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The ROI-Market Map: the financial week in six charts

Six charts in one week. Market Map will present a summary of the week's financial performance with six charts selected by Open Interest columnists. We will highlight the major trends, but also some surprising and often overlooked movements.

We've said a lot in the past week. Now, let's let the numbers do the talking.

(1) "DARK" OIL RON BOUSSO, ROI Energy columnist: In recent weeks the trickle of oil tankers leaving the Strait of Hormuz accelerated as traders adopted stealth measures to cross. The strait's traffic is still a fraction of what it was before the war, but an examination of oil reserves in the Gulf tells us a different story.

SURPRISE

MIKE DOLAN is a ROI Finance & Markets columnist. The U.S. Economic Surprise Index, compiled by 'Citi and measuring the extent to the which incoming data beats forecasts, reached its highest level in 2023, as the 'Iran War and Energy Shock unfolded and the AI Investment Boom continued apace.

(3) BUYERS STRIKE CLYDE RUSSELL ROI Asia Energy and Commodities analyst: China's seaborne imports of crude?oil dropped to its lowest level in almost a decade, as refiners balked when asked to pay higher prices prompted by the war in Iran and?the resulting effective closing of the Strait of Hormuz. The drop in almost 5 million bpd compared to pre-war levels helps?to cushion?the loss of volume through the strait. There are concerns about how long China is willing to keep its inventories full and not import.

(4) TALK ISN'T CHEAP, JAMIE MCGEEVER, Columnist at ROI Markets: If you are looking for evidence that we have entered an AI bubble, then exhibit A is what you need. Marvell Technology shares surged by 32.5% on June 2. What caused this record-breaking rise? The catalyst for this record rise was not a new investment or news of improved sales, nor speculation about a takeover. It was five words from Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang who called Nvidia "the next trillion dollar company." Marvell had a market capitalization of $75 billion three months earlier. Now, it's over $250 billion. It's still unclear if it will reach the $1 trillion mark, but the trend is positive.

Will he, or won't he? Andy HOME, ROI Metals columnist: "All eyes are on this chart as the market evaluates the likelihood of U.S. president Donald Trump imposing imported duties on refined copper. The U.S. copper price on the CME has a growing premium to the international price of the London Metal Exchange ahead of the expected decision at the end June.

(6) HELPING HAND GAVIN MAGUIRE, ROI Global Energy Transformation Columnist: South American crude oils have been overlooked'so far this season, but have grown 'faster than any other region. They are also playing a'meaningful role to help keep the global energy markets fairly well balanced despite Middle East turmoil.

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(source: Reuters)