South America

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern on Monday over a possible increase in instability?in Venezuela following the capture by the U.S. of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. The 15-member Security Council met at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, just hours before Maduro had to appear before a Manhattan federal judge on drug charges - including narcoterrorism conspiracy. Maduro denies any criminal involvement. Guterres made the statement in a letter to the U.N. Political Affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo. Guterres called for all Venezuelan actors, including the government and opposition parties, to engage in a democratic and inclusive dialogue. He...

Keir starmer, British Prime Minister said that the United States was responsible for justifying its actions after it captured President Nicolas Maduro. He described the situation as being "not straight forward." "What Venezuela needs is a peaceful, democratic transition." Starmer said that this was the?position we held before the weekend and it is still our position. "International law is a framework, anchor, or benchmark against which we judge all other governments' actions. It is up to the U.S., of course, to justify "the actions" that they have taken. It's not easy. Even today, new developments continue to occur." Maduro was...

U.S. president Donald Trump threatened military action against Colombia's government on Sunday, telling reporters such an operation "sounds great to me". Bogota was furious. The remarks came after the United States captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro during a raid early on Saturday morning and whisked to New York?to face charges of drug-trafficking. Trump said to reporters on Air Force One that Colombia was also sick. It is run by a "sick" man who enjoys selling cocaine to the United States. He will not be doing this for long. When asked directly if the U.S. was going to pursue a military...

Venezuela's defaulted government bonds surged Monday after the surprise capture of President Nicolas Maduro by?U.S. Capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro was detained and removed to the U.S. after a military "raid" in Caracas on Saturday. This has fueled expectations that this will be one of largest and most complex sovereign debt restructurings ever. Analysts predict that the bond prices issued by Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the state oil company of Venezuela, will rise up to 8 cents per dollar or 20% in early European trading. JPMorgan analysts wrote in a client note that Venezuela and PDVSA bonds had roughly...

Investors warn that the geopolitical risk may be underestimated by markets after Donald Trump threatened to take further action in America. After President Trump announced that the U.S. will take over the oil-producing nation, investors held their nerve, despite oil prices falling modestly. Gold prices rose, however, due to safe-haven flows. Trump's threats towards Colombia and Mexico, while Washington hasn't made such an aggressive intervention in Latin America since 1989 when it invaded Panama, highlighted the aggressive change in U.S. policies and brought geopolitical risks to the forefront for financial markets in the beginning of the year. Vishnu Varathan is...

Oil analysts say that the?crude production?in Venezuela will increase in time, following a 'dramatic U.S. attack and the capture of its President. This is likely to raise?global supplies?and weigh on prices long-term. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on the weekend. U.S. president Donald Trump announced that Washington would seize control of the oil producing nation, and that the U.S. oil embargo remained fully effective. According to the London-based Energy Institute, the Organization?of Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC) member has about 17% global oil reserves or 303 billion barils, ahead of OPEC leader Saudi Arabia. Venezuela produced a...

The Trump administration, after removing Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela's president from power in 2017, is betting that it can intimidate Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro's inner circle to follow the US. Sources familiar with the situation claim that Trump administration officials have threatened to take further military action, which could result in a similar fate for them. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that the United States might consider a second'military operation' in Venezuela if Venezuelan interim government did not cooperate. Trump told reporters on board 'Air Force One', which was traveling from Florida back to Washington, that he would consider...

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and a senior legislator said at the weekend that "U.S. The actions of President Donald Trump in Venezuela are illegal and destabilising. However, they can be portrayed as an assertion of U.S. interest. Comments follow Trump's ?statement The United States has struck Venezuela, and Maduro and Maduro's wife have been captured and removed from the country. This prompted international reactions and calls for urgent UN discussion. Medvedev said to TASS that Trump's behavior was not only illegal, but also internally coherent as it served U.S. interest. "It is important to acknowledge...

Donald Trump announced that 'American oil companies are prepared to enter Venezuela to invest in restoring production, just hours after Nicolas Maduro had been captured by U.S. troops. Trump stated on Saturday that he would have the largest oil companies in the United States spend billions to fix infrastructure and oil infrastructure. They will also start earning money for the country. Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, and others have long histories in Venezuela. API spokeswoman: "We are closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, including their?potential impact on global energy markets." Chevron exports around 150,000 bpd crude oil from Venezuela to the U.S. Gulf...

On Saturday morning at 4:21, Donald Trump posted a message to his Truth Social platform. The United States had conducted a daring operation to capture Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro as well as his wife. Sources familiar with the situation say that the planning of one of the most complicated U.S. operations to date had been underway for months, and detailed rehearsals were conducted. The Army's Delta Force and other elite U.S. soldiers created an exact replica Maduro’s safe house to?practice how they would enter this heavily fortified residence. According to a source familiar with this matter, the CIA sent a...

On Saturday morning at 4:21, U.S. president Donald Trump posted a message to his Truth Social platform. The United States had successfully carried out an daring mission in order to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as well as his wife. Sources familiar with the situation say that the planning of one of the most complicated U.S. operations to date had been underway for some time, and detailed rehearsals were conducted. The Army's Delta Force and other elite U.S. soldiers created an exact replica Maduro’s safe house. They then practiced entering the heavily fortified residence. According to a source familiar with...

Here are some facts about Venezuela's oil industry, which was captured on Saturday by U.S. troops, according to U.S. President Donald Trump. RESERVES Official data indicates that Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, but its crude production remains at a fraction of its capacity due to mismanagement and lack of investment, as well as?sanctions. According to the London-based Energy Institute, Venezuela has about 17% or 303 billion barrels of global reserves, which is ahead of OPEC leader Saudi Arabia. According to the U.S. Department of energy, Venezuela's heavy oil reserves, located in Orinoco, are expensive to produce...

China's refined copper exports surged to records levels in the last year, as the world's largest buyer found itself in unusual competitive competition with the U.S. As the market values the possibility of U.S. tariffs, the CME's U.S. Copper contract continues to command an attractive premium over the price on the London Metal Exchange. The decision was deferred to June of this year. The ripple effect of U.S. metal delivery premiums is now emptying China's warehouse zones. China's exports jumped from 698.500 tons to 143,000 tons in November. This is already a record for the entire year. The total for...

The gold price fell on Wednesday, as investors booked profits after the prices briefly rose to a?one-week high in earlier trade. A stronger dollar was weighing on sentiment throughout the precious metals sector ahead of important U.S. employment data this week. As of 0330 GMT, spot gold was down 0.7% at $4,466.19 an ounce. Bullion reached a record-high of $4,496.71 on December 26. U.S. gold futures for February delivery fell 0.4% to $4,477.30. GoldSilver Central's managing director,?Brian Lan, said: "Precious Metals have increased (quickly this week) and there is a little profit-taking... The dollar has also pushed prices up." The...

The Ministry of Development Industry Trade and Services announced on Tuesday that Brazil is expecting a trade surplus between $70 billion and $90 billion by?2026. Last year's results exceeded government expectations. Latin America's biggest economy posted a $68.3-billion surplus in 2025. This is down from $74.2-billion in 2024, as imports increased faster than exports. This shows the resilience of the economy, despite high borrowing rates to control inflation. The surplus was higher than the most recent estimate of $61 billion by the Ministry. It followed a December surplus of $9.6 Billion. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin said at a press briefing...

Gold extended gains on Tuesday, boosted by demand for safe-haven assets after the 'U.S. The?capture' of Venezuela's President fueled global tensions. Investors awaited U.S. Payroll data to gain insight into the Federal Reserve interest rate policy. By 01:40 pm, spot gold had risen 0.8% to $4,485.39 an ounce. ET (1840 GMT), following a nearly 3-percent gain in the previous day, prices are now closer to the record high $4,549.71 set on December 24. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery settled?1% higher, at $4496.010. Jim Wyckoff is a senior analyst with Kitco Metals. He said that precious metals traders are more...

Gold extended gains on Tuesday due to the demand for safe-haven assets after 'the U.S. The capture of Venezuelan president fuelled global tensions. Investors awaited U.S. employment data to gain insight into Federal Reserve interest rate policy. By 11:50 am, spot gold had risen 0.9% to $4,488.10 an ounce. After a near 3% increase in the previous session at 1650 GMT, prices are now closer to the record high price of $4,497.11 set on December 24. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery advanced by?1% to $4496. Jim Wyckoff is a senior analyst with Kitco Metals. He said that precious metals...

Gold extended its gains on Tuesday, boosted by demand for safe-haven assets after the?U.S. The capture of Venezuela's President sparked global tensions. Investors awaited U.S. Payroll data to gain insight into the Federal Reserve interest rate policy. By 09:55 am, spot gold had risen 0.9% to $4,488.10 an ounce. After a near 3% rise in the previous session (1455 GMT), prices are now a little closer to the December 24 record high of $4,497.11. U.S. Gold futures for?delivery in February rose 1.1% to $4498.70. Jim Wyckoff is a senior analyst with Kitco Metals. He said that precious metals traders are...

The price of copper soared on Tuesday, as concerns about supply fueled a rally in the early part of the year. Nickel also reached a 15-month high above $18,000 per metric ton due to?Indonesia’s mine production curbs. In official open-outcry trading on the?London Metal Exchange, benchmark three-month copper was up 1.8% to $13,225 per ton. It had earlier jumped by as much as a whopping 3.1% to $13,387.50. Red metal prices have already increased by 6.6% since 2026. On Monday, they crossed $13,000, after a 42.2% increase last year. Ewa Mannthey, ING analyst, said that "Copper's?"move above $13,000" is driven...

Morgan Stanley predicted gold would reach $4,800 an ounce in the fourth quarter, surpassing last year's records. They cited falling interest rates, the change of leadership at the Federal Reserve and central bank and fund purchases. Morgan Stanley also stated in a note dated January 5 that the events of Venezuela over the weekend would likely attract buyers who are looking for a safe place to store their money. However, it did not mention this as one reason why its forecast was $4,800/oz. Bullion reached a record-high of $4,499.71/oz in December and ended 2025 at a gain 64%. This was...

Gold prices rose?on Tuesday, reaching a new high. The Federal Reserve's dovish remarks?boosted bets for interest rate reductions and Venezuelan tensions increased demand for safe-haven assets. As of 0722 GMT spot gold was up 0.4% to $4,463.63 an ounce after climbing nearly 3% the previous session. Bullion reached a record-high of $4,549.71 in December and recorded its best annual performance since 1979 with a 64% jump last year. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery? rose 0.5% to $4473.90. "The comments by Fed officials certainly didn't harm but it doesn’t seem like the calculus has changed that much." "We have a...

Gold prices rose again?on Tuesday, reaching a new high. The dovish remarks?of?Federal Reserve officials increased interest rate-cutting bets while Venezuelan tensions also boosted safe-haven demand. As of 0534 GMT spot gold was up 0.5% to $4,469.96 an ounce after a nearly 3% rise in the previous session. Bullion reached a record-high of $4,549.71 in December and recorded its best performance since 1979 with a 64% jump last year. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery rose by?0.7%, to $4481.30. The Fed's comments certainly did not hurt, but the calculation doesn't seem to have changed that much. "We have a busy week...

Gold prices rose again?on Tuesday, reaching a new high. The dovish remarks?of?Federal Reserve officials increased interest rate-cutting bets while Venezuelan tensions also boosted safe-haven demand. As of 0328 GMT spot gold was up 0.4% to $4,465.32 an ounce after rising by nearly 3% the previous session. Bullion reached a record-high of $4,549.71 in December and recorded its best performance ever since 1979 with a 64% jump. U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery edged up 0.3% to $4,465.70 per ounce on Tuesday. "The comments by Fed officials certainly didn't harm but it doesn’t seem like the calculus has changed that much."...

Local newspaper La Tercera reported that copper production at Codelco in Chile reached 1.332 metric tons by 2025. This is a slight improvement over the 2024 figure. La Tercera, citing sources, said that Codelco produced 1.332 millions tons in the last year. This is only a 4,000-ton rise from 1.328 million tonnes produced?in 2020. Codelco didn't immediately respond to an?request for a comment on the production number. In recent days, Codelco Chairman Maximo Pacheco said that production would increase in 2025 as compared to the year before. "We are happy to share with the country the fact that Codelco's production...