Politics US Mint Rolls Out $1 Gold-Colored Trump Coin for America's 250th The US Mint has begun selling $1 gold-colored coins featuring President Trump's face to mark America's 250th birthday, with prices from $1.55 to $2.44 per coin and no actual gold content.
Geopolitics Xi Meets Putin at SCO Summit, Power of Siberia 2 in Focus Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, reaffirming their strategic alliance and reportedly discussing the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.
Energy Venezuela Grants 100-Year Oil Lease to US-Backed Venture Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez granted a US-backed private venture a 100-year lease over 17 oil fields holding 65 billion barrels, with Washington set to control 55% of output.
Geopolitics Iran: Strait of Hormuz Stays Shut Until U.S. Blockade and War End Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until the U.S. lifts its naval blockade and the war, including fighting in Lebanon, permanently ends. Energy, tankers, and defense names back in focus.
Geopolitics US Allies Warn Strait of Hormuz Still Mined, Doubting Trump’s Claim US allies are privately warning the Strait of Hormuz is still likely mined, disputing Trump’s claim that the Navy has cleared all Iranian explosives. Energy and shipping tickers stay in focus.
Geopolitics US Launches ‘Operation Economic Outcast,’ Sanctions 60+ Iran-Linked Targets The US Treasury launched Operation Economic Outcast, sanctioning nearly 60 Iran-linked entities across oil, nuclear, and missile networks — but sparing the largest Chinese banks and refiners despite China buying most of Iran’s crude.
Macro Dalio: Cut Bonds, Put 10-15% in Gold as US Debt Crisis Looms Ray Dalio says investors should underweight bonds and put 10-15% of their portfolio in gold, plus a bit of Bitcoin, warning a US debt crisis could hit within three years.
Geopolitics Iran Has Lost Significant Control of the Strait of Hormuz: CNN CNN reports Iran has lost significant control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Kpler data showing more than 80% of recent transits taking the Omani route or going dark.
Markets Trump Moves to Open 45M Acres of National Forest to Logging, Roads The Trump administration proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, opening nearly 45 million acres of national forest to roads, logging, and extractive activity across 37 states. Timber names in focus.
Geopolitics U.S.-Iran 60-Day Deadline Passes With No Deal, Hormuz Still Closed The 60-day U.S.-Iran window closed with no deal, Iran signaling a shift to offense, and Brent settling above $90. Hormuz traffic remains a fraction of pre-war levels.
Markets US Food Prices Surge 33% Over Seven Years, Marking Largest Increase in 50 Years US food prices have risen 33% over the past seven years, marking the largest increase in grocery prices in half a century.
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.
