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 by the Electronic Payments Coalition.

Here is your morning brief for Thursday, March 19th. I'm Luke Vargas for the Wall Street Journal.

Iran is dialing up its attacks on Gulf energy facilities, a day after Israel struck a vital

Iranian gas field. Qatar is reporting extensive damage to a major gas hub. Kuwait says that two

of its refineries are ablaze after drone attacks,

and a Saudi official says that a refinery outside of the capital, Riyadh, was hit by ballistic

missiles late yesterday, generating a massive fireball. Following the attacks, Brent crude futures

are sitting north of $116 a barrel, an 8% jump. U.S. gasoline prices climbed a further 4 cents overnight,

according to AAA, and European natural gas prices have surged more than 20% as traders assess that

the war has entered anew, an even more volatile phase.

Shares of memory chipmaker Micron are down off hours, despite the company reporting a near-tripling in Q2 sales compared to last year, with demand outpacing supply.

High prices for memory and squeezed supply have been a hot topic of conversation across the tech sector as companies scramble to stay ahead in the AI race.

Analysts are expecting memory shortages to persist through 2027. And the Bank of Japan held interest rate steady

today, noting the possibility that higher energy costs could accelerate underlying inflation.

The Bank of England and European Central Bank are expected to follow suit in the coming

hours as the war upends their forecasts.

...