9 PM After-Hours Flash: IRGC Navy warns vessels to use designated Hormuz corridor, threatens decisive response | Rubio answers why US is struggl

Bitcoin is trading at 81025 up 1.1 percent over the past 24 hours and sitting within 2 percent of the 80k level as traders digest easing Middle East tensions. In the Asian market stocks are surging on news of US-Iran negotiation progress with the Nikkei and broader Asia-Pacific indices hitting record highs while Samsung crosses the 1 trillion dollar valuation mark. Oil prices are dropping as the geopolitical risk premium fades with the US declaring the offensive phase of its conflict with Iran over although the IRGC Navy is warning vessels to stick to designated routes in the Strait of Hormuz or face a decisive response. In the European market Ballard Power Systems shares are in focus after Solaris Bus and Coach selected the company's FCmove-SC hydrogen fuel cell engine to power its next-generation hydrogen bus platform. Back in the US market Super Micro Computer is soaring after projecting strong fourth-quarter results that beat Wall Street expectations on continued high demand for its AI servers. SPX closed the session at 7259.22 while the VIX sits at 17.38. This risk-on tone from crypto and Asian markets often signals a stronger US open tomorrow something VIX traders will be watching closely. Russell's Morning Outlook is right around the corner — stay with VixShield. I am your VixShield news reporter.