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Critical Metals buys European Lithium at a price of $835 Million
U.S.-based Critical Metals signed a letter of intent to buy all shares of European Lithium for a?about $835million deal. This move would secure the company's full ownership of Greenland’s Tanbreez Rare Earth Project. After the announcement made on Monday, shares of Critical Metals, who currently hold a 92.5% stake in one of world's largest rare earth deposits, rose more than 6%. European Lithium, a mining and development company, owns the 7.5% remaining interest in the project. Tanbreez is a project that has been hailed as an alternative source of heavy rare earths. These are used in electric cars, medical equipment and oil refinement, wind turbines, defense, and other applications. Critical?Metals stated that the ownership of Tanbreez as a whole would simplify the decision-making process and the financing strategy, while the project moves towards a final development decision. Reports from late last year indicated that the Trump Administration had discussed acquiring a stake in Critical Metals. This would give Washington a direct involvement in the Tanbreez Project. Critical Metals spun out of European Lithium in 2024 by combining the?flagship Wolfsberg Project in Austria with an acquisition corporation for special purposes, called?Sizzle. According to the latest deal that is expected to be finalized in the second half?of?this?year, European Lithium holders would receive 0.035 shares of Critical Metals per each held. Both companies share senior management. Dietrich Wanke is the President of Critical Metals European Operations. (Reporting and editing by Shilpa Majumdar in Bengaluru)
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Gold prices ease as attention turns to important central bank meetings
Gold prices eased Monday as a lack diplomatic progress to 'end the Iran War' kept oil and inflation high. The focus now turns to the key central bank meetings scheduled for this week, which will provide updates on the economic impact of the conflict. At 9:28 am EDT (1328 GMT), spot gold was down by 0.2% to $4,698.27 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures?for June Delivery were down 0.4% at $4,722.60. "Geopolitical tensities are still high but not as intense." "High levels of volatility in prices have likely scared off some Western investors, with inflation expectations on extended oil price high." said independent analyst Ross Norman. Pakistani mediators said that despite the absence of face-toface diplomacy, efforts to resolve differences between Washington, D.C., and Tehran had?not stopped,' despite President Donald Trump cancelling a trip for his envoys, and saying Iran should call if it wanted a deal. Brent oil rose above $105 a barrel, reaching a three-week-high as the Strait of Hormuz was largely closed. This squeezed global oil supplies. Oil prices have soared due to the U.S. and Israel?war against Iran, fueling inflation fears. This has also raised concerns about interest rates remaining high for a longer period of time. Gold is seen as a hedge against inflation, but high interest rates make it less attractive. Investors will also be watching the major central bank meetings that are taking place this week to see how the policymakers assess the impact of the war on the global economic climate and what the future path for rates is. The Federal Reserve will meet in Washington, D.C. for what may be Jerome Powell’s last meeting. Powell will hold a news conference after the central bank releases its policy statement on Wednesday at 2:00 pm EDT. Spot silver dropped 0.3%, to $75.42 an ounce. Platinum fell 1.2%, to $1,986.85. Palladium fell 1.5%, to $1,473.61. (Reporting by Ishaan Arora in Bengaluru. Mark Potter edited the article.
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Hungary and EU discuss release of billions in blocked funds
On Wednesday, top EU officials will meet with the new government of Hungary to discuss?the changes Budapest must make to unlock?17 billion euro in EU funds which were blocked by the previous government due to concerns about rule of law. The 'frozen' funds, including 11 billion euros ($13billion) from the Post-Pandemic Recovery Fund must be withdrawn by mid-August or they will be irrevocably lost. The European Commission announced that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and Peter Magyar, Hungary's new Prime Minister will be present at the meeting. Both sides have met at least twice since April 12, when the Magyar's Tisza party won a sweeping election. This gave him the two-thirds majority required to change the constitution. EU officials claim that he can make the necessary "legal" changes to unlock funds in a timely manner due to his supermajority. Olof Gill, a Commission spokesperson, told a Monday news conference that the meetings were centered on how to 'progress in unblocking EU funding earmarked for Hungary. He said: "We will engage with the new Hungarian government in a structured, focused manner to ensure that every action is taken at the earliest possible stage to benefit the people of Hungary. The Commission frozen access to funds because the outgoing 'Viktor Orban government did not comply with EU standards on rule of law. The discussions will be centered on the steps that need to be taken to unblock funds. However, they could also cover issues like?Hungary's return to Erasmus student exchange scheme, which has been suspended since 2023 due to concerns about academic freedom in Hungary. Officials said that they could include lifting Hungary's outgoing Government's veto on?EU refunds of military equipment sent by individual EU countries to Ukraine since 2022 to help Kyiv repel the Russian invasion. Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, Editing by Alison Williams.
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Oil prices rise on the back of stalled peace negotiations, resulting in higher global stocks
Oil futures rose Monday - as stalled U.S. - Iran peace talks indicated further disruption of Middle East energy exports. Global stocks also rose to'start a busy tech week with earnings reports and central banks decisions. Benchmark Brent crude futures are?up?just?a little more than 1% to $106.47 per barrel. They had traded at a session high of $108.50 earlier. MSCI's All-World Index rose by around 0.2% while Europe's STOXX 600 gained 0.53%. Markets in Asia rose to near record highs on a wave of AI-fueled optimism. Wall Street futures were largely steady. It's going to be a busy week. "It's going to be a busy week," says Michael Brown, senior researcher at Pepperstone. A ceasefire has frozen the majority of the fighting that was sparked by the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran a few months ago. However, the markets are still focused on the closed Strait of Hormuz where very few ships with cargoes of gas or oil have crossed. The future of peace talks remains uncertain. The U.S. president Donald Trump cancelled a weekend trip of his envoys and told Iran to call him if it wanted a deal. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister arrived in Russia on Monday for a meeting with long-time ally President Vladimir Putin. Sources from Pakistan, the mediator country, said that work hasn't ceased to bridge the gap between Iran and the United States. Goldman Sachs analysts raised their year-end Brent crude oil forecasts from $80 to $90 per barrel, based on the expectation that Gulf exports will return to normal by end-June. In a recent note, they warned that "non-linear increases in prices are likely" if inventories fall to critical low levels. INTEREST RATE AND TECH EARNINGS Investors focused on the tech industry and the unstoppable artificial intelligence trend. Mike Seidenberg is senior portfolio manager at Allianz Technology Trust. He said, "AI has a lot of people very excited and it's a very popular technology." It's at the top of your portfolio. Intel's forecast last week that second-quarter revenues would exceed Wall Street expectations triggered the latest round in buying. The total value of the "chipmaker-heavy" stock markets of Taiwan and South Korea now surpasses Germany. Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon will focus on capital expenditure plans when they report to investors on Wednesday. Apple will follow a day later. The U.S. Federal Reserve, which is likely to be the last meeting of the Jerome Powell-led Federal Reserve, will also keep its policy on hold. Both the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of England will also keep their policy unchanged. However, their tone and outlook may affect market pricing for a rate increase later in the year. Bank of Japan is the first central bank meeting, and it's expected to hold its short-term rate at 0.75% on Tuesday. The dollar dipped slightly on Monday. The euro was at $1.1740, and the Japanese yen was just below the 160 mark. (Reporting from Sophie Kiderlin and Tom Westbrook, London; Additional reporting provided by Dhara Raasinghe, London; Editing done by Shri Navaratnam and Thomas Derpinghaus; Gareth Jones, Alex Richardson and Alex Richardson.
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Fitch downgrades Enel Brasil due to risk of losing Sao Paulo concession
Fitch downgraded Enel Brazil's credit rating, citing growing uncertainty about the renewal of the main distribution concession of the subsidiary in the South American country. The agency announced late Friday that it had assigned a negative outlook to all corporate ratings for the unit. Fitch reduced Enel Brasil S.A.'s long-term national rating from AAA to AA+ (bra) and removed the?negative monitor. The downgrade also applies to subsidiaries Eletropaulo Metropolitana Eletricidade de ?Sao Paulo - Enel Sao Paulo - Ampla Energia e Servicos S.A. - Enel Rio - ?and Companhia Energetica do Ceara - Enel Ceara. Brazil's energy regulator began an administrative process earlier this month to potentially revoke Enel Sao Paulo’s power concession that expires in 2020, citing "structural failures" with the provision of services after extreme weather events over recent years. Enel will have another chance to defend itself before the regulator decides if it recommends to the federal government to revoke the concession. Fitch stated that a possible loss of the license would have a significant impact on Enel?Brasil's operating efficiency and profitability. Auditors in the group's annual report said that it has assets of about 3.34 billion euros, and goodwill worth?595 millions euros tied to an electricity concession in Brazil, which it could?lose. Enel Sao Paulo’s third-party debt was $8.4 billion?reais (about $1.75 billion) as of December 2025. This is equivalent to 47% of Enel Brasil’s total consolidated debt. Fitch warned that the outlook may worsen if the concession was not renewed or terminated. ($1 = 4,9795 reais). (Reporting and editing by Alvise Armillini, Francesca Landini)
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Economic strains in emerging markets increase two months after the Iran War
The charts below, two months after the Iran War began, show the impact of the war on the economy in emerging and developing countries. They are facing increasing inflation, fiscal strains, and trade disruptions. 1/DIRECT HITS Middle East countries and their neighbors are the most directly affected. Qatar recorded its first-ever?trade deficit of $1.2 billion after the Strait?of?Hormuz closure slashed imports by half and exports more than 90%. JPMorgan's economists predict that Qatar's economy will shrink by 9% in this year due to damage caused to an LNG facility, which is more than Iran's forecast of minus 6.1%. The Fund cut its growth projections for the emerging and developing economies group from 4,2% to 3,9%. This month's IMF-World Bank meetings, held in Washington, included stark warnings. The event heard Qatar Finance Minister Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari say that "a full-fledged effect is on its way and is not too far away." The emerging Asian markets are especially vulnerable, as over 50% of crude oil imports and over a third of gas imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The higher prices of crude oil have benefitted producers further away. Brazil and Kazakhstan have seen their currencies strengthen by more than 9% in the past year. Emerging market stocks are also at record highs. 2/ TRUNNING TANKERS Energy costs have risen, and inflationary pressures are increasing. This has reduced the room for central banks to reduce interest rates. Instead they've started pushing them in a different direction. Last week, the Philippines raised rates, and Turkey, Poland Hungary, the Czech Republic and South Africa are now more hawkish, due to the threat of a'second round effect', where wages and costs will rise. JPMorgan?says that markets in the majority of the 15 emerging economies they track are pricing in a tighter monetary policies over the next 6 months. Economists predict it too. Zahabia Gupta, a senior analyst at S&P Global, said that rising inflationary pressures and a risk-off attitude could tighten the financing conditions. This would push (bond) yields higher. 3/ SUBSTANCE STRAINS The governments of emerging markets already spend hundreds billions of dollars per year to cushion households from high energy costs. And the recent spikes will only increase that number. IMF estimates global fossil fuel subsidies will amount to $725 billion by 2024, or 6% of the global GDP. This is down from 12 percent in 2022 when Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused a spike in energy prices. The calculations don't separate emerging markets but the Fund claims that three-quarters of all subsidies are distributed in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Citi's Joanna Chua wrote in a client note that "we see growing fiscal risk in EM if this energy?shock is more persistent." She pointed out Egypt, Turkey Indonesia, India, Hungary, and Poland as being particularly vulnerable. The Fragile Few Analysts fear that Egypt, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan are among a group of lower-income, crisis-scarred countries, which they say is being pulled back into trouble. Fuel and food prices are rising in Egypt. Tourism revenues, which brought in nearly $20 billion last fiscal year, could also drop. The cost of paying back Egypt's debt has also risen, with almost $30 billion in payments due. Sri Lanka has agreed to a temporary reduction in its IMF funding and reinstated fuel subsidies. This is to give the country some breathing room. Pakistan's FX reserves were $16.4 billion at the end of March, which is less than three month's worth of imports. Analysts warn that these are negative figures when you factor in the central bank’s foreign currency liabilities. Another blow for Africa The IMF graph below shows that many of Sub-Saharan Africa's poorer countries are particularly affected by the current economic situation. Bottom-left quadrant: a dependency on imported oil and strained government finances. The longer crude prices remain high, the greater the fiscal pressures. The head of the IMF Kristalina Gheorgieva stated at an event held in London, last week that "we have a negative shock to supply". She stressed "the worst thing is to try to balloon demand" as some countries do by offering subsidies to the entire population, instead of just those who are most in need. She believes that the Fund may need to provide an additional $20 to $50 billion in emergency assistance due to the crisis.
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India expects its annual fertiliser subsidy to increase by 20%
Aparna Sharma, a fertiliser ministry official, said that India's fertiliser subsidy costs are expected to increase by 20% in the current financial period due to a price hike fueled by the Middle East crisis. India, the largest importer in the world of urea has ordered a record amount of 2.5 million metric tonnes of the fertiliser at a price nearly twice what it paid two months earlier. New Delhi's future import costs could be increased by the record purchases. The purchase represents a quarter (about) of India's total annual imports. The rising import costs will likely increase India's fertiliser subsidy to companies that sell crop nutrients below market price to farmers. India's fertilizer subsidy is estimated at?about 1.87 trillion rupees (19.85 billion dollars) for the fiscal year ending in March last year. India imports fertilisers like urea, muriate of potash and diammonium-phosphate. It also imports liquefied gas, which is a major feedstock for urea production. Around half of India's DAP imports and urea imports come from the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia as the largest DAP supplier and Oman as the biggest urea provider. India has higher stocks of fertilisers, but demand is usually highest in June and July when farmers start planting crops like rice, corn and cotton.
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Gold prices rise as traders wait for central bank decisions amid inflation fears
Gold prices were steady on Monday as traders remained 'cautious' ahead of central bank meetings. They were wary that the persistent rise in oil prices might lead to a more hawkish stance. As of 1100 GMT, spot gold was unchanged at $4,707.16 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures for June Delivery fell 0.4% to $ 4,722.60. Fawad Rasaqzada is a market analyst for City Index and FOREX.com. He said that the main message traders are preparing to hear is that central banks would be more hawkish in their approach because oil prices had risen, which has increased inflationary pressures. The (gold) market is likely to be cautious going into the central banks meetings. Brent oil rose above $105 a barrel as shipments through Strait of Hormuz were limited and global oil supplies remained tight. Since the start of the U.S./Israel war against Iran, higher?oil price has fueled inflation fears as well as concerns about high interest rates. Gold is considered a hedge against inflation, but high interest rates make other assets that yield more attractive. This reduces its appeal. It is expected that the Fed will maintain interest rates in its policy announcement on Wednesday, at the conclusion of its two-day meeting from April 28 to 29, Investors will also be watching the Bank of Japan and other central banks this week to see what impact the war has had on the economy. The dollar has weakened, making the greenback price of bullion more affordable to holders of other currencies. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that Iran could 'phone to negotiate an ending to their two-month conflict.' On Monday, Tehran’s foreign minister arrived in Russia to?seek out support from President Vladimir Putin. On Saturday, hopes of?reviving the peace effort? receded after Trump cancelled a visit by two U.S. ambassadors to Iran's war mediator Pakistan. Silver spot rose 0.2%, to $75.82 an ounce. Platinum gained 0.5%, to $2,020.44, while palladium fell 0.6%, to $1,486.99. (Reporting and editing by Louise Heavens in Bengaluru, with Pablo Sinha reporting from Bengaluru)
McGeever: Forget fiscal discipline; record government debt is here to remain
Leaders are warned that government debt levels in the developed world are sky-high. But in an era of increased military spending, resource nationalism, and technological arms races, this call is almost certain to fall on deaf ear. Fiscal watchdogs must stop pretending that they are not.
The fiscal situation has worsened, despite the fact that economic growth in recent years has been robust. The U.S. and many other developed countries have the highest public debt as a percentage of their gross domestic product in decades.
At its spring meeting this month, the International Monetary Fund sounded a familiar note by calling on governments and their debt to reduce. The window of opportunity for a "orderly" change is rapidly closing, and fiscal buffers that were needed to stabilize the debt-to GDP ratios are all but gone.
The IMF stated that "credible and well-sequenced financial adjustment is urgently required across all countries groups."
You're in luck. This debt spiral is unlikely to reverse in a world of balkanized countries that are competing for resources, tech, energy and defense.
FISCAL DOMINANCE
Donald Trump's return as president has accelerated the loose fiscal policy. Allies and rivals are spending heavily because of the U.S. President's?foreign and trade policy. The need to keep pace with the artificial-intelligence revolution is a major factor.
A World Bank report published last month said that "industrial policy is back and with a "vengeance"," and should be included in all national policies.
According to the IMF?China is pursuing a annual industrial policy worth around 4% GDP while Japan unveiled an historic 21 trillion yen fiscal package earlier this year. That was before the Iran War.
The United States of America itself.
According to Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh, the U.S. deficit is currently running at 6% GDP. This is a staggering level, given that, according to Warsh, the economy is nearing full employment. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the deficit will reach 7% over the next decade.
Add to that the ageing population in the developed world, and you've got a recipe for high inflation and "entrenched fiscal dominance".
'HIGHLY UNDERPRICED?'
Does this debt-laden market outlook reflect today's prices?
BNP Paribas' strategists recently described fiscal risks as being "highly underestimated."
Investors may be aware of the risks, but they are willing to gamble on the loose fiscal policy, believing that the potential benefits to industries, sectors, and assets will offset any risk of a large-scale debt crisis.
The fiscal taps could also need to remain open to ensure that the global economy remains robust enough to meet the needs of aging societies. According to fund manager Jeroen Blockland, "You can buy GDP growth by borrowing," and the sustainability of debt "depends on low interest rates" and high inflation.
As long as real economic growth exceeds inflation-adjusted rates of interest, the current debt and deficit dynamics are not unsustainable. In theory, risk assets will continue to rise in price as the debt is inflated.
The IMF predicts that real growth in this year will reach 2.3%.
The current dynamic, despite the dire predictions of debt doomsayers, may not be as bad as they claim. It is in fact a good backdrop for stocks, commodities and energy, especially.
Fixed income is not the same. Bonds could have a very bearish decade in the future if inflation is high and continues to reduce returns. Blokland recommends holding no bonds or cash at all, and instead focusing on rare assets such as gold or bitcoin.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Investors might want to consider a novel strategy in the new era where "big government" is searching for national champions. Intel's relationship with the Trump administration is an example.
The government bought a 10% stake last August. The company's shares soared to a new high on Friday, surpassing the peak of the dotcom era. They are now up 85% in just one month. This means they trade at an astonishing 90 times earnings. Does it seem a stretch to describe Intel as the U.S.'s sovereign chipmaker?
Up until recently, many governments - especially those in the United States - would have considered it an extreme and rare step to invest in publicly listed companies. Picking winners is now just one part of the expanding fiscal and industrial policy landscape.
The rules have changed, and no amount finger-pointing about fiscal issues will change this.
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(source: Reuters)