Europe

The Republican-majority U.S. Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would halt U.S. military action against Iran. However, it is not clear what impact it will have on the war while President Donald Trump's Administration negotiates a deal with the Islamic Republic. The Senate voted in favor of a concurrent resolution that was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month. This reflects a growing concern among Trump's Republicans over the unpopular conflict which began on February 28, despite the majority of Republicans voting for it. Four 'Republicans joined all Democrats except one in voting for the resolution. ?Two Republicans did...

Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Economy Minister said that Italy could not hold a national election this April as it would not allow enough time for the government to approve plans to devolve greater powers to regional authorities. Giorgetti responded to reports in Italian media and Bloomberg stating that Prime Minister Giorgia meloni could seek elections for April of next year. This would be a few month earlier than the deadline set by autumn 2027. Giorgetti told a conference organized by the newspaper La Verita that we could not vote in April in order to finish 'the parliamentary passage' (of the regional-devolution...

Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, the mines minister of Botswana, said that a'soft recovery' in demand for diamonds is taking place in important?consumer?markets like the U.S. Kenewendo stated that Botswana will maintain its supply discipline in order to support a struggling global gems industry, despite the early signs of demand recovering on key markets. Global market is in a long-term downturn because of 'economic uncertainty' and the popularity of lab grown stones. Debswana Diamond Company - Botswana’s joint venture with DeBeers?which accounts for 90% the country's sales of diamonds - temporarily halted production last year at some mines. Kenewendo said: "We will...

The U.S.-Iran diplomatic relationship has resulted in a reduction of gasoline prices for Americans. This is the sixth consecutive 'weekly drop, and a 15% decrease from the peak reached in May. According to GasBuddy, the?national average gasoline price fell by 14.1 cents per gallon in the past week. It was $3.85 a gallon on Sunday. Prices fell in the majority of states. GasBuddy data revealed that gasoline prices dropped by 25 cents per gallon over the last week in Colorado, 22 cents in Arizona, and 21 cents (per gallon) in Ohio. This drop could ease the pressure on 'U.S. Donald...

Gazprom shares fell below 100 roubles ($1.35) for the first time since 2009 on Monday, according to data from the Moscow Exchange. Gazprom shares have been hit by a number of factors, including Europe's decision not to buy Russian energy due to the conflict in Ukraine, the decline in oil prices as a result of progress made between the United States, Iran and the United Nations, as well as the failure to sign a new deal for gas with China. Analysts claim that the 'drone attack' on an oil refinery in Moscow, owned by Gazprom neft (the oil arm of...

Mediators said that U.S. officials and Iranian officials had made "encouraging progress" during a first round of discussions in Switzerland, which ended early Monday morning, despite the tensions over Lebanon and Strait of Hormuz. Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the parties agreed on a roadmap to a final deal to end their war within 60 days. This was despite the initial tension as 'Tehran' again closed the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. president Donald Trump threatened to restart attacks against Iran. The two sides said they had agreed on a mechanism that would end the fighting between U.S.-ally Israel and...

On Sunday, the United States and Iran will begin 'peace talks' in Switzerland. U.S. officials have disputed Iranian claims that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Iranian state media reported that high-level Iranian officials arrived in Switzerland to hold peace talks with the U.S. The U.S. and Iran had agreed on a 60-day truce while negotiations are taking place. However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, despite the U.S. Military stating that commercial vessels have continued to operate in the waterway. These developments could complicate negotiations between the two sides to implement an...

On Sunday, the United States and Iran will begin peace talks in Switzerland. U.S. officials have disputed Iranian claims that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Iran's state-run media reported that a high-level Iranian delegation had arrived in Switzerland to begin peace talks with the U.S. JD Vance, U.S. vice president, left Washington on Saturday for meetings Pakistan has said will start Sunday. The U.S. and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire for 60 days while negotiations are taking place. However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed on Saturday, despite the U.S. Military...

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said that Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Russia's Tyumen Region, located in western Siberia. This was more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), from Ukraine. He said that Ukraine has also developed long-range drones with a range of more than 3,000 kilometers. In his video message, Zelenskiy thanked the Ukrainian military's special forces for reaching Tyumen Region, Russia, and a?oil refinery. More than 2,000 kilometers from our state boundary. "This is effective work." Ukraine's military is engaged in a long-term campaign of?strikes against Russian targets. The focus has primarily been on the oil industry,...

Axios reported that the personal envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran's Foreign Minister were heading to Switzerland to hold talks. However, Axios also noted that Israel's deadly strikes in Lebanon on Sunday could be a test for a new ceasefire to end the Iran War. The talks led by Steve 'Witkoff' and Abbas Araqchi are an attempt to transform a 14-point interim pact that was signed this week into a regional agreement to end the war between Israel and the United States, which began on February 28. Lebanese media reported that Israeli drones and air strikes killed at...

Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon on Friday, after an escalation of fighting in Lebanon threatened the chance that an interim deal on ending the Iran war would become a lasting Middle East Peace Deal. U.S. and Iran talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland were canceled as fighting flared up in Lebanon. This created new uncertainty about the timing of negotiations crucial to reopening the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping. According to a senior U.S. government official, a ceasefire will be in effect at around 4 pm Lebanon time (1300 GMT). The official added that the...

Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon on Friday, after an escalation of fighting in Lebanon threatened the chance that an interim deal to end the war in Iran would become a lasting Middle East Peace Deal. U.S. - Iran talks?in Switzerland scheduled for Friday have been cancelled due to the fighting in?Lebanon. This has created new uncertainty regarding the timing of the negotiations crucial to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened to global shipping. Just before 4 pm, Lebanon time (1300 GMT), a senior U.S. government official announced that a ceasefire was to be implemented...

The?U.S. dollar?hit a one-year high on Tuesday, outweighing support from lower oil prices amid progress in U.S.-Iran talks. Dollar?hit a year-high on expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike. This outweighed support from lower oil prices in light of progress in U.S. Iran talks. By 11:45 am, spot gold had fallen by 1.2% to $4138.79 an ounce. ET (1545 GMT). U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery fell by 1.1% to $4156.40 an ounce. The U.S. Dollar rose to its highest levels in over a year, making gold more expensive for foreign buyers. Right now, gold and silver don't look...

?Gold prices fell on?Tuesday as the U.S. Dollar hit a year-high on expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike, which outweighed support from softer prices for oil amid progress in U.S.Iran negotiations. By 9:26 am, spot gold had fallen 1.7% to $4118.73 an ounce. ET (1326 GMT). U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery?fell by 1.6% to $4135.60 an ounce. The U.S. Dollar rose to its highest levels in over a year, Tuesday. This made gold more expensive for buyers from abroad. "At the moment, gold and silver aren't looking at the Middle East." Bob Haberkorn is a senior market analyst...

Norilsk Nickel, the world's biggest palladium producer said that it expects to have a global palladium surplus of 0.3 million (Moz), excluding investments and stock movements, in 2026. The demand for palladium, excluding investments, is expected to reach 9.1 Moz by 2026, and 9.3 in 2027. Meanwhile, the supply will be at 9.4 and 9.5 respectively. Nornickel stated in a review of the market that preliminary estimates indicate investment demand for palladium may reach 0.3 Moz in 2026. This would effectively bring the market into balance. A similar trend is expected in?2027. Nornickel expects that global primary palladium output will...

CopperTech Metals aims to raise up to $3.57 'billion? in its U.S. IPO, joining a 'wave' of companies aiming for the crowded IPO market this summer. It said that the U.S. copper and cobalt company is looking to raise up to $423.5 by selling 23.5 million shares at a price between $16 and 18 per share. After a short lull, the IPO market is now booming. The stock markets are bouncing back and investors' appetite has increased. This week, e-bike startup Lime and silver?miner Sinda launched their U.S. initial public offerings. ITG, a digital infrastructure company, and Italian technology company...

Here are some company news and stories from France and Benelux that could impact the markets in the'region or individual stocks. RENAULT/STELLANTIS :?Demand 'for electrified cars' continued to support growth in Europe's automotive market in May. This offset a sharp drop in petrol and diesel sale and allowed Chinese?brands?to expand their footprint. VALEO - French automotive supplier Valeo has signed a contract with Nissan to provide smart electric vehicle charging using'vehicle to grid technology. VIOHALCO: Belgian Industrial Group Viohalco has launched a 100% secondary bookbuilding offer to institutional investors for about 6,000,000 existing ordinary shares of Cenergy Holdings in which...

The?U.S. dollar was stronger on Tuesday and this pushed gold prices down?more that 1%. ?dollar fell?more than 1% on Tuesday,?pressured by a firmer 'U.S. As of 0414 GMT, spot gold was down by 1.1%, at $4,142.61 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery fell 1% to $4160.20. Tim Waterer is the chief market analyst at KCM Trade. He said that while gold had received some relief this week from lower oil prices, it was not getting any help from the U.S. Dollar, which "continues" to rise on expectations of Fed interest rate hikes. Gold is less affordable for buyers...

The UK's Industry Minister said on Monday that talks with the EU over steel could be pushed to the wire as Britain faces a?end-of-month deadline for replacing its import protections. He apologized to businesses for the uncertainty. The?trade?rules of Britain, which date back to before Brexit, will expire on 30 June. London has said that the rules will be replaced by a new measure which will reduce the amount of steel imported without tariff and double the duty on any imports that exceed that quota. Details of the measure have not been finalised yet, but there are discussions?about the market...

CRH, a building materials company based in Ireland, announced on Monday that it will acquire Arcosa of the United States in a cash-only deal worth $8.5 billion. This acquisition will strengthen CRH's position in North America. CRH has offered $150 per share, which is a premium of 10.4% over Arcosa’s previous closing price. In premarket trading, shares of the Dallas-based company rose by 7.5% to $146. Jim Mintern, CEO of CRH, said that the deal enables CRH to take advantage of rising demand in U.S. utility and energy infrastructure. Arcosa is a large manufacturer of energy transmission equipment in the...

Jozef Sikela, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, said on Saturday that the European Union sees Brazil as a partner to help diversify Brazil's mineral supply. The deal, he says, will benefit Brazil's development goals. The Commissioner visited the Rare Earth Research & Processing Center of Australian Mining Company Viridis in Pocos de Caldas in the southeastern state Minas Gerais. This is one of the four priority projects chosen to accelerate the collaboration between EU and Brazil. Sikela stated that the European approach places emphasis on sustainable business practices and local rare earth processing. This is in line with Brazil's efforts...

Guinea, a country in West Africa, is now the world's largest producer of bauxite - the raw material that ultimately becomes aluminium. It is now trying to use its newfound dominance in order to exert greater control over price and industry structure. Just as Indonesia did in nickel, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in cobalt. Three resource giants struggle to control mining sectors which have?grown too large too fast, flooding global markets and crashing the prices. Indonesia uses mining quotas. The Congo has export quotas. Guinea is considering a combination of the two to stop operators from exporting more...

The government announced on Monday that Britain would invest PS50million ($66million) in order to increase 'domestic production' of key minerals. This is part of a move to reduce reliance on centralized global supply chains and strengthen economic resilience. The funding will be used to support projects in extraction, processing, and recycling. These are aimed at securing the materials that go into products such as smartphones, fridges, and electric vehicle batteries. This is in addition to the more than PS200million already committed for this sector. The Industry Minister Chris McDonald will launch the programme at a centre for industrial research located...

A Mozambique executive said that the new law, which requires the state to have a 15% share in all mining ventures, could discourage foreign investment. The'southern African nation' is among the world's leading producers of graphite. This material is used to make batteries for electric cars and energy storage. Mozambique claims it has amended its mining law to "strengthen its management of strategic resource in defence of?national interests", but the Chamber of Mines of the country fears that it may upset?investors. Geert Kok, vice-president of the industry group, said at a mining conference held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, "We regret...