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Copper reaches six-week high amid hopes for new US-Iran Peace Talks
Prices of copper rose to a six-week high on Wednesday as optimism grew over the possibility of another round of talks between Iran and the United States to end the conflict. The benchmark copper price on the London Metal Exchange reached $13,392.5 per metric ton, its highest level since March 2. At 1605 GMT, it was down by 0.1% to $13,275 per ton. Copper prices have been pushed down by profit-taking, triggered in part by the stronger dollar. The dollar's rise makes metals priced in dollars more expensive for those who hold other currencies. Traders said that the mood and volume of industrial metals was buoyant. U.S. president Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that talks to end Iran war in Pakistan could resume within the next two day after the weekend's collapse led Washington to impose an Iranian port blockade. Britannia Global Markets stated in a report that "risk appetite has returned following a temporary ceasefire last week. This is reinforced by reports that 'Washington and Tehran will be looking to arrange a second round in the next few days. The Yangshan Copper Premium, which is a measure of China's appetite to import copper, highlights expectations of a stronger demand. It has risen 270% to $74 per ton since the end January, and is now at its highest level since June last. The Chinese industrial metals market will be able to gauge the demand for industrial metals based on data that is due later this week. The price of copper and nickel is influenced by concerns about sulphur shortages in the Middle East, which are used to process these metals. Middle East is responsible for 24% global sulphur. It's a by-product of oil and natural gas refining. Last year, its aluminium production accounted for nearly?7 millions tons or 9% global supplies. Aluminium prices are at a four-year high. Aluminium rose by 1.5%, to $3.615 per ton. Zinc rose by 1.7%, to $3.398, while lead climbed 1.6%, to $1.966. Tin fell 1.2%, to $49.700, and nickel slid 0.3%, to $18,150.
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Gold prices fall as attention turns to US-Iran developments
Investors analyzed the latest signals on the U.S.-Iran issue and how they might affect interest rates. As of 11:22 am, spot gold was down by 0.7% to $4,807.34 an ounce. ET (1522 GMT), having reached its highest level since March 18, earlier in the day. U.S. Gold futures dropped 0.4% to $4.830.60. Kitco Metals' senior analyst Jim Wyckoff said, "Gold and silver are only experiencing some mild and normal profit-taking following overnight highs." Gold prices are rising on the back of increased risk appetite, and a selling off during periods of risk aversion. This is contrary to gold's role as a safe haven. "Traders are focusing on the impact of tighter monetary policies and inflation pressures,"? he said. The U.S. president Donald Trump said that the war with Iran is close to being over. He told the world to prepare for "an amazing two days" as the chief of the Pakistani army, the mediator in the conflict, arrived in Tehran to try to prevent another conflict. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was 'constrained', and oil prices did not change much. The strait remains closed 45 days after the Revolutionary Guards of Iran declared it closed. Despite a two week ceasefire, the future of the transit is uncertain. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee stated on Tuesday that the Federal Reserve may have to wait until 2027 before cutting interest rates, if a 'prolonged period of high oil prices' from the Iran War delays the inflation's progress toward the U.S. Central Bank's 2% target. Markets currently expect a rate cut in the U.S. this year. Gold's appeal as an inflation hedge is diminished by higher interest rates. Silver spot remained at $79.58 an ounce while platinum increased 0.2% to 2,108.79. Palladium fell 1.2% to $1,568.15. Ashitha Shivaprasad reported from Bengaluru, and Jan Harvey edited the story.
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Gold prices fall as attention turns to US-Iran developments
Gold fell on Wednesday, after reaching a peak of one month. Investors were assessing the latest signals regarding the U.S./Iran situation to determine what it could mean for interest rates. As of 8:47 am, spot gold was down by 0.6% to $4,809.15 an ounce. ET (1247 GMT), having reached its highest level since March 18, earlier in the day. U.S. gold futures fell 0.4% to $4831.60. Jim Wyckoff is a senior analyst with Kitco Metals. He said, "Gold and Silver are only experiencing some mild and normal profit-taking following overnight highs." Gold prices are rising on the back of a?improved appetite for risk and falling during periods of risk aversion, which is contrary to its traditional role as a?safe haven. He said that traders are more concerned with the impact of tighter monetary policy and inflation pressures. U.S. president Donald Trump said that talks with Iran could resume soon and lead to a deal. He told the world to be on the lookout for "an amazing two days", as U.S. forces who imposed a blockade stopped vessels from leaving Iranian ports. As shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was restricted, oil prices rose. The strait remains closed 45 days after the Revolutionary Guards of Iran declared it closed. Despite a two-week ceasefire, the future of the transit is uncertain. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee stated on Tuesday that the Federal Reserve could have to wait until 2027 before reducing interest rates, if the high oil prices caused by the Iran War continue to delay the inflation's progress toward the 2% target set by the U.S. Central Bank. The market currently believes that there is a 31% probability of a rate cut in the U.S. this year. Gold's appeal as a hedge against inflation is diminished by higher interest rates. Silver spot fell by 1.2%, to $78.61 an ounce. Platinum dropped 0.1%, to $2,101.82. Palladium rose 0.3% to $1,591.60. Ashitha Shivprasad, Bengaluru reporting; Jan Harvey editing.
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IMF warns against large fuel subsidies in response to war-driven energy shock
In its Fiscal Monitor report, released on Wednesday, the International Monetary Fund stated that the war in the Middle East had intensified the strains already present in an already fragile fiscal situation. Higher interest rates and rising energy prices have already fueled calls for assistance from developing countries and emerging markets. Rodrigo Valdes is the new head of fiscal affairs at the IMF. He said that countries should avoid fuel subsidies in order to help their citizens cope with an oil shortage and a corresponding rise in energy prices. He said that targeted, temporary cash transfers would be the better option. We don't have any oil. "We don't have oil." "Energy needs to be more costly for everyone so that we can adjust and consume less," Valdes said in an interview. The IMF cut its growth forecast on Tuesday due to energy price spikes caused by war and disruptions in supply. It warned that the global economic system could be pushed to the 'edge of recession' if the conflict intensifies and oil prices remain above $100 per barrel until 2027. Valdes stated that "you can pass on (higher energy costs) and do other things to help." "It is a global shock, and if countries suppress price signals, the global price would be higher." It is very important to send price signals so that demand can be adjusted. Valdes stated that the impact of the war would be determined by the export controls, damage to the energy infrastructure, and the ability of other countries to increase oil production. He said that once conditions stabilized it was important to stay focused on the longer-term issues, as public debt increased, primarily due to permanent spending on entitlements or reduced revenues in many of the world's largest economies. According to the IMF’s Fiscal Monitor, global government debt will reach 93.9% in 2025. This is up two percentage points compared to 92% one year prior. It will also be expected to reach 100 percent by 2029. That’s a full year sooner than was predicted just a few months ago. The report stated that this would be the highest level of government debt since World War II. The report said that the government debt would continue to rise and could reach up to 102.3% GDP by 2031. The IMF also said that interest payments had also increased sharply. They will reach nearly 3% GDP by 2025, up 2% from four years ago. Valdes warned about emerging risks. He said that hedge funds were less able to "hold debt on the long term." The duration of debt has also decreased, which means that short-term rates are more easily transmitted to debt dynamics. In a blog that accompanied the report, the IMF noted other challenges, including higher security costs, spending on energy and climate change, and increasing interest rates at a time where revenues have not kept pace. The IMF warned that trade and financial fragmentation would further stifle growth and increase borrowing costs. Political instability could also undermine reforms and revenue collections. Financial conditions could be tightened quickly by sudden changes in the markets, such as in AI stocks. Valdes said that countries should begin working on fiscal consolidation as soon as the immediate crisis is resolved. He said that while some countries are taking the issue seriously, many others have not yet developed a clear plan. "We are not in a crisis... but the longer you delay, the greater the effort you will need and the greater the chance of a disorderly consolidating later." Reporting by Andrea Shalal Editing done by Shri Navaratnam
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Putin criticizes Russia's top officials over economic contraction
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin scolded top officials after the economy shrank by 1.8% during the first two months of the year. He asked them to 'come up with new measures that will boost the economic growth. The tight monetary policies of the central bank and Western sanctions that target the oil revenues of the country are the main reasons for the slowdown in Russian growth. The International Monetary Fund has raised its estimate of Russia's GDP growth in 2026 from 0.8% to 1.1% after the Middle East crisis spiked oil prices in March. The government has forecast growth of 1.3% for this year, but warned it could revise that figure lower later this month because of the lacklustre performance of the economy at the beginning of the year. Putin said that calendar factors alone were not enough to explain the contraction, telling his top economic officials including Maxim Oreshkin and Elvira Nabibullina of the central bank, as well as Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. "I would like to know why macroeconomic indicators are falling short," Putin said. He added that they were even falling short of officials' forecasts. Putin said he was expecting proposals for "additional?measures aimed at revitalizing growth," that would promote 'business initiatives and redirect skillful labour into sectors with greater growth potential. Putin stated that the government has?also prepared?a set of measures to reduce state?budget dependency on volatile global commodity market revenues, but did not provide any details. (Reporting and writing by Vladimir Soldatkin, Gleb Bryanski and Dmitry Antonov; Editing by PhilippaFletcher).
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Copper reaches six-week high amid hopes for new US-Iran Peace Talks
Prices of copper rose to a six-week high on Wednesday as optimism grew over the possibility of another round of talks between Iran and the United States aimed at ending the war. The benchmark copper price on the 'London Metal Exchange reached $13,392.5 per metric ton, its highest level since March 2. In official rings, it traded at $13,227, down 0.4%. The lower copper prices were attributed to profit-taking by traders, triggered in part by the stronger dollar. When it increases, metals priced in dollars become more expensive for those who hold other currencies. Traders said that the overall sentiment and volume of industrial metals was positive. U.S. president Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that talks to end the Iran War could resume in Pakistan within the next two day after the weekend's collapsed negotiations led Washington to impose an Iranian port blockade. Britannia Global Markets stated in a report that "risk appetite has returned following a temporary ceasefire last week. This is reinforced by reports Washington,?Tehran and China are planning to hold a second round in the next few days." The Yangshan Copper Premium, which is a measure of China's appetite to import copper, highlights expectations of a stronger demand. It has risen 270% to $74 per ton since the end January, and is now at its highest level since June of last year. The Chinese industrial metals market will be able to gauge the demand for industrial metals based on data that is due later this week. Due to disruptions in Middle East supplies, copper and nickel are being supported by fears about sulphur shortages. Middle East is responsible for 24% global sulphur. It's a byproduct from oil and gas refineries. Last year, its aluminium production amounted at nearly 7?million tonnes or 9% global?supplies. Aluminium prices are at a four-year high. Aluminium rose 0.1% to $3,565 per ton. Zinc rose 1.2%, to $3,382, while lead climbed 0.8%, to $1,951.5. Tin fell 0.3%, to $50,175; and nickel grew 0.6%, to $18,385.
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Trump claims he told China's Xi to not give Iran weapons
Donald Trump told Fox 'Business 'Network that he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping a question in a letter, asking him not to supply weapons to Iran. Xi replied that China did not supply tehran. In the Tuesday interview, Trump did not specify when the letters had been exchanged. He threatened to impose an immediate 50% tariff on countries that supplied Iran with arms last week. "I sent him a note asking him to not do that and he replied with a message saying that he is not doing it," Trump said on?FBN’s "Mornings with Maria". He said he didn't expect changes to the global oil markets due to the war against Iran or Venezuelan political developments would affect the dynamics of the planned meeting between him and Xi in the next month. "He is someone who needs oil." We don't," Trump said. In a later Truth Social post, Trump also stated that he would "permanently"?open? the Strait of Hormuz. China was extremely happy with this. "I'm doing it for the World, too," Trump wrote. He added: "President Xi is going to give me a huge, fat hug when I arrive in a couple of weeks." Trump's statement that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is still restricted was not immediately understood. The White House didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for clarification about the president’s post. Even with the current two-week ceasefire, the future of the waterway is uncertain 45 days after Iran's revolutionary?Guards closed the strait, effectively blocking 20% of the world's oil and liquefied gas shipments. Sources?said that traffic is only a fraction of the 130 daily crossings before the war. Trump said that talks between the United States and Iran to end the war may resume this week after ending over 'the weekend with no agreement. The?U.S. The?U.S. (Reporting and editing by Andrew Heavens, Hugh Lawson and Humeyra Pamuk)
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Four dead in Turkey after second school shooting within two days
The local governor reported that a student killed?at least?four people, including fellow students, and injured at least?20 other at a middle-school in southeast Turkey on Wednesday. This was the second school attack to occur in the country in just two days. Governor Mukerrem Unluer said that three?students? and one teacher?died in the incident which occurred in Kahramanmaras province. The attacker died in the attack. The governor said that the student, who was in eighth grade at the school, had hidden their father's guns inside a backpack and used them to commit the attack. In Turkey, school shootings are rare. On?Wednesday, television footage showed ambulances arriving to the school where crowds and police had gathered by the gate. Justice Minister Akin 'Gurlek'said on X a probe was opened into the attack. A former student opened fire on a school, in the province of Sanliurfa (southeast Turkey), wounding at least 16 people including teachers and students. He then killed himself.
The "boom" of Trump's factories is seen in two different ways by a town in Indiana
John Axelberg's best customer recently asked him to invest $800,000.00 to double the production of tubular frames his factory produces for large-scale solar farms.
He said no
Axelberg’s small metal-forming business's solar division fueled the company's 30% revenue increase last year, thanks to tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, passed by President Joe Biden. However, the rest of the industries Axelberg serves, including heavy trucks and farm equipment, were collectively down 20%. He is also concerned about solar. Donald Trump has said that his policies will unleash a new American manufacturing boom. In industrial communities like South Bend, however, the reality is nuanced. Government policies boost some sectors, while obscuring the outlook for other industries. Many manufacturers are left navigating a patchwork of incentives, tariffs, and changing signals from Washington. Recent polls have revealed that Trump's economic stewardship has become a major political issue for both him and Republicans, with the midterm elections less than seven months away. Only 29% of respondents to a /Ipsos survey approve of Trump's economic leadership. This is the lowest approval rating for either of Trump’s administrations, and also lower than that of Biden, his Democratic predecessor. Axelberg's costs are higher for metals and imported parts because of tariffs. Meanwhile, the current administration has halted the construction of solar farms in federal land.
"I don't have any confidence that he will not pass another executive order to start coming after (solar credits) we've already received and claw them back," stated the CEO of General Stamping & Metalworks. A family-owned company with $130 million in sales, General Stamping & Metalworks has been bending steel since 1922.
Pierre Yared is the acting chair of President Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers. He pointed out that improved manufacturing productivity and increased investment in new equipment and plant are early signs of success for Trump’s policies.
Yared stated that it would take some time for the President's policy to fully manifest.
MANUFACTURING RENEWAL ELUSIVE
South Bend is a prime example of the stark contrast between a few niches that are booming and the lingering malaise within manufacturing. This once-thriving industrial center has struggled to recover its economic footing for the past six decades since the 1964 closure of Studebaker’s sprawling auto factory. There are many established manufacturers in South Bend who are struggling to stay afloat or facing erosion of key sectors. This includes businesses that boomed under the previous administration, such as "electric vehicles".
Michael Hicks is an economist who studies manufacturing at Ball State University. He said that "there's not evidence of a manufacturing revival." It appears that the manufacturing sector has declined over the past 10 to 11 month. Defense is a business that's doing well. AM General, which is based in this city, built a brand new factory to service a U.S. $8.7 billion defense contract for a new generation military vehicle.
Cleveland-Cliffs is a steel processing company that has benefited from tariffs which have increased domestic steel prices. In a press release released last February, CEO Lourenco Goncalves stated that taxes would bring "a new golden age and a manufacturing revolution that will make America stronger again." Amazon is building a $11 billion datacenter that will eventually include 30 buildings, just up the road from the?steel?plant. Although data centers are not manufacturing plants, they require a large amount of raw materials and machinery that is used to fuel other goods producers. Once they're built, data centers don't generate many permanent jobs. According to the Federal Reserve the Federal Reserve estimates that the spending on data centers was more than half a billion dollars in 2013. The Federal Reserve expects the expenditure to "increase drastically" until 2030.
A joint venture between GM and Samsung, worth $3.5 billion, is currently being built to produce electric car batteries.
According to Jeff Rea, CEO of South Bend Regional Chamber, the data center craze has caused a backlash that's made the land prices near the new developments "nutso".
The shortage of skilled labor and other big changes have led to higher taxes and utility costs for many longtime producers. Trump's anti EV campaign is a major obstacle for the GM plant. The automaker has said that construction has been slowed and it no longer has an opening date.
Stuart Fowle said, "current market conditions allow us to plan for future needs and observe EV demand." On its website, the White House maintains a list of U.S. manufacturing and innovation investments. This includes Apple's $600 billion investment into factories and workforce development, and Meta's plan of spending the same amount in 2028 for AI technology and infrastructure. Yet, South Bend's factory jobs have been declining since the end 2020, with over 1,000 employees losing their jobs, including 265 since President Trump's election. This pattern is repeated across the nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing jobs in the United States have decreased by 100,000 since Trump was inaugurated.
What is 'WHIMS of a King'?
There are certainly big projects in the works across the industrial heartland. The boom started during the Biden administration. This included massive new investments like those made by GM and Samsung in electric car and batteries projects and semiconductor plants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), total construction spending for manufacturing plants increased from $5.9billion in February 2021, to a high of $20.8billion in October 2024. However, it fell to $17billion by December 2025.
Jon Ferguson, the CFO at Master Roll Manufacturing (which operates an office that looks out over Amazon's massive datacenter outside South Bend) said, "I'm not sure if I would call it a resurgence." Ferguson, CFO of Master Roll Manufacturing, said that sales were steady and not booming, despite the fact that they make and refurbish steel processing equipment.
It's a problem to have so many developments nearby. He said that the surge in land values has increased property taxes and that?electricity costs and water prices have also increased. He said that while it's great to see land prices rise, it's not very meaningful if the owners aren't looking to sell.
He said that "a lot of companies are unhappy with the way (the data centre boom) is falling apart."
Some companies have struggled to find workers with the skills to install new production lines or repair existing ones at their facilities because so much of their labor has gone to construction.
Daniel Adams, CEO at Manufacturing Technology Inc. sees the same mixed bag of manufacturers. His great-grandfather founded the business in 1926 as a tool shop. The company has since carved out a niche in friction weld, a technique used to manufacture everything from golf putters and jet engines. Since Trump's election, he said, it has become apparent that EVs will be less important. This has affected his auto-related businesses. He said that auto companies and suppliers are putting off investments.
Adams stated that his aerospace customers are doing well, but this is not enough to propel the entire business forward.
Adams says that bringing new industry to the area will benefit his business over the long-term, but it can cause tensions with other local businesses in the short term. For example, there are issues with labor. He said that people go to the "shiny place" and make an extra two dollars per hour.
Axelberg, the CEO of General Stamping & Metalworks remains cautious. He had 25 acres next to his plant which he intended to use for finishing and assembly. He has put that on hold because he is no longer confident in the current economic climate.
He said, "It almost seems like there's no policy." "It is like the whims and caprices of a monarch."
(source: Reuters)