Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:
1. Muted markets
2. An escalation
U.S. President Donald Trump holds a meeting alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. June 21, 2025.
White House | Via Reuters
3. The oil outlook
Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Hamad I Mohammed | Reuters
As oil prices gave up gains Monday, traders appeared to be betting the widening of the conflict would not cut off oil supply. While Iran said it reserves “all options” to respond to the U.S. attacks, a move to close the Strait of Hormuz could prove the most disruptive for markets. Iran’s parliament reportedly voted to close the critical shipping route, though its national security council holds the final say. Still, analysts consider the move unlikely. The U.S. is urging China to prevent Iran from closing the strait.
4. Removing hurdles
A UnitedHealth Group health insurance card is seen in a wallet, Oct.14, 2019.
Lucy Nicholson | Reuters
Major U.S. health insurers said they will streamline an arduous process for approving some claims. They said the moves will help to speed up and reduce the number of prior authorizations, which make providers get insurers to sign off before they can administer certain care to patients. Among the changes, individual plans will cut down the number of claims subject to prior authorization by next year, while the insurers will set a common standard for submitting electronic authorization requests by 2027. The changes will apply to major insurers including CVS Health, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Humana and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
5. New hand at the wheel
The Camp Jeep outdoor terrain at the New York International Auto Shown on April 16, 2025.
Danielle DeVries | CNBC
– CNBC’s Lisa Kailai Han, Brian Evans, Ruxandra Iordache, Spencer Kimball, Sam Meredith, Lim Hui Jie, Annika Kim Constantino, Michael Wayland and Michele Luhn contributed to this report.
