YARDENI WARNS CONTRARIAN BUY SIGNAL MAY FAIL Market pessimism is usually a classic buy signal, but veteran strategist Ed Yardeni says this time could be different. The S&P 500 has fallen nearly 5% from its January peak as the Iran war keeps oil prices elevated and threatens shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. While weak sentiment typically creates buying opportunities, Yardeni says policymakers may have limited ability to offset economic damage from a prolonged conflict. That uncertainty is making many strategists more cautious. Oil near $100 a barrel could trigger a broader stock correction, analysts at firms including Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase and Evercore ISI warn. For now, Yardeni says the geopolitical risks make it harder than usual to confidently “buy the dip.”(*Walter Bloomberg)