๐จ The People's Republic of China has maintained its key interest rates for the 14th consecutive month. The 1-Year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) stands at 3%, with no changes expected from previous rates. Similarly, the 5-Year LPR remains at 3.50%, consistent with earlier forecasts. This stability in monetary policy reflects the government's approach to economic management during uncertain times.
โ ๏ธ๐ฎ๐ท The U.S. has conducted airstrikes on Iran for the ninth consecutive night, with Iran retaliating by targeting U.S. assets in the region. An important statement from the Houthis is expected today. Meanwhile, oil prices continue to rise, with Brent exceeding $90. The U.S. is on the brink of a full-scale military conflict with Iran following recent incidents resulting in the deaths of American troops in Jordan and Iraq. โ WAPO
โ๏ธ๐ท๐บ๐บ๐ธ Russia recently held a business conversation with the United States regarding global development after 2030. American officials acknowledged the existence of issues that have an "extraterritorial nature," according to Boris Titov, the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation, as reported by TASS.
๐ช๐บ Countries in the EU are increasingly reluctant to support sanctions against Russia due to potential consequences for their businesses, according to the Financial Times. Meanwhile, Merz stated that Germany continues to face an energy crisis stemming from the cessation of Russian gas supplies during an interview with ZDF.
โ ๏ธ๐บ๐ธ๐ท๐บ Trump has called for including Iran in the sanctions bill against Russia. Meanwhile, Rubio expressed his willingness to meet with Lavrov at the ASEAN summit.
๐ข๐บ๐ธ Rubio stated that countries need to pay for the protection the U.S. provides in Hormuz.
๐ข๐ฌ๐ง New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to increase oil production in the North Sea. Former President Donald Trump has backed the initiative, claiming it could transform the Kingdom from a "poor disaster" into one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Trump also stated that the North Sea has enough oil reserves to last for hundreds of years, with much of it still undiscovered.
๐จ In Germany, initiatives to restore communication channels with Russia have intensified amid discussions about potential EU involvement in negotiations to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, according to The Times.
๐ A new test flight of Starship is scheduled for July 23, according to SpaceX. Previously, CNBC reported that short-sellers have increased their positions in SpaceX stocks to one-third of the total free float. The outcome of the Starship launch, whether successful or not, could lead to heightened volatility in the company's shares.
โ ๏ธ๐ท๐บ The Central Bank of Russia is expected to raise its inflation forecast for 2026 to 6โ7.5% during its meeting on July 24, while maintaining the key interest rate at 14.25%. This information was reported by Izvestia. Major banks are also increasing interest rates on short-term deposits, according to Kommersant.
๐๐บ๐ธ The President of Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, Hyt Tarbert, addressed concerns regarding the company's stock price drop from $260 to $62. He stated that Circle is playing the long game. If the company achieves its goal of creating a fully functional internet platform infrastructure, stock prices are expected to rise in the long term.
๐พ X5 has acquired the alcohol distribution business from Nikolai Laushkin's "Gorod 77." The deal is estimated to be worth between 500 and 600 million rubles. โ Kommersant
โ๏ธ One of the largest international airshows for civil, military, and aerospace technology is set to open in Farnborough, Britain. The 45th Farnborough International Airshow will take place from July 20 to 24. Organizers claim this year's event is the largest in history, featuring over 1,500 exhibitors from 40 countries. This yearโs main focus will shift towards defense and new technologies, including AI and drones.
๐ Xi Jinping's visit to the United States is still scheduled for September, according to Marco Rubio.
๐ข๐ฎ๐ถ๐ธ๐พ Iraq and Syria have reached an agreement at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce summit in Washington to restore the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline, enabling oil transport bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. This development aims to enhance energy security for both nations. For more information, visit โ CNBC.
๐ช๐บ๐ท๐บ The European Commission is set to revise the 21st sanctions package against Russia, taking Greece's position into account. An economic analysis is expected to be presented on July 22 during a meeting of EU ambassadors, according to POLITICO. Previously, Greece blocked the sanctions package over concerns that the Commission's ban on transporting Russian LNG could impact the shipping company Dynagas. The Commission may also remove provisions regarding the Austrian bank Raiffeisen and consider freezing the price cap on Russian oil, with discussions scheduled for July 23.
๐ข๐จ๐ณ๐ท๐บ In the first quarter of 2026, China increased its imports of Russian oil by 16.7% year-on-year, reaching 57.28 million tons, according to the customs data from China, reported by TASS.