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.
Geopolitics Putin and Trump Discuss Ukraine and NATO in 85-Minute Call Putin and Trump held an 85-minute call discussing Ukraine and the upcoming NATO summit, with potential market implications.
AI UBS: 60% of Companies Are Already Curbing AI Spend UBS says 60% of companies tracking AI budgets are already curbing spend and shifting to cheaper Chinese open-source models. The pricing gap is reshaping enterprise AI, and it puts pressure on OpenAI and Anthropic ahead of their IPOs.
Geopolitics White House: Trump Can Use Military in Iran If Needed The White House says Trump can use the military in Iran if needed, keeping the door open to renewed action despite a Senate war powers rebuke and a fragile ceasefire.
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.
Tech Taiwan raids Super Micro (SMCI) offices in widening chip-smuggling probe Taiwan raided Super Micro (SMCI) offices and affiliated sites in a widening probe into alleged smuggling of Nvidia AI chips into China. SMCI shares dropped as much as 9% before paring losses.
Macro Japan Hikes Tourist Visa Fee 400% to 15,000 Yen, First Bump Since 1978 Japan is raising single-entry tourist visa fees 400% to 15,000 yen ($93) from July 1, 2026, its first hike in 48 years. Western travelers stay exempt, but Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese tourists pay up.
Markets Pentagon Delays Iran Strike Announcement to Avoid Market Impact The Pentagon delayed announcing U.S. strikes on Iran until after market close to minimize immediate financial impact.
Tech Samsung to Unveil $646B, 10-Year Spending Plan at Korea Briefing Samsung Group is set to unveil a $646 billion, 10-year spending plan at a June 29 South Korean government briefing, with capex aimed at chips, AI data centers, batteries and displays.
Geopolitics US and Iran Agree to Halt Strikes, Meet in Doha This Week The US and Iran have agreed to halt strikes and meet in Doha this week to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, after a weekend of tit-for-tat attacks tested the ceasefire.
Markets Volkswagen Reportedly Plans 100,000 Job Cuts, Four Plant Closures Volkswagen is reportedly weighing up to 100,000 job cuts and the closure of four German plants, in what could become the biggest restructuring in the automaker’s 89-year history.
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 Trump Threatens 100% Tariff On Any Country With A Digital Services Tax Trump threatened a 100% tariff on any country that imposes a digital services tax on U.S. companies, saying the duty would override existing trade deals and apply immediately. Big tech is squarely in the crosshairs.
Geopolitics US, Israel, Lebanon Sign Framework Deal; Israel Keeps Security Zone The US, Israel, and Lebanon signed a trilateral framework agreement allowing Israel to maintain a security zone in southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army works to disarm Hezbollah.
Markets U.S. Strikes Iranian Targets After Drone Attack on Cargo Ship The U.S. conducted airstrikes on Iranian missile and drone facilities in response to Iran's attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the region.
Macro Iran War Has Cost U.S. Families $100B in Military Spending and Oil Moody's says the Iran war has already cost U.S. families $100 billion, or about $750 per household, between military spending and higher oil prices, with the bill still growing.
Geopolitics Israel’s Katz: IDF Won’t Leave South Lebanon, Even If US Demands It Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the IDF will not withdraw from southern Lebanon even if Washington demands it, complicating fresh US-brokered talks and raising Middle East risk.
Geopolitics U.S., Iran Agree on Roadmap for Final Deal, Plan to End Lebanon Operations U.S. and Iran agreed on a 60-day roadmap toward a final deal, with a Lebanon deconfliction cell and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil, defense and tanker names are in focus.
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.
Energy White House Reports Large Tankers Transiting Strait of Hormuz The White House confirms large tankers are moving through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a potential easing of tensions and impacting global oil markets.
Politics Colombian President Petro Rejects Election Results, Alleges Israeli Interference Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejects preliminary election results, alleging Israeli interference in the vote-counting software.
Markets China imposes trade curbs on U.S. firms after Pentagon blacklist China imposes trade restrictions on U.S. firms like Boeing and Raytheon in response to the Pentagon's blacklist, potentially disrupting supply chains and increasing market volatility.
Geopolitics Trump warns Iran: close Strait of Hormuz and negotiators won’t go home Trump told Fox News that if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, its negotiators won’t make it home. Talks in Switzerland were briefly suspended as oil and defense names stay in focus.
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.
Geopolitics Israeli Strikes Hit Lebanon Hours After US-Iran Truce, Family of Four Killed Israeli airstrikes killed a family of four in southern Lebanon hours after a US-Iran truce took effect, putting the ceasefire framework and oil and defense names back in focus.
