US is pursuing third oil tanker linked to Venezuela, highlighting escalating tensions between the two countries. The “active pursuit” pursuit of the tanker by the US Coast Guard is related to a “sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion”, a US official said. “It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.” The news is a factor that’s lifting oil prices today. “The market is waking up to the fact that the Trump administration is taking a hardline approach to Venezuelan oil trade,” said June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities.

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China kept a key interest rate benchmark unchanged for seventh straight month. China’s central bank kept policy steady despite recent economic weakness and an ongoing slump in its property sector.

The price of copper, a key commodity for the energy transition, rallies to a new high. Several Wall Street banks predict the metal will continue to rise in 2026.

Gold and silver prices rise to new record highs. Analysts cite escalating geopolitical tensions and expectations that the US Federal Reserve will continue to cut interest rates as factors.

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