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The World Bank reduced its 2026 global growth forecast from 2.6% to 2.5% because of energy-supply disruptions and says the UK reported its first monthly contraction since August.
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The World Bank reduced its 2026 global growth forecast from 2.6% to 2.5% because of energy-supply disruptions and says the UK reported its first monthly contraction since August.
Open source reportGeography
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Multiple dossier
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Pacific Islands
Pacific Island leaders approved an Australia-backed plan for four regional police training centers and a multinational force intended to respond to regional crises.
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Chronology
The World Bank downgraded its global growth forecast for 2026 from 2.6% to 2.5%, blaming energy supply disruptions caused by the Iran war. Likewise, the UK reported its first monthly economic contraction since August, citing the effect of the war on output.
The World Bank reduced its 2026 global growth forecast from 2.6% to 2.5% because of energy-supply disruptions and says the UK reported its first monthly contraction since August.
Open source report•Aluminum: $3,591/ton •Antimony (global avg.): $34,645/ton •Cobalt: $56,290/ton •Copper: $13,310/ton •Gold: $4,710/toz •Natural Gas (Nymex): $2.51/MMbtu •WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $96.16/barrel
WTI crude at $96.16 per barrel, NYMEX natural gas at $2.51 per MMBtu, gold at $4,710 per troy ounce, copper at $13,310 per ton, cobalt at $56,290 per ton and antimony at $34,645 per ton, alongside aluminum, lead and zinc prices.
Open source reportThe Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published its annual report on global defense spending today, with a headline that total worldwide military expenditure grew for an 11th straight year to $2.89 trillion.
Global military spending increased for an 11th consecutive year to $2.89 trillion. $1.48 trillion to the United States, China and Russia combined and claims European spending rose 14% while U.S. spending declined slightly.
Open source reportThe U.S. and Iran are in no hurry to start a second round of direct peace talks, but both are engaging indirectly through Pakistani and Omani mediators.
Washington and Tehran are not moving quickly toward another round of direct talks but are communicating indirectly through Pakistani and Omani mediators. The war is costing the United States almost $1 billion per day.
Open source reportWTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $100.92/barrel
An market snapshot listing WTI crude at $100.92 per barrel, natural gas at $2.94 per MMBtu, gold at $4,542 per troy ounce and elevated prices for several industrial and strategic metals.
Open source reportOPEC+ producers - Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, and Oman - meet Sunday to set output targets for May.
Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria and Oman will meet Sunday to determine May oil-output targets.
Open source reportCOMMODITY AND COIN MARKET PRICES •Aluminum: $2,859/ton •Antimony (trioxide min. 99.65% fob China): $30,950/ton •Bitcoin: $95,597 - down over 20% from its October peak due to liquidity issues and a broader sell-off of tech and crypto assets.
Quoted prices include aluminum at $2,859 per ton, antimony trioxide at $30,950 per ton, cobalt at $48,570 per ton, copper at $10,852 per ton, gold at $4,080 per troy ounce, lead at $2,064 per ton, zinc at $3,021 per ton, Nymex natural gas at $4.47 per MMBtu and Nymex WTI crude at $60.09 per barrel. Bitcoin is listed at $95,597 and Ethereum at $3,202; Bitcoin’s decline from its October peak to liquidity issues and a broader technology and cryptocurrency sell-off.
Open source reportAluminum: $2,848/ton... Natural Gas (Nymex): $4.49/MMbtu... WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $60.22/barrel.
WTI crude at $60.22 per barrel, NYMEX natural gas at $4.49 per MMBtu, gold at $4,078 per troy ounce and prices for aluminum, antimony, cobalt, copper, lead and zinc. Bitcoin at $106,245 and Ethereum at $3,604.
Open source reportNATO members are now collectively producing as many units per month as Russia is.
According to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, the claim that alliance members collectively now manufacture as many ammunition units per month as Russia, compared with an asserted four-to-one Russian advantage five months earlier.
Open source reportPres. Trump revived his threat to slap 100% tariffs on Chinese goods in retaliation for China's announcement of new export controls on rare earths last week.
Trump revived a threat to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods after Beijing announced new rare-earth export controls. Trump questioned whether to meet Xi Jinping at an upcoming South Korea summit.
Open source reportGold: $4,076/toz... Natural Gas (Nymex): $3.09/MMbtu... WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $59.98/barrel
The listed snapshot includes gold at $4,076 per troy ounce, WTI crude at $59.98 per barrel, natural gas at $3.09 per MMBtu, copper at $10,518 per ton, and bitcoin at $114,876, alongside other metals and Ethereum.
Open source reportGold: $3,472/toz - near record highs on concerns about stubborn U.S. inflation and uncertainty over the future of the Federal Reserve's independence
The market snapshot lists gold at $3,472 per troy ounce, WTI crude at $64.64 per barrel and Nymex natural gas at $3.03 per MMBtu, alongside several industrial-metal and cryptocurrency prices.
Open source report•Aluminum: $2,638/ton •Antimony (trioxide min. 99.65% fob China): $30,950/ton •Bitcoin: $112,266 •Cobalt: $33,335/ton •Copper: $9,837/ton •Ethereum: $4,624 •Gold: $3,396/toz •Lead: $1,988/ton •Natural Gas (Nymex): $2.87/MMbtu •WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $64.19/barrel •Zinc: $2,814/ton
Aluminum at $2,638 per ton, antimony trioxide at $30,950 per ton, cobalt at $33,335 per ton, copper at $9,837 per ton, gold at $3,396 per troy ounce, WTI crude at $64.19 per barrel, Nymex natural gas at $2.87 per MMBtu, Bitcoin at $112,266 and Ethereum at $4,624, alongside lead and zinc prices.
Open source reportThe two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit starts Sunday. China's Pres. Xi, Russia's Pres. Putin, and India's Prime Minister Modi will all attend, but the meetings aren't expected to lead to groundbreaking new declarations or alliances.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit begins Sunday and will be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meetings are unlikely to produce groundbreaking declarations or alliances.
Open source report•Aluminum: $2,609/ton •Antimony (trioxide min. 99.65% fob China): $30,950/ton •Bitcoin: $120,596 •Cobalt: $33,335/ton •Copper: $9,762/ton
The listed prices include gold at $3,363 per troy ounce, WTI crude at $64 per barrel, natural gas at $2.92 per MMBtu, bitcoin at $120,596, and several industrial metals.
Open source reportSeven European leaders - including France's Pres. Macron and Germany's Chancellor Merz - penned a joint statement standing behind a sidelined Ukraine and declaring that "the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine."
Seven European leaders issued a joint statement supporting Ukrainian participation, with European foreign ministers due to coordinate their positions.
Open source reportCOMMODITY AND COIN MARKET PRICES •Aluminum: $2,595/ton •Antimony (trioxide min. 99.65% fob China): $30,950/ton •Bitcoin: $101,590 •Cobalt: $33,335/ton •Copper: $9,878/ton •Ethereum: $2,463 •Gold: $3,286/toz •Lead: $2,044/ton •Natural Gas (Nymex): $3.53/MMbtu •WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $65.25/barrel •Zinc: $2,779/ton
Listed prices included aluminum at $2,595 per ton, antimony trioxide at $30,950 per ton, cobalt at $33,335 per ton, copper at $9,878 per ton, gold at $3,286 per troy ounce, natural gas at $3.53 per MMBtu, WTI crude at $65.25 per barrel, lead at $2,044 per ton, zinc at $2,779 per ton, Bitcoin at $101,590, and Ethereum at $2,463.
Open source reportAnalysts believe Xi will now use his Asian meetings to counter-position China as a stable trade partner - in juxtaposition to the unreliable one keeping global markets on edge.
An assessment that Xi would use his regional meetings to contrast China as a stable trade partner with uncertainty generated by U.S. tariff policy.
Open source reportXi, meanwhile, is on a charm offensive through Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia) this week.
Xi Jinping was traveling to Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia during the week, with the previously planned trip gaining significance after U.S. reciprocal-tariff announcements.
Open source reportCOMMODITY PRICES •Aluminum: $2,397/ton •Antimony (trioxide min. 99.65% fob China): $28,950/ton •Cobalt: $33,700/ton •Copper: $9,155/ton •Gold: $3,223/toz •Lead: $1,914/ton •Natural Gas (Nymex): $3.47/MMbtu •WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $62.03/barrel •Zinc: $2,652/ton
Aluminum at $2,397 per ton, antimony trioxide at $28,950 per ton, cobalt at $33,700 per ton, copper at $9,155 per ton, gold at $3,223 per troy ounce, lead at $1,914 per ton, Nymex natural gas at $3.47 per MMBtu, Nymex WTI crude at $62.03 per barrel and zinc at $2,652 per ton.
Open source reportCOMMODITY PRICES •Aluminum: $2,706/ton •Antimony (ingot min. 99.65% fob China): $25,450/ton •Cobalt: $26,960/ton •Copper: $9,614/ton •Gold: $2,901/toz •Lead: $2,019/ton •Natural Gas (Nymex): $4.60/MMbtu •WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $67.06/barrel •Zinc: $2,887/ton
Aluminum at $2,706 per ton, antimony at $25,450 per ton, cobalt at $26,960 per ton, copper at $9,614 per ton, gold at $2,901 per troy ounce, lead at $2,019 per ton, WTI crude at $67.06 per barrel and zinc at $2,887 per ton.
Open source reportCommodity Prices •Aluminum: $2,558/ton •Antimony (ingot min. 99.65% fob China): $33,550/ton •Cobalt: $24,300/ton •Copper: $8,982/ton •Gold: $2,618/toz •Lead: $1,970/ton •Natural Gas (Nymex): $3.77/MMbtu •WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $70.56/barrel •Zinc: $3,032/ton
The listed prices are aluminum at $2,558 per ton, antimony at $33,550 per ton, cobalt at $24,300 per ton, copper at $8,982 per ton, gold at $2,618 per troy ounce, lead at $1,970 per ton, NYMEX natural gas at $3.77 per MMBtu, NYMEX WTI crude at $70.56 per barrel and zinc at $3,032 per ton.
Open source reportAluminum: $2,604/ton •Antimony (ingot min. 99.65% fob China): $33,500/ton •Cobalt: $24,300/ton •Copper: $9,123/ton •Gold: $2,657/toz •Lead: $2,072/ton •Natural Gas (Nymex): $3.24/MMbtu •WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $68.06/barrel •Zinc: $3,072/ton
Prices for aluminum, antimony, cobalt, copper, gold, lead, natural gas, WTI crude oil, and zinc without providing corroborating market sources.
Open source reportNatural Gas (Nymex): $3.32/MMbtu •WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $69.53/barrel
Prices for aluminum, antimony, cobalt, copper, gold, lead, natural gas, WTI crude oil and zinc, including WTI at $69.53 per barrel and Nymex natural gas at $3.32 per MMBtu.
Open source reportthe choice to use B-2s to strike underground targets was also intended to send a message to Iran that its underground nuclear sites could be next.
Using B-2 bombers against buried Houthi facilities also demonstrated an ability to threaten hardened underground sites in Iran. A quoted statement attributed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the capacity to reach deeply buried, hardened, or fortified facilities.
Open source reportSo far, it's received a muted response.
The response to Zelensky’s plan is muted, citing NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s statement that the alliance would take note; aid announcements from the United States and Australia.
Open source reportChina opposed the plan and advocated against it: Beijing wants island nations to rely on it - and not Australia or its Western allies - for security.
China opposed the Australia-backed initiative; Beijing wants Pacific Island countries to depend on China rather than Australia or other Western partners for security.
Open source reportLeaders of Pacific Island nations approved an Australia-backed plan to establish four regional police training centers and a multinational force to respond to regional crises.
Pacific Island leaders approved an Australia-backed plan for four regional police training centers and a multinational force intended to respond to regional crises.
Open source reportRussia released sixteen prisoners - including wrongfully detained WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan - in a swap that also saw Western countries release eight Russian prisoners
Russia released 16 prisoners, including Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, while Western countries released eight Russian prisoners, including Vadim Krasikov, who had been imprisoned in Germany for murder.
Open source reportCommodity Prices •Aluminum: $2,289/ton •Antimony (ingot min. 99.65% fob China): $23,100/ton •Cobalt: $26,625/ton •Copper: $9,111/ton •Gold: $2,374/toz •Lead: $2,068/ton •Natural Gas (Nymex): $1.94/MMbtu •WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $75.86/barrel •Zinc: $2,669/ton
Aluminum at $2,289 per ton, antimony at $23,100 per ton, cobalt at $26,625 per ton, copper at $9,111 per ton, gold at $2,374 per troy ounce, lead at $2,068 per ton, natural gas at $1.94 per MMBtu, WTI crude at $75.86 per barrel, and zinc at $2,669 per ton.
Open source reportArab leaders in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Kuwait, etc. are walking between sympathizing with fellow Muslims in Gaza and suppressing public demonstrations supporting Gaza, which could churn up anger against their strict regimes.
Arab leaders as balancing public sympathy for Palestinians against concern that demonstrations could generate opposition to their governments.
Open source report