Geopolitics Pakistan: US and Iran close to a peace arrangement or a deal Pakistan’s defense minister says the US and Iran are close to a peace arrangement over the Strait of Hormuz. Oil erased gains on the headline as traders weigh whether the ceasefire path is real.
Energy US Strategic Petroleum Reserve Falls Below 300M Barrels, Lowest Since 1983 The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to 298.7 million barrels last week, the lowest level since January 1983, as Iran war disruptions keep pressure on global crude supply.
Geopolitics Iran Sets Steep Demands to Reopen Strait of Hormuz, Rattling Oil Markets Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says the Strait of Hormuz stays shut until the US lifts its blockade, ends sanctions, pulls troops, pays reparations, and releases frozen assets. Oil and defense names in focus.
Geopolitics Iran Signals Willingness to Reopen Strait of Hormuz as Deal Nears Iran has signaled willingness to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S., Iran and Oman closing in on an interim deal. Oil slid and equities rallied on the news.
Geopolitics Iran Denies Trump's Claim of Strait of Hormuz Reopening Deal Iran denied Trump's claim that a preliminary deal had been reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying the waterway stays closed while US hostile actions continue.
Energy China Leads Global Nuclear Buildout With 39 Reactors Under Construction China has 39 nuclear reactors under construction, more than the rest of the top ten combined, per the World Nuclear Association. The US, France, and Canada have none.
Geopolitics Iran Rejects US Peace Talks, Says Washington Won’t Dictate War or Peace Iran says it is not in peace talks with the US and won’t let Washington dictate when war ends, contradicting the White House as Trump’s strike pause pulls Brent crude down about 4%.
Politics Trump aims to end US reliance on Chinese critical minerals by January 2027 Trump signed an executive order pushing defense contractors off Chinese critical minerals by January 2027. Analysts warn US supply cannot meet the deadline, keeping domestic miners and defense primes in focus.
Markets Parsley and Cilantro Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak in North Carolina North Carolina reports over 560 cyclospora cases since May, with parsley and cilantro identified as potential sources. Impacts on food distributors and retailers are under scrutiny.
Geopolitics Iran’s IRGC warns U.S. forces nearing ‘zero hour’ in Gulf standoff Iran’s IRGC Navy says U.S. forces are nearing ‘zero hour’ for a potential operation against CENTCOM naval units, ending its warning with a single word: ‘Wait.’ Oil, defense, and shipping names in focus.
Geopolitics Iran's IRGC: No oil or gas leaves the region while US stays Iran's IRGC says no oil or gas will leave the region while US forces remain, as tanker attacks and US strikes escalate around the Strait of Hormuz.
Energy Dubai's DP World plans new Fujairah port to bypass Strait of Hormuz DP World is planning a new port and container terminal on the UAE's east coast in Fujairah to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, reducing dependence on the Jebel Ali hub as Iran tensions escalate.
Geopolitics Trump: I would hate to strike Iran desalination plants, but may have to Trump said the U.S. could strike Iran’s desalination plants if the Hormuz standoff drags on, but added he would hate to do it. The threat widens the target list and raises Gulf retaliation risk.
Geopolitics Iran Intensifies Attacks on Ships in the Strait of Hormuz Iran hit three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours, pushing Brent up 2.5% and lifting Treasury yields as the JMIC raised the threat level to severe.
Energy US Revokes Iran Oil Waivers After Strait of Hormuz Tanker Attacks The Trump administration revoked its Iran oil sanctions waiver after three tankers were hit in the Strait of Hormuz. Crude jumped over 5% on the news.
Macro Central Banks Plan to Cut Dollar Reserves for First Time, OMFIF Says OMFIF's 2026 Global Public Investor survey shows, for the first time, more central banks plan to reduce dollar reserves than grow them over the next decade, with gold moving to the center of reserve strategy.
Macro Central Banks Plan First Dollar Cuts in a Decade, Pivot to Gold and Euro An OMFIF survey shows more central banks plan to cut U.S. dollar holdings than add to them over the next decade for the first time, with gold and the euro picking up the flow.
Macro Gold overtakes US Treasuries as top global reserve asset: ECB The ECB confirmed gold has overtaken US Treasuries as the world's top reserve asset, hitting 27% of global central bank holdings versus 22% for US debt at the end of 2025.
Markets Morgan Stanley: Salt Is the New Oil, Sodium-Ion Batteries Take Off Morgan Stanley says salt is the new oil, projecting sodium-ion batteries hit 37% of battery deployment by 2035 with $800B in capex tied to AI power demand.
Commodities Gold set for worst quarter in 13 years as Fed turns hawkish Gold is closing Q2 with its worst quarterly loss in 13 years, hit by a hawkish Fed, a stronger dollar and inflation fears. Spot briefly broke $4,000, and $4,100 is the line bulls need to reclaim.
Energy US Strategic Petroleum Reserve Hits Lowest Level Since 1983 The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to 325.7 million barrels, the lowest level since May 1983, as the Trump administration's 172M-barrel coordinated release continues amid the Iran war.
Geopolitics Trump Says Iran Violated Ceasefire With Drone Strike on Ship in Hormuz Trump accused Iran of a ‘foolish violation’ of the ceasefire after a drone hit a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command struck Iranian missile, drone, and radar sites in response.
Markets Citigroup Updates Its Gold Prices Citigroup reduces its 3-month gold price target to $4,000 per ounce, citing limited near-term catalysts and improved macroeconomic conditions.
Politics Trump Official Pitched Greenland Takeover to Save Red Lobster Shrimp A Trump appointee reportedly pitched annexing Greenland as a way to bring back Red Lobster's all-you-can-eat shrimp. Here is what traders should actually watch.
Geopolitics Trump Threatens to "Take Over" Strait of Hormuz if Iran Deal Fails Trump told Fox News the US may take over the Strait of Hormuz and collect tolls if Iran doesn’t reach a deal, sending Iran’s delegation out of talks in Switzerland and putting energy and defense names back on watch.
