News

Brent Back to $100 — Houthis Rattle the Oil Market
The Houthis attacked two Saudi tankers, Encelia and Layla, with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones after the vessels violated the group's declared naval blockade in the Red Sea; a major fire broke out on one of the ships. Brent crude gained more than 8.5% over the week, approaching $105-110 per barrel, while spare capacity at both OPEC and the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has been drawn down to 40-year lows. The Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz have simultaneously turned into minefields — the market is reacting with

July 20–21: Middle East Escalation Weighs on Risk

On July 20, the Dow fell 0.6% and the S&P 500 dropped 0.2%, with eight of the index's 11 sectors closing in the red — healthcare and industrials each lost more than a percentage point amid a fresh flare-up of war in the Middle East and oil climbing above $90 a barrel for Brent. The direct takeaway: elites price in risk to the real economy at the slightest escalation of the conflict, and confidence in industrials remains fragile, sustained by volume rather than conviction.

July 21–22: Chips Override Geopolitics

Just a day

Russia-US: Lavrov and Rubio to Meet on July 23 — Moscow's Tough but Diplomatic Stance

A meeting between the heads of Russian and American diplomacy has been agreed upon. According to insider assessments, Moscow is set on a principled but restrained tone, while anticipating yet another attempt at deception from Washington. Knowing the rules of the game in advance is already half the victory in diplomatic poker.

EU: Brussels Struggles to Assemble 21st Sanctions Package — Von der Leyen and Kallas Off the Radar

Following talks in Baku between Russia and Germany, Brussels, according to available data, has stalled in

The FBI director will visit Moscow — a rare diplomatic gesture
According to Politico, FBI Director Kash Patel plans to visit Russia on 14–15 October — a signal of readiness for direct exchange on security and law-enforcement issues amid global turbulence. A visit at this level of the security services is a small opening for current diplomacy.

United Kingdom: Burnham and North Sea oil discussed with Trump
Trump said he discussed North Sea oil reserves with new British prime minister Keir Burnham — a logical topic against the backdrop of instability in the Persian Gulf and a reassessment of Europe’s

Ukraine sees Maidan-style protests amid discontent with Syrsky and Fedorov's dismissal
Large-scale rallies have erupted in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Odesa, with protesters expressing anger over Commander-in-Chief Syrsky and the dismissal of former Defense Minister Fedorov. The number of participants is multiplying day by day, with underground crossings packed with people. This marks the first large-scale domestic political protest of this magnitude inside a country at war in a long time. The front holds, while the rear begins to waver — a rare case where Ukraine's internal politics breaks through the war-dominated news agenda.

Andy Burnham to become UK Prime Minister

Worst Day on the Moscow Exchange Since September 2022
The MOEX index plunged 4.24% to 2,022.27 points — the sharpest single-day drop since September 26, 2022, when the index lost 7.49%. Gazprom shares fell below 90 rubles, returning to levels last seen during the 2008 global financial crisis. The trigger was rumors that negotiations over the "Power of Siberia 2" pipeline had stalled amid Beijing's demands for pricing at the level of Russia's domestic market. The index is drifting back toward levels seen at the start of the "special military operation," while Gazprom is retreating to 2008 levels. The symbolism

Iran strikes Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan — seventh phase of attacks on US facilities

Iran's military has announced a drone strike on the American Al-Azraq base, targeting fighter jets, residential quarters, and an equipment warehouse. Tehran described this as the seventh phase of a series of operations against US military facilities in the region. Jordan has traditionally avoided direct involvement in such conflicts, but Iran enjoys significant popular support within the country. Iran is methodically moving through the map of US allies one by one — Jordan has become the latest point on this route.

Iran attacks Kurdish separatists in

Iran escalates strikes in the Persian Gulf — sirens sound in Bahrain and Kuwait

Over the course of the day, Iran struck two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz — one flying the Emirati flag, the other under a Liberian flag — and hit two UAE-linked vessels, killing a crew member. By evening, air raid sirens were sounding in Bahrain and Kuwait, with explosions occurring in broad daylight and without prior warning. Meanwhile, Yemeni air defenses shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone, a Wing Loong II, underscoring the conflict's expanding geographic reach. Iran is now striking all sides of the

The EU to bar entry for Ukrainian men of conscription age — at Zelensky’s request
Media reports indicate that the EU is preparing a directive requiring Ukrainians to provide proof of exemption from mobilization in order to obtain temporary protection in Europe — this will also apply to women and is expected to take effect in spring 2027. According to unconfirmed information, the initiative emerged after Zelensky appealed to European leaders to close borders in order to return draft evaders to the front. Ukraine is asking its allies to shut their borders to its own citizens — a rare case

US: The AI Engine Keeps Running Despite the War

On July 10, the Dow rose 0.3% to 52,478, the Nasdaq added 1.3% on strong earnings from Meta and Micron, and the S&P 500 closed near an all-time high thanks to SK Hynix's blockbuster Nasdaq debut. The direct takeaway: elites continue holding capital in the tech segment even during the war in the Middle East, while the real economy is losing confidence — of the 11 S&P 500 sectors, nine closed in negative territory, with only technology and energy staying in the green.

Oil: A Sharp Upward Reversal Breaks the De-Escalation