A proposed CLARITY Act failed to secure the 60 votes necessary to advance to the next stage of consideration in the Senate, receiving opposition from 41 senators. While the bill has not been entirely dismissed, it is expected to face considerable delays. Analysts indicate that it is unlikely to pass in 2026 and will probably not be reconsidered until after the midterm elections.

The government intends to extend the export ban on diesel for producers until the end of October 2026, according to sources from Vedomosti. Presently, the restrictions are in effect until September 30. This decision is attributed to postponed refinery maintenance and the necessity to replenish reserves.

The head of Armenia's Central Bank, Martin Galstyan, described a potential increase in gas prices by Russia for Armenia as an "X-type scenario," characterizing it as an "apocalyptic phenomenon." He cautioned that such a development could have a dual negative effect on the country, resulting in rising inflation and heightened risks of reduced economic growth.

German space startup Isar Aerospace, supported by NATO's Innovation Fund, has announced plans to more than double its production capacity by 2028. The company recently launched its first space rocket from a Norwegian facility.

The U.S. House of Representatives has advanced a bill imposing stringent sanctions on Russia through a procedural vote, according to The Hill. This vote paves the way for a final decision on the legislation. If passed, the bill would authorize the Trump administration to implement tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian oil.

On September 16, 2026, the US House Committee will review a bill concerning a strategic Bitcoin reserve. The G20 energy meeting in Houston continues into its third day. Key economic indicators scheduled for release include UK consumer inflation data for August, EU industrial production figures for July, and US retail sales statistics for August. The US Energy Information Administration will report on oil inventories, Russia will release its Consumer Price Index data, and the Federal Open Market Committee will hold a meeting followed by a press conference. Additionally, Russia's Finance Ministry will conduct OFZ bond auctions. Circle is planning to launch its Arc blockchain.

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In recent foreign exchange updates, the US dollar is valued at 6.71 against the Chinese yuan and 87.8 against the Russian ruble.

The decline in U.S. government bonds has moderated.

Bitcoin maintained stability despite a procedural vote failure in the Senate regarding the CLARITY Act. Analysts consider a correction to the $70,000–$72,000 range to be consistent with a healthy bull market. Michael Saylor and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong have stated that Bitcoin's existence and growth are not contingent upon the CLARITY Act, underscoring its resilience and autonomy within the market.

🇷🇺 The IMOEX index continues to test the local maximum established in August.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) convenes today for a significant meeting. According to CME FedWatch data, market participants assign a 92.3% probability to an interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve during this session.

Yields on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds closed above 5% yesterday for the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis. Concurrently, 10-year French government bonds reached yields of 4.5%, a level not observed since 2008. In Japan, 10-year bond yields rose to 3.04%, marking a 30-year high.

At the most recent auction of U.S. 20-year bonds, demand from foreign investors reached a historic low.

The S&P 500 has been approaching its 50-day moving average for the fifth consecutive trading session. Market bears anticipate a decline in stock prices, whereas bulls expect an upward movement.

Average diesel prices in the United States continue to reach record high levels.

Foreign investors are currently acquiring U.S. stocks at a higher rate than government bonds, a phenomenon observed only three times in the past century. According to Deutsche Bank, this trend indicates significantly low demand for U.S. government bonds.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Finance has released the 2027 state budget proposal, featuring unprecedented defense expenditures. The country anticipates requiring $52.6 billion in international financial assistance for the year. Defense spending is projected to account for 43.8% of GDP.

Only four vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on September 15, according to RTRS.

Mark Zuckerberg has called on AI developers to take responsibility for the safety of their models. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Pentagon engaged in discussions on artificial intelligence with a co-founder of Anthropic, according to reports from BBG.

MTS, a Russian telecommunications company, has aligned its dividend policy with operating income (OIBDA), targeting a shareholder return of up to 20% of OIBDA or a minimum of 70 billion rubles by 2027-2028. This strategy, intended to provide shareholders with a substantial share of the company’s growth, includes dividend distributions three times per year beginning in January 2027. Approximately 70% of returns are planned to be delivered through dividends, with the remaining 30% via stock repurchases. Further details are available here.