Bloomberg Television·2026-07-21 04:41Geopolitical Risks and Energy Markets - U.S. forces have been striking Iranian targets for 10 consecutive days following the death of three American soldiers [1][4][49] - Houthi militants are threatening a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, potentially disrupting millions of barrels of crude oil transit in the Red Sea [3][4][53] - A full closure of the Red Sea could push oil prices back above $100 per barrel [127] - Australia's weather bureau warns of a severe El Niño event, which may strain water supplies and heighten bushfire risks, while potentially benefiting thermal coal producers due to dry conditions [174][181] Macroeconomic and Trade Dynamics - The U.S. administration plans to impose 50% tariffs on certain Canadian goods, including cars, dairy, and alcohol, citing unfair treatment [1][38][83] - U.S.-Canada trade volume is approximately $900 billion, with energy and automotive sectors representing a significant portion [41][42] - New Zealand's annual inflation accelerated to its fastest pace in over two years, prompting the RBNZ to raise interest rates by 0.25% [48] - The U.K. faces fiscal uncertainty as the new Prime Minister outlines a 10-year economic plan, with 30-year gilt yields rising to their highest level since May 20 [71][134] Technology and Corporate Performance - South Korea's chip exports surged 180% year-on-year in the first 20 days of the month, driving a $12.21 billion trade surplus [98] - Alphabet is developing a new server chip, "Frozen V2," to boost Gemini AI model performance, with deployment expected as early as 2028 [75][172] - The European Commission fined Alibaba's AliExpress over $630 million for failing to adequately police illegal and counterfeit products on its platform [74][172] - Boeing aims to ramp up production of the 737 to 63 aircraft per month and the 787 to 10 per month, forecasting a market demand for 44,000 new airplanes over the next 20 years [187][188]