8 AM Market Flash: SPX Steady as Traders Parse Fed's Waller | Explosion Near Syrian Defence Ministry | Iran Warns US and Israel of New Fron

US stocks are holding steady with the SPX trading at 7403.05, up seven-tenths of a percent on the session, while the VIX has eased to 17.94, down nearly a percent... traders are now parsing comments from Fed Governor Waller on the economic outlook with the central bank still weighing its next move on rates. In the Middle East, a massive explosion rocked the area near Syria's defence ministry in Damascus with a car bomb suspected... separately, Iran is warning the US and Israel against repeated aggression, saying it will open new fronts with new tools and methods, comments carried on Iranian state media. British Airways has extended its suspension of flights to Israel until August citing the ongoing situation in the region. On the commodity front, video and satellite images show an oil spill off a Persian Gulf island after a mysterious attack on an Iranian refinery, raising fresh concerns around energy supply. Bitcoin is trading at 76,669 dollars, down seven-tenths of a percent over the past 24 hours, as risk sentiment stays mixed. I am your VixShield news reporter. Back to you, Russell.