25.06.16 WSJ

1. Macroeconomics

Title: Israel’s Fight With Iran Spreads to the Energy Sector
Source: The Wall Street Journal 
Date: June 16 2025
Key takeaways

• Drone and cyber-attacks linked to the Israel-Iran conflict have hit tanker traffic and on-shore facilities, pushing WTI crude up 7.3 % to $73/bbl, the highest in four months. 
• Traders fear wider regional disruption: roughly 20 % of global oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz, close to potential flash-points. 
• Airlines and petrochemical producers have begun locking in hedges and revising Q3 cost guidance, signaling a pass-through to inflation if prices stay elevated.
• Analysts note geopolitical-risk premia are re-emerging just as markets were counting on cheaper energy to offset U.S. tariff effects on consumer prices. 
  Link: https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/israels-fight-with-iran-spreads-to-the-energy-sector-6ddb8761

2. M&A / Private Equity

Title: Vista Scoops Up Amtech Software From Peak Rock
Source: The Wall Street Journal — Deals
Date: June 16 2025
Key takeaways

• Vista Equity Partners is buying Amtech Software (packaging-industry ERP) from Peak Rock Capital; price wasn’t disclosed but marks the first exit from Peak Rock’s $2 bn 2021 fund.
• Amtech tripled recurring revenue under Peak Rock by shifting to subscriptions and acquiring Label Traxx; its tools now run in 1,250 plants across the Americas and Europe.
• Vista is acquiring through its mid-market Foundation strategy, betting on continued supply-chain and automation tailwinds in packaging.
• Deal underscores PE demand for vertical SaaS assets that combine industrial resilience with high-margin software economics. 
  Link: https://www.wsj.com/articles/vista-scoops-up-amtech-software-from-peak-rock-d6ac1190

3. Opinion 

Title: Putin Tries to Wear Trump Down
Author: Leon Aron
Source: The Wall Street Journal — Opinion
Date: June 15 2025
Key takeaways

• Aron argues Vladimir Putin believes the U.S. will lose patience and concede on Ukraine, so Russia is pursuing a strategy of attrition.
• He warns that a drawn-out war risks fracturing Western unity and emboldening other authoritarian regimes.
• The column stresses that sustained U.S. resolve—diplomatic, military, and economic—is essential to deter further Russian aggression.
• Aron contends that mixed signals from Washington could undermine deterrence and prolong conflict costs for both Ukraine and global markets.
  Link: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/putin-tries-to-wear-trump-down-ukraine-war-europe-crimea-weapons-acfb5737