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Sugar prices drop as Trump predicts a de-escalation of the Iran War
Oil prices dropped sharply on Tuesday after U.S. president Donald Trump predicted that the Iran War could be over soon. Dealers stated that the market was focused on the degree to which high energy costs could reduce sugar production in Brazil, where mills are able to adjust their factories to produce more sugar or ethanol depending on the market price for each. The ICE exchange's raw sugar price?futures settled at 14.38 cents per lb after dropping nearly 3% earlier, while the white sugar futures dropped?0.5%, to $418.40 a metric tonne. Petrobras is Brazil's state controlled oil company. It supplies around 80% the gasoline in Brazil. The prices have not yet been increased, but as long as the war with Iran continues, the more likely it will be. The Brazilian gasoline market has a major impact on the prices of biofuel ethanol. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said that sugar production in the United States will drop as a result of frosts hitting cane fields. Cocoa futures are rising in other soft commodity markets. Prices should be modestly recovering by the end of 2026 according to a survey. London cocoa increased by?5.1% to?2,479 lbs per ton while New York cocoa grew 4.8% to $3.447 a tonne. The Ivory Coast Coffee and Cocoa Council sold over 400,000 tons worth of cocoa export contracts in just 10 days after exporters resumed purchasing for the mid-crop. Arabica coffee dropped 0.4%, to $2.958 a pound, while robusta lost 2.1%, to $3,692 per ton. (Reporting and editing by May Angel; Nigel Hunt, Marcelo Teixeira)
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Wall Street ignores the intense airstrikes against Iran as it advances stocks and oil prices
Wall Street stocks recovered and oil prices fell sharply after U.S. president Donald Trump said the Middle East conflict could "end soon" even as the U.S., Israel and Iran pounded Iran with what both the Pentagon and Iranians?said were the'most intense airstrikes ever. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2%; the S&P 500 was up 0.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.25%. The STOXX 600 Index in Europe, which had been declining for three trading days straight, recovered some of its earlier gains and finished the day up 1.65%. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan increased by around 3.4%. The price of oil fell by around 10% on Tuesday, after reaching a three-year high the day before. Brent futures CLc1 last traded at around $90 per barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) CLc1 dropped to $85 per barrel. Trump's Monday remarks injected optimism in the markets, which contrasted to?events? in Iran where hardliners rallied around the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khmenei while the Revolutionary Guards announced a blockade on oil exports until U.S. Trump stated that the U.S. will hit Iran harder if they block exports. Trump said on Fox News that he could talk to Iran. U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth stated Tuesday would be the biggest day of strikes in the campaign against Iran. Sameer Samana of the Wells Fargo Investment Institute, who is in charge of global equities and real assets, stated that WTI crude oil prices will eventually return to a range between $65-$75 per barrel. This would reflect a strong economic backdrop and corporate earnings. Samana stated that "we would continue to look past those near-term headlines as we view the conflict as lasting for weeks/months without changing the future outlook in a meaningful way." A Global Rebound? Investor sentiment improved on Tuesday and led to a rebound in European and Asian shares, while yields on government bonds fell and expectations for interest rates shifted. European indexes started the day higher, following Asia. However, they retraced some of their gains as the day progressed. Germany's DAX added around 1.8% and France's CAC40 gained 2.4%. Money markets have reduced the likelihood of an ECB rate hike in this year after it was fully priced on Monday. The benchmark German 10-year bonds were little changed, at 2.86 percent. Analysts at BlackRock Investment Institute wrote: "Market pricing indicates weeks of disruptions and not days or even months." Market pricing suggests that there is a possibility of a stagflationary event, but this is not a certainty. The yield of the 10-year Treasury bill in the United States was down by 0.2 basis points to 4.132% at the end of the day, after a sharper easing earlier that day. The CME Group's FedWatch tool shows that traders are betting on when the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next. According to this tool, the first rate reduction is not expected until July. Analysts at ING said that bond yields are still at disturbing levels. Expect nominal yields to fall a little on a reversal trade. In a client letter, they warned that bonds would not experience a sudden structural rally. The U.S. Dollar Index, which measures the performance of the dollar against a basket six major currencies, fell slightly, continuing Monday's steep fall. Gold rose by around 1.66%, reaching $5,221 per ounce. Bitcoin increased by 2.6%, to $70,00793.
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White House to Americans - Energy prices will rise temporarily due to Iran
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, said on Tuesday that the American public would see oil and gas prices fall rapidly once the joint Israeli-U.S. war against Iran is fully accomplished. Leavitt told reporters that the increase in gas and oil prices was temporary and the operation would result in lower prices over the long-term. Prices of oil on Monday soared to $119 per barrel, their highest level?since June 20, 2022. Supply cuts by Saudi Arabia and other producers have stoked concerns about major disruptions in global supply. Leavitt said that Trump's energy team was closely monitoring the markets and speaking with industry leaders. The U.S. military is also preparing additional options to comply with the President's directive that the Strait of Hormuz remain open. The White House is concerned that the rise in oil prices, following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran for more than a week, will harm U.S. consumers and businesses ahead of the November midterm elections when Trump's Republican colleagues hope to retain control of Congress.
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The rising gas prices due to the Iran war threaten Trump's Republican majority.
In the minutes following?Donald Trump?s State of the Union Address, in which he argued why voters should vote to keep Republicans in control in the November midterm elections?the president boasted about how falling gasoline prices have solved the "disasters" left by his predecessor. Gas prices are up by almost?60 cents per gallon two weeks after the airstrikes against Iran that were launched on February 28th. This sparked a regional conflict which has spread far beyond Iran's border. Trump's and his Republican colleagues' political headaches are quickly becoming a pain at the gas pump. Their narrow majority in the Congress looks more fragile as the midterm elections approach. Crude oil prices were down on Tuesday after Monday's dramatic rise. It remains to be determined where gasoline prices are headed in the nine months before the November 3 elections. Even before the Iran War, U.S. citizens were angry at the high cost-of-living and frustrated by Trump's lack of action to reduce it. /Ipsos surveys show. Jacob Perry, Republican strategist, said: "You cannot hide gas prices." "You can make up all these other things and say that everything is fake. There's a huge sign at every corner that says how bad the situation is. Every commute to work is a reminder." Focus on Affordability in Campaign Democrats have pledged to place affordability at the forefront of their campaigns. To win a majority in the House of Representatives, Democrats need to flip just three Republican seats. However, they have a more difficult path to take in the Senate. Hakeem Jeffreys, the House Democratic Leader on X, said that Trump promised an American Golden Age. "While Republicans are wrecking the economy, gas costs are out of hand, and extremists spend billions on dropping bombs in Middle East," said Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic leader. House Republicans who are in Florida this week for a policy retreat, where they are discussing their legislative agendas, acknowledge that rising gas prices are an issue that voters are concerned about. However, they cite Trump's claim that the rise will be temporary and say that the administration's plans to increase domestic production of energy would 'lessen the pain'. Austin Scott of Georgia, a Georgian Representative, said: "Everyday that people pay for fuel at the gas stations, we know how much it hurts. "We will do everything we can to correct it." "They understand that it is a temporary issue." TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT LOWERING PRICES According to AAA, the average national gas price on Tuesday was $3.54 per gallon. This is up 19% from when the war started. Trump's plans to examine several options to curb oil prices are a sign that the White House is concerned. This includes releasing crude oil from strategic reserve, limiting U.S. imports, and waiving certain federal taxes. Trump announced on Monday night that the U.S. will waive some oil-related sanctions. He did not provide any details. The White House announced that Trump will discuss the economy on his Wednesday trip to Ohio and Kentucky. Gas prices could be particularly harmful for a President who won the White House largely because he promised to curb inflation, lower energy rates and reduce the cost of living. Rep. Warren Davidson (a Republican from Ohio) said that the increase in gas prices was a concern for the midterm elections. He said, "The economy will always be a major issue on the ballot." "The president has done a lot of great things for the economy, and we'll have to see what happens." "IF THEY RISE THEY WILL RISE" Trump's response to the rising prices is unlikely to calm Americans' fears. In a recent interview, Trump stated that he was not concerned about the rising gas prices. He predicted they will drop when the Iran conflict is over. He repeated his claim on social media at the weekend. "Short-term oil prices" are a "very little price to pay" in order to ensure global security. Trump's changing rationales regarding the Iran war have made it harder for him to argue the disruption of the?U.S. The disruption to the?U.S. economy has been deemed not worth it. The administration has not provided evidence that Iran posed an immediate danger, and Trump had himself insisted last year that U.S. attacks "obliterated'?the country’s nuclear weapons program. John Feehery is a Republican strategist who said, "I do not think people are that concerned about Iran." "I believe they are concerned about the price of their gasoline. "I think they care about their gas prices." "This better be quick, is all I can add," he said of the war. (Reporting and editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell and Scott Malone; Additional reporting and editing by Nicole Jao and David Morgan)
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Nigeria prioritizes local gasoline supply and suspends import licenses
Nigeria has suspended the issuance?of gasoline import 'licences' for the second consecutive month, as regulators?begin enforcing the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act PIA that only allows?imports if the African countrys domestic supply is?insufficient. The Crude Oil Refineries Association of Nigeria has confirmed that no import licences have been issued yet in March. This indicates a shift in the focus to local production. This'shift' highlights the stronger intention of the Nigerian authorities to safeguard domestic refining. It is also a victory for the Dangote Refinery which sued last year the regulator and state oil company to stop imports. The PIA allows imports only when domestic production is insufficient to meet the national demand. The previous'regulator', who resigned last year, claimed that issuing licenses was essential to maintain competition and avoid market dominance. Fuel prices are up more than 54% in the last week since Israel and the U.S. began their strikes against Iran. This has pushed global oil markets to higher levels. NMDPRA spokesperson George Ene Ita blamed the sharp increase in?prices to the escalating conflict between Israel and the United States in the Middle East. Nigeria's average daily gasoline consumption dropped to 56.9 millions litres from 60.2million litres a day in January 2026. The 'Dangote Refinery' supplied the local market with?36.5 millions litres (about 8 million litres) of petrol in February. The regulator decided that 'these volumes are sufficient and withheld the import licences. Eche Idoko is the spokesperson for the Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria. CORAN has been urging the government to stop granting import licences which are reducing the margins of local refiners. "We support any measure that helps protect local production." Idoko stated that the challenge is now to maintain momentum. (Reporting and editing by Alexander Smith; Isaac Anyaogu)
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New York is against reopening Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant despite Trump's push
Kathy Hochul, the New York governor, opposes Trump's campaign to restart an nuclear power plant just north of New York City, her office said this week. Days after?the?U.S. The energy secretary visited to encourage the plant's reopening. The U.S. is experiencing a surge in power demand for the first decade, thanks to the explosion of AI data centers. To meet this demand, President Donald Trump set the goal that the U.S. quadruple its nuclear power capacity by the year 2050. Ken Lovett is Hochul's senior communications advisor on Energy and Environment. She said that the governor had made it clear she would not support a reopening of Indian Point. Instead, she wants to see a major expansion of advanced nuclear energy in communities upstate New York who want?it. Indian Point's restart would be unlikely without the support of Hochul, a Democrat. Chris Wright, the U.S. Energy secretary, held a press conference at Indian Point on?Friday to promote nuclear energy and renewed operations at this plant. Holtec, owner of the site, is decommissioning the power plant after its closure in 2021. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, opposition to Indian Point as a possible target for attack increased. Holtec wants to enter the business of operating reactors. Holtec has been providing services in the nuclear sector for many years, including the shutdown of plants. It is currently attempting to restart an abandoned Michigan nuclear power station. Constellation, NextEra and Microsoft have contracts with Google and Microsoft to restart operations at the former Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania as well as a plant located in Iowa. Wright stated in a press release that the Trump Administration believed energy policy should be centered on the American people, not politics. This would include expanding American energy sources, creating more American job opportunities, and lowering the electricity prices of every American household and business. Holtec CEO Kris Singh was at the event last week and applauded Holtec's idea to restart the plant. However, the company said that it would take the buy-in of multiple government and political agencies. We would work to achieve this goal if the state had the political will to do so and the financial resources to do so. We will continue to decommission IPEC safely if the political will and financial means are available, a company spokesperson said. Nuclear Regulatory Commission chair Ho Nieh?told journalists on Tuesday at a press conference: "If a decision is taken by the owners to restart this unit, they will be coming to the NRC to talk about the steps needed to'restart the Indian Point Plant. Hochul wants to build 5 gigawatts of new nuclear power in New York. She has directed the New York Power Authority so far to develop and build one gigawatt new capacity upstate New York. This is further away from New York City then Indian Point.
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Polish utility Enea reports smaller fourth-quarter losses
Enea, the Polish utility, expects to report a net loss of 840 million Zlotys ($230m) in its fourth quarter. This compares with a loss of 1.86 billion Zlotys last year. According to the company, this was due to the higher margins of licensed activities. * The fourth-quarter revenue was 7.45 billion zlotys while EBITDA was 983 millions zlotys * The distribution network and gains in winter heating have helped cushion the bottom line against late-year provisions linked to lower'state-regulated' electricity prices for households Enea reported in February that its net profit for 2025 would be hit by 1.37 billion zlotys due to impairment charges, and increased provisions for onerous contract. ** It booked a provision of 139.9 millions for the fourth quarter in 2025, in response to a request from a 'Polish energy sector watchdog Enea struggles with falling profitability as Poland switches to renewables. This has pushed coal’s share in the 'electricity mix' to record lows.
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Witkoff says that Russia has told Trump they are not sharing US military assets with Iran.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy to CNBC on Tuesday, said that Russia has denied sharing intelligence with Iran about U.S. military assets in the Middle East. Witkoff stated that the denial occurred during a telephone call between?U.S. Donald Trump spoke with?Vladimir Putin, the Russian president on Monday. The Washington Post reported Friday that Russia is providing Iran with information on targeting, including the locations of U.S. warships & aircraft in the Middle East. Witkoff responded that "yesterday, on the call with President Obama, the Russians stated that they had not been sharing" when asked by Washington if it believed Russia shared intelligence with Tehran about the location U.S. Military assets. We can trust their words. They?did say it. Jared (Kushner), I and Yuri Ushakov (Kremlin's foreign policy aide) spoke independently yesterday morning. They both confirmed the same thing," Witkoff said. He added: "That is a better question for the intel people, but let's just hope they aren't sharing."
Chile's Kast, elected in an economic boom, takes office amid global turmoil
Local markets rallied in December after Chile's far-right president,?Jose Antonio Kast, was elected on promises of economic expansion, deregulation, and cuts to public spending. But the economic tailwinds are now turbulent, as the iran war has sent the global markets into a tailspin.
Kast is now responsible for managing the turmoil. A spokesperson from Kast's economic team stated that there were no contingencies planned for the moment, but didn't provide any further details on how recent events would affect their economic agenda.
Kenneth Bunker is a political expert and academic from the University of San Sebastian. He said that Kast was elected because he promised to be an "emergency" government that would fix issues that were important to Chileans.
Bunker stated that Kast's priorities would likely remain the same, but the ability to implement them will be affected by factors such as the exchange rate and inflation, along with economic growth. Bunker also said if the government doesn't get the expected growth, some of its plans may be delayed.
Chile is the second largest lithium producer in the world and also has one of the highest copper production rates. Its economy is highly sensitive to changes on international markets.
Copper, Chile's primary export and its main source of income, has risen from less than $10,000 a ton in June last year to $13,618 a ton at the end January. According to the departing government, every percent increase is worth an extra $27 to $35 million to the Chilean Treasury.
Chile was expected to receive up to $4 billion more in revenue due to the rising prices of red metal. However, the price has fluctuated in recent weeks and dropped?upto 8% off recent highs. The price of the red metal has increased to $13,098 as of Tuesday.
Due to the lack of production in Chile, the country is one of the biggest oil importers of Latin America. This has increased the impact of oil prices that have risen by nearly $120 per barrel since the beginning of the war.
Oxford Economics, in a survey of emerging markets released on Monday, said that the Iran war had increased inflation risks significantly.
In its oil shock simulation the report showed that Q2 inflation was expected to rise between 0.4ppts and 1.7ppts.
Marcela Vera is an economist from the University of Santiago. She said that Chile is extremely sensitive to external shocks.
The economy is very open to free trade and has many agreements for financial protection. Its model is built on an export-oriented system.
Chile's IPSA stock index continued to rise after the election, and peaked at about a 65% increase from a year ago.
The Chilean peso has been on a steady rise since July, and in early February, it reached its highest level in many years.
Since those recent highs the stock market is down over 10%, and the currency has fallen about 5%. This is due to the rising oil prices and global uncertainty that has rocked the nation.
Vera pointed out that Chile's MEPCO fund operates in three-week cycles and helps?smoothed out price spikes.
Vera stated that if the war continued for several months, "we'd have a chronic impact on our economy." Vera said that the increase in oil prices would not be limited to the price of crude, but also the logistics costs and the value of the dollar.
JPMorgan released a report on Friday that stated while MEPCO reduces the impact of rising oil prices, "it does not eliminate the pass-through effect" and increased its inflation forecast for December by 20 bp.
(source: Reuters)