The urgency of tackling pharmaceutical supplies lies at the heart of the Also Read: Trump delivers another bitter tariff pill. Who’s set to bite the dust?It wasn’t the first time the body has brought up the issue. However, the speed with which the US essentially folded after Beijing expanded export controls on crucial The US and other countries rely heavily on China to make the foundational ingredients for their medicines. Because of its enormous and commoditized industry, which began in the 1950s, China p ...

Oil traders scarred by past geopolitical price spikes that briefly blew up their bearish positions are increasingly favoring safer ways to position for a looming glut https://t.co/Gqg6ee4CzE ...

Core Insights - Emerging market equities, including ex-U.S. stocks, have shown strong performance in 2023, providing significant upside outside of major tech stocks driven by AI [1] - Geopolitical risks have escalated, complicating foreign investments, with events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine and tariff wars creating layered challenges [1][2] - Active ETFs can leverage fundamental research to navigate geopolitical volatility, potentially outperforming passive funds in uncertain markets [3][4] Investment Strategies - Passive funds face challenges in low-information markets, as strict allocation rules can hinder performance during geopolitical events [2] - Active ETFs, such as the T. Rowe Price International Equity ETF (TOUS), utilize fundamental research to identify firms with strong cash flow and profitability, allowing for quicker adaptation to external shocks [4] - The flexibility of active ETFs positions them as a valuable addition to portfolios, especially in the face of geopolitical risks where passive funds may struggle [5]

Multiple subsea internet cables slated to run through the Red Sea are yet to complete as planned, as political tensions and heightened security threats have made the route more dangerous and complicated for commercial vessels.Meta Platforms Inc.’s 2020 plans for 2Africa, a 45,000-kilometer (28,000 mile)subsea cable system, included a map showing how it would loop around the African continent to deliver vital high-speed connectivity. As the company and its partners ready to declare the project complete, a si ...

Group 1: Oil Market Dynamics - Oil prices are stable, with Brent near $64 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate around $60, following a more than 2% increase after an attack on Novorossiysk [1] - The market is currently fluctuating in a $60-$70 per barrel range, with a focus on the evolution of Russian oil exports in the coming months [1] - Geopolitical tensions, including the attack on Novorossiysk and Iran's seizure of an oil tanker, have added a premium to oil prices amid a global surplus [1] Group 2: Geopolitical Actions - The US has intensified actions against Russia, including blacklisting major companies like Rosneft and Lukoil, as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine [2] - President Trump expressed support for Senate legislation aimed at sanctioning countries that engage in business with Russia [2] Group 3: Refinery Margins and Supply Issues - Refinery margins have increased due to attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure and outages at key plants in Asia and Africa, leading to reduced diesel and gasoline supplies [3] - Speculators have shown significant bullish sentiment towards Europe's diesel benchmark, marking the largest outright bullish wagers since 2022 [3]

Morgan Stanley raised its price forecast for Brent crude for 2026 to $60 per barrel from $57.50 following OPEC+’s decision to pause production hikes over the first three months of next year. This was the first oil price forecast revision after the Sunday meeting of the oil-producing group, which also produced one last output hike of 137,000 barrels daily for December. “Even if the OPEC announcement does not change the mechanics of our production outlook, it does send an important signal,” the bank’s anal ...

Amid a geopolitical storm over its Dutch chip unit Nexperia, Wingtech Technology delivered stellar third-quarter earnings while warning of potential future disruptions. The impact of the power struggle at Nexperia, the biggest revenue earner for Wingtech, was "difficult to quantify precisely", the Chinese company said in its filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange outside trading hours on Friday evening. "Should control over Nexperia fail to be restored by the end of 2025, the company may face the risk of ...

Core Viewpoint - The gold market is experiencing a significant rally driven by central bank purchases and a surge in ETF buying, with expectations for record high prices in the coming years, despite potential short-term corrections [1][2][5]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Central bank buying has been a major driver of the gold rally, with record purchases over the past few years, but this year has seen a shift towards ETF buyers, accelerating at an unprecedented pace since 2020 [1][2]. - Current gold tonnage is just 20 tons shy of the all-time high reached in October 2020, while dollar values have already hit record highs [2]. - The investor base in the gold market is expanding rapidly, with strong demand from India, which is expected to continue due to seasonal consumption patterns [3][4]. Group 2: Price Forecasts - The company forecasts gold prices to average $4,000 per ounce in Q4, with potential dips below this mark, while also indicating that a short-term correction could benefit the longer-term trend [6][5]. - For the next year, the average price is projected to be $4,488, with Q4 2024 expected to average $4,750, suggesting a bullish outlook despite current overbought conditions [7][8]. Group 3: External Influences - The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has historically impacted gold prices, but its current effect may not be fully priced in, as past shutdowns have shown inconsistent responses in gold price movements [9][10]. - Structural factors such as concerns over fiat currency debasement and geopolitical risks continue to support the gold rally, with investors seeking safe-haven assets amid market uncertainties [11][12].

Core Viewpoint - Gold experienced its worst single-day drop in 12 years, ending a record-breaking rally, but the underlying supply-and-demand dynamics remain strong, even at overbought levels in the short term [1][2]. Supply and Demand Dynamics - Spot gold was trading around $4,140 per ounce, down from a record $4,381.21 per ounce, reflecting a significant price fluctuation [2]. - Prices have increased by as much as 60% as investors, including central banks and private funds, sought protection from inflation, fiscal deficits, and geopolitical risks, while supply remains constrained [3]. Central Bank Influence - Central banks have been steadily increasing their gold holdings since 2008, creating a higher price floor for gold [3]. - The demand from the official sector is seen as a stabilizing force for gold prices, with central banks likely to continue diversifying their reserve holdings in gold due to fiscal uncertainties and geopolitical risks [5]. Macroeconomic Factors - Gold's characteristics as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value are particularly appealing in the context of high US government debt, which negatively impacts Treasuries [4]. - Macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties are expected to sustain further demand for gold, prompting analysts to raise their 12-month gold price target from $3,900 to $4,600 per ounce [6]. Investor Sentiment - Despite the recent drop, investor interest in gold remains strong due to ongoing inflation fears and global turmoil, with central banks expected to continue increasing their gold purchases [7].

Geopolitical Risks - Geopolitics is considered the single biggest risk for investors currently [3] - Key geopolitical issues include the war in Ukraine, the US-China tariff conflict, and the potential for China to take over Taiwan [3] - The US's strained relationships with traditional allies could impact the US dollar's reserve currency status [4] War in Ukraine - The war in Ukraine is unlikely to end soon because Vladimir Putin benefits from it as a means to maintain power by creating a foreign enemy [5][6] - Political solutions and offers may be ineffective because Putin's primary concern is staying in power [7] - The war is expected to continue for an extended period [8] Energy Market Leverage - Ending the war requires both weapons for Ukraine to strike Russian targets and addressing Russia's crude oil sales [10] - Since the war began, Russia has sold $400 billion of crude oil to China, India, and Turkey [10] - Targeting the eight refineries (two in China, four in India, two in Turkey) that purchase Russian oil could significantly impact Russia's revenue [10] - An ultimatum to these refineries to choose between doing business with the West or Russia could force them to buy from the West [11] - This could lead to Russian oil selling at $20 per barrel instead of $60, potentially forcing Putin to seek a ceasefire [12]