Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees, but I don't really need it.

Infliction is killing me!

But who cares? Big retailers are making record profits!

That's why we support the Durban Marshall Credit Card Bill!

See? Banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll.

This bill would cut the vital resources they need.

While increasing megastore profits, they deserve it. Don't they? Tell Congress, stop the Durban Marshall money grab for corporate megastores. Paid for it by the Electronic Payments Coalition.

Here's your morning brief for Thursday, March 12th. I'm Daniel Bach for the Wall Street Journal.

The crisis around the Strait of Hormuz continues to escalate, with the price of oil briefly reaching $100 a barrel overnight.

Yesterday, Iran attacked three cargo ships in the waterway, and port officials in Iraq said overnight that two further oil vessels were on fire in Iraqi waters after being hit by projectiles.

At the same time, Iranian media reports that Houthi rebels in Yemen could join the fight against the U.S. and its allies

and could force the closure of a narrow passage at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, a major choke point which allows ships to access

the Suez Canal via the Red Sea. The Trump administration has announced investigations aimed

at levying new tariffs to replace the duties the Supreme Court deemed illegal. One probe targets

industrial overcapacity from export-reliant countries, while the other probe is expected to

investigate forced labor regulations. The investigations are being initiated under Section 301 of the Trade Act,

which allows the president to levy tariffs against nations that discriminate against U.S. companies

or commerce. Meanwhile, Costco is being sued by a shopper seeking refunds for price

hikes linked to the now unlawful tariffs. While a company spokesperson declined to comment on the

suit, its CEO has previously signaled that any refunds the company receives would be passed

to members through lower prices in the future rather than direct payments. Asian stock markets ended the day mostly lower.

European stocks are following suit,

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