weapons deal with Romania to help bolster NATO's eastern border.
Idea
Iran mining the Strait of Hormuz is a direct threat to the world's most important oil shipping route — roughly 20% of global oil passes through there. Any real disruption or even the fear of one tends to send oil prices spiking, which lifts energy stocks quickly. At the same time, NATO countries are scrambling to beef up their defenses, as shown by Rheinmetall's new $6.7 billion Romanian contract. When geopolitical tensions flare this dramatically, both oil companies and defense contractors tend to move together as markets price in higher military spending and tighter energy supplies.