United States

Microsoft plans to invest over $10 billion in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar between now and 2030. This will include cloud and AI infrastructure. As the Iran War continues, the US tech giant is making digital resilience an important part of its strategy in the region. Brad Smith, Vice-Chair and President of Microsoft, said that the investment was a reflection of both the "ongoing construction of infrastructure" and the "expansion of operations in the area". Gulf countries are investing billions in AI to diversify away from oil and natural gas. They believe that the abundance of land?and...

Seoul's Presidential Office said that US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung?welcomed a "significant progress" on strategic investment projects?during their 30-minute meeting at the UN General Assembly. The meeting took place after the South Korean Industry Ministry briefed legislators on Tuesday?on the implementation plans under countries' $350billion investment package. This included?a Texas-gas-fired project that was identified as a possible first investment as well as?potential investments in nuclear energy as well as an Alaska LNG project. Wi Sung Lac, National Security Advisor, told a press briefing that "the two leaders welcomed the significant progress?made?in discussions about strategic...

According to a document obtained by, the US Export-Import 'Bank will fund critical minerals?and _energy projects worth up to $7 bn in Argentina. This is part of a drive to strengthen economic cooperation between Washington DC and Buenos Aires. A person familiar with the issue said that the funding was part of a package which will be announced on Wednesday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The US is seeking greater access to Western Hemisphere minerals and energy. Washington and Buenos Aires' ties have been strengthened by a closer alignment in economic policy under Argentine president Javier...

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump?said that he supported the idea of a 'ban on diesel exports. Some US?politicians have called for a 'ban on the export of diesel as a way to tame the rising cost of energy. The price of diesel has risen to record levels in Europe and America as the wars in Iran, Ukraine and Russia have sharply reduced exports by some of the largest producers such as Russia and Saudi Arabia. "I said let's send the diesel out. We make a great deal of diesel... I've asked for it. I've asked for it among my people,"...

The price of diesel has risen to record levels in Europe and the United States as the wars in Iran, Ukraine and Russia have severely cut exports by some?of the?largest producers, such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, and there are few options to stop further gains. The price of diesel futures in Europe reached a record high last week, having more than doubled their value at the start of 2026. This was after supply disruptions reached the Red Sea where Saudi Arabia loads the majority of its diesel. Refineries around the world are working hard to produce fuels, despite the...

Three industry sources reported that the 'primary crude distillation' units of Russia’s largest refinery in Moscow, owned by Gazprom Neft (Gazprom), had halted processing crude oil after fires broke-out at their?main crude distillation? units following an?Ukrainian? drone attack on September 20. On Sunday morning, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced on Telegram that a facility at the refinery had been damaged during a drone attack on the Russian capital. On Monday, sources said that drones had crashed on the site and caused fires in the primary crude distillation units of the refinery. They also stated that it would take weeks to...

Oil prices fell on Monday, as investors hoped for a recovery of shipments from Saudi Arabia. This was despite the ongoing attacks by the?Yemeni Houthis which have escalated the tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude futures fell 81 cents or 0.78% to $103.06 per barrel at 0031 GMT, after falling 0.91% Friday. US West Texas Intermediate crude traded at $99.41 per barrel, down by 89 cents or 0.89% after a 1.58% drop in the previous session. Yemen's Iran supported Houthis claimed they attacked "sensitive sites" in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on Saturday using?missiles or drones. They also said that...

Iran warned against a new major attack by the United States or its allies on Sunday, saying it had received information that such an action was in preparation. This added to the tensions already present in a region on edge following drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Iran's central military command announced on state-run media that any further attack would result in a sustained retaliation, including against US interests and bases. Washington's regional partners would also be considered as parties to the conflict. It did not provide any further details on the information that it claimed to have about...

Two people familiar with the plan say that Russian President Vladimir Putin's top economic representative and Germany's AfD far-right leadership are preparing to meet in order to discuss restarting gas supply to Europe's largest economy. The talks for a March meeting highlight the close ties between Moscow and AfD. Although blocked from power by its rivals' coalition, AfD is Germany's most popular party among voters. One of the sources said that Kirill Dmitriev would attend, who is close to Putin and heads Russia's sovereign fund. He will also be joined by Alice Weidel, Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel, co-leaders of...

York Holdings, a supermarket and retail group, is expanding their'slate' of lower-cost items to appeal to consumers whose finances have been affected by inflation. Seiichiro Itabashi, chief executive of Ito-Yokado, and York-Benimaru, said that after being sold to Bain Capital by Seven & i last year, they are looking to adjust their prices and expand their product line to match the industry. Itabashi stated that the firm is aiming for an initial public offering in 2028. He said that many customer groups were extremely sensitive to prices. If you don't do price increases under inflation correctly, you risk losing customers....

Mihail Kogalniceanu Airport in Romania was designed to make Americans feel comfortable. The streets of the base are named Alabama (the state), Ohio (the state), Alaska (the territory) and George Washington. Since 1999, the base has been home to U.S. soldiers who have supported America's wars against Iraq and Afghanistan. About half of the roughly 2,000 American soldiers in Romania last year, the majority of whom lived at the base, left as the Trump administration began to realign the U.S. Military presence in Europe. The departures in Romania, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization bordering Ukraine country, caused alarm. MK, as...

India announced on Thursday that it was committed to ensuring the 'energy security of its people, and would continue to purchase supplies from a variety of sellers depending on market dynamics. This came hours after the United States. A new measure was taken to punish these buyers. New Delhi said it also warned Washington about any new actions that could affect the ties between both countries. The statement was made after the U.S. House of Representatives approved sweeping tariffs and sanctions to increase economic pressure against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The legislation allows President Donald Trump of the...

The unionized supervisors will urge members at BHP's Escondida Copper?mine to reject the latest 'contract offer' from the company, pave the way for a strike. BHP made the offer to union members at the end Tuesday of the formal negotiations process. The vote will take place between September 28-30. Alexis Barrera, union leader, said that the union board unanimously rejected this latest offer because it "lacked essential elements." * He called on union members to vote for a strike. * If members reject the offer by voting, then a five-day mandatory government mediation period follows, before a legal walkout can...

Indonesia has learned that gaining a dominant position on the nickel market is easy. It is much more difficult to use its influence on supply to control the prices. Southeast Asia now accounts for more than 60% of the global production of a metal that is used both by stainless steel manufacturers and battery makers of electric vehicles (EVs). Indonesia's dramatic rise to become a?nickel power? is due to a 2020 ban on exports, which forced operators into building domestic processing capacity. The country has become a'model for other developing nations, especially those in resource-rich Africa. It's also worth noting...

Indonesia has learned that establishing a dominant position on the nickel market was the easy part. It is much more difficult to use its influence on supply in order to control the prices. Southeast Asia now accounts for more than 60% of the global output of a metal that is used both by stainless steel manufacturers and electric vehicle battery manufacturers. The dramatic rise of Indonesia as a nickel superpower is the result?of a ban on ore exports in 2020, which forced?operators?to build up domestic processing capacity. This has become a model for other developing nations, particularly those in resource-rich...

Four sources have confirmed that the Democratic Republic of Congo has been preparing to create a "one-stop" agency for major mining investment as part of its reforms related to its partnership with US minerals. The aim is to reduce red tape and to attract more Western capital to a sector dominated largely by Chinese companies. Congo is the second largest copper and cobalt producer in the world. It is the center of the 'competition between global powers to supply critical minerals essential for the energy transition and advanced manufacture. China, the US and the European Union all signed mineral agreements...

The copper price?extended its gains for a six-session session on Tuesday, as the?top metals consumers China stocked up before holidays. However, a'stronger dollar' dampened the increase. Benchmark 'three-month' copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.7% to $14,770 per metric ton at 0930 GMT after gaining 1% the previous session. LME copper prices have risen 18% this year, mainly due to large metal flows to the US on speculation regarding tariffs on refined Copper. Sources told US officials that they were worried that tariffs could increase costs for manufacturers. EwaManthey, commodities analyst at ING, said that tightening physical market conditions...

The price of copper rose on Tuesday as demand from the top consumer, China, pushed it back to its previous record high. The benchmark three-month 'copper price on the London Metal Exchange rose?0.4% to $14,720 per metric tonne by 0700 GMT. This was the sixth consecutive session of gains. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract rose by 1.24%, to 111320 yuan (16,615.67) per ton. This was also aided by renewed speculative interest. Sandeep Daga is the head of research for Metal Intelligence Centre. He said that Chinese consumers are buying in advance of the holidays and shutdowns of...

The price of copper rose on Tuesday as strong demand in China, the world's largest consumer, pushed it back to its record high. By 0300 GMT the benchmark three-month copper price on the London Metal Exchange had risen 0.61% to $14,750.5 per metric tonne, marking a sixth consecutive session of gains. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract soared 1.56% to 111.670 yuan (16,675.88 dollars) per ton. This was also aided by renewed speculative interest. Yangshan Copper Premium On Monday, the?Chinese appetite for imported copper fell to $119 per ton, but it was still?65% higher than the beginning of...

According to a forthcoming study by the Inter-American Development Bank, the adoption of artificial intelligence in Latin America and the Caribbean could result in an increase of?5,1% for economic output after ten years. However, its impact on wages depends on the ability of workers to move into jobs that are expanding. IDB's flagship report for 2026, due in November estimates that regional economic output would only be 0.3% higher with limited AI adoption and small productivity gains. The wages of workers who move to expanding sectors could rise by up to 5.3%, or by as much as 2.3%. IDB is...

Two sources familiar with the matter said that the state-owned China Rare?Earth?Group was in negotiations to buy Shenghe Resources. This would consolidate Beijing’s control over the rare earth sector, and give Beijing a stake in Washington’s rare Earth play. The deal, if successful, would transfer control of Shenghe’s stakes in foreign companies, including a 3 percent share of US company MP Materials. This firm counts the US Department of Defense, its largest shareholder, after an investment made last year. Shenghe Resources confirmed that it had been made aware of "false reports" in overseas media about a rare earth enterprise group...

Gold prices reached a new weekly high on Friday. They were also on course to achieve their first gain in four weeks, as lower oil prices eased fears of inflationary pressures. However, a stronger dollar tempered gains. Gold spot was up 0.3% to $4,352.39 an ounce at 11:17 am EDT (1517 GMT) after reaching its highest level since the 11th of September earlier in session. Bullion is up 0.2% this week. US gold futures slipped 0.2% lower to $4,390.30. Oil has been the primary driver of inflation, and a reduction in oil prices will reduce inflation pressures. Investors in precious...

Gold prices rose to a new weekly high on Friday. They were also on track for their first 'gain' in four weeks, thanks to lower oil prices, which eased fears of inflationary pressures. However, a stronger dollar tempered gains. Gold spot was up 0.7% to $4,372.27 an ounce at 09:16 am EDT (1316 GMT) after reaching its highest level since the 11th of September earlier in session. Bullion is up 0.6% this week. US gold futures increased 0.3% to $4,411,20. Oil has been the primary driver of inflation, so a decrease in oil prices will reduce inflation pressures.?Precious Metal investors...

Are you looking for inspiration? Weekend Reads is a weekly roundup of what the Open Interest team was reading, watching, and listening to. This week's picks include AI safeguards and the 'power revolution', as well as Europe's quest for critical minerals. This weekend we are reading... ANNA SZYMANSKI is the Editor-in Charge of ROI. This week, US tech leaders warned that artificial intelligence could be a threat to humanity's existence. They were right. Reporters Eduardo 'Baptista' and Laurie Chen reveal in this article how Chinese officials are taking a different approach, while grappling with similar concerns. GAVIN MAGUIRE is a...