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EXCHANGE: COMEX
EXCHANGE: COMEX
CONTRACT: APRIL 2026 COMEX 100 GOLD FUTURES
SETTLEMENT: 4,742.400000000 USD
INTENT DATE: 04/13/2026 DELIVERY DATE: 04/15/2026
FIRM ORG FIRM NAME ISSUED STOPPED
323 C HSBC 8
363 H WELLS FARGO SECURITI 11
365 C MAREX CAPITAL MARKET 1
555 C BNP PARIBAS SEC CORP 38
657 C MORGAN STANLEY 34
661 C JP MORGAN SECURITIES 5
905 C ADM 3
TOTAL: 50 50
MONTH TO DATE: 18,092
MONTH TO DATE: 18,042
GOLD: NUMBER OF NOTICES FILED FOR APRIL/2026: 50 CONTRACTs NOTICES FOR 5,000 OZ or 0.1555TONNES
total notices so far: 18,092 contracts FOR 1,809,200 OZ OR 56.27 TONNES
SILVER NOTICES: 5 NOTICE(S) FILED FOR 5,000 OZ /
total number of notices filed so far this month : 1657 CONTRACTS (NOTICES) for 8.285 million oz
SILVER//OUTLINE
INITIAL STANDING FOR JANUARY: 22.915 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 1.185 MILLION OZ QUEUE JUMP//NEW NORMAL STANDING ADVANCES TO 49.445 MILLION OZ// TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR .100 MILLION OZ//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 49.545 MILLION OZ!!
INTIAL STANDING FOR FEBRUARY/SILVER: 13.505 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S HUGE 0.005 MILLION OZ QUEUE JUMP / : NEW STANDING FOR SILVER AT THE COMEX ADVANCES TO 25.180 MILLION OZ. BUT WE MUST ADD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 25 CONTRACTS FOR .125 MILLION OZ AND THEN OUR SECOND EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF .0600 MILLION OZ TO OUR THIRD HUGE 2.825 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK!!
INITIAL STANDING FOR MARCH: A SURPRISINGLY LOW 31.076 MILLION OZ/ FOLLOWED BY A STRONG QUEUE JUMP OF 42 CONTRACTS OR 0.210 MILLION OZ/NEW STANDING REDUCES TO 46.060 MILLION OZ
INITIAL STANDING FOR APRIL: 7.120 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 4 CONTRACT QUEUE JUMP WHERE 20,000 ADDITIONAL OZ WILL TAKE DELIVERY OVER ON THIS SIDE OF THE POND. NEW STANDING FOR SILVER AT THE COMEX THUS ADVANCES TO 8.450 MILLION OZ
NOW OUR APRIL 2026 COMEX CONTRACT MONTH:
JULY: 50.925 MILLION OZ (QUITE SMALL)
AUGUST: 59.455 MILLION OZ (QUITE SMALL)
SEPT. 50.510 MILLION OZ.(QUITE SMALL)
OCT; 82.020 MILLION OZ (WILL BE STRONG THIS MONTH)/ OCC WANTS TO REIN IN THESE ISSUANCES!
NOVEMBER: 36.425 MILLION OZ
DEC: 45.765 MILLION OZ
JANUARY 2026: 134.270 MILLION OZ (WILL BE A VERY STRONG MONTH FOR EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL!)
FEB : 82.130 MILLION OZ
MARCH: 56.075 MILLION OZ
APRIL; 13.820 MILLION OZ
AND JULY: 46.720 MILLION OZ//
AUGUST: 4.70 MILLION OZ INITIAL STANDING PLUS TODAY;S 5,000 OZ QUEUE JUMP //NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 10.960 MILLION OZ
SEPTEMBER: 68.040 MILLION OZ NORMAL DELIVERY(INCLUDES ALL QUEUE JUMPING AND EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL TRANSFERS) PLUS 3.0 MILLION OZ EX FOR RISK = 71.040 MILLION OZ. (THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR SILVER SINCE MAY.)
OCTOBER: 39.565 MILLION OZ OF NORMAL DELIVERY INCLUDES ALL QUEUE JUMPING
PLUS
2.110 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK//TOTAL OZ STANDING IN OCT ADVAN
NOVEMBER: INITIAL STANDING AT 11.575 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 195,000 OZ QUEUE JUMP WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 9.155 MILLION OZ//STANDING ADVANCES TO 19.670 MILLION OZ/
DECEMBER: INITIAL AMOUNT STANDING FOR DELIVERY: 49.33 MILLION OZ// FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER STRONG 835,000OZ QUEUE JUMP+ DEC. FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK 0F .850 MILLION OZ + LAST WEEK.S 495,000 OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK AND THEN A 3RD ISSUANCE IF 1.00MILLION OZ THEN FINALLY DEC 249ISSUANCE OF 1.35 MILLION OZ EXCHANGE FOR RISK//NEW TOTAL EX FOR RIS IS 3.685 MILLION OZ // STANDING ADVANCES TO 68.415 MILLION OZ//
JANUARY: INITIAL STANDING 22.915 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 1.185 MILLION OZ QUEUE JUMP//NORMAL STANDING ADVANCES TO 49.445 MILLION OZ// TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 0.100 MILLLION OZ//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 49.545 MILLION OZ
FEB: 13.399 MILLION OZ IS OUR INITIAL STANDING FOR SILVER! TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP FOR 5,000 OZ AND THEN ADD OUR 3 EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR 3.010 MILLION OZ STANDING ADVANCES TO 28.190 MILLION OZ!!
MARCH: INITIAL AMOUNT OF SILVER STANDING IS 31.076 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY A FINAL 0.210 MILLION OZ QUEUE JUMP //NEW TOTAL STANDING ADVANCES TO 46.060 MILLION OZ
APRIL 2026: INITITAL AMOUNT OF SILVER STANDING 7.120 MILLION OZ FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 20,000 OZ QUEUE JUMP//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 8.943 MILLION OZ
- MAY: SUMMARY FOR MAY TONNES WHICH STOOD FOR DELIVERY:
4. AUGUST: 60.547 TONNES OF INITIAL GOLD FIRST DAY NOTICE FOLLOWED BY THE NET MONTH’S QUEUE JUMP OF 47.2312 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD THE FOLLOWING EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE RECEIVED FOR THE MONTH: 5.4432 TONNES EX FOR RISK/AUG 7 , AUG 11: 2.413 TONNES EX FOR RISK AND AUG. 12 OF 2.
5.SEPT: INITIAL 8.093 TONNES OF GOLD PLUS TODAY’S QUEUE JUMP OF 0.4883 TONNES PLUS 2.2827 TONNES OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK TODAY//NEW TOTAL EX. FOR RISK/MONTH = 22.923//NEW TOTAL STANDING FOR GOLD SEPT ADVANCES TO = 48.801 TONNES!!
6.OCTOBER: 90.012 TONNES OF INITIAL GOLD STANDING WITH TODAY’S TINY 0.00311 TONNES QUEUE JUMP WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS DURING OCT OF 76.1656 TONNES
THEN WE MUST ADD OUR 14.553 TONNES OF OUR ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK/6 OCCASIONS//NEW TOTAL OF GOLD STANDING ADVANCES TO 197.5141 TONNES OF GOLD.
7.NOVEMBER BEGINS WITH 15.651 TONNES INITIALLY STANDING FOR DELIVERY FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S QUEUE JUMP OF 2.323 TONNES FOLLOWED BY ALL PREVIOUS QUEUE JUMPS IN OF OF 21.3775 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR TWO EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE OF 4.5596 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 43.9716 TONNES OF GOLD.
8. DECEMBER BEGINS WITH INITIAL STANDING OF 83.813 TONNES OF GOLD FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 0.0TONNE QUEUE JUMP WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF: 37.163 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 115.390 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR 4 EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR DECEMBER OF 6.587 TONNES/NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 121.977 TONNES
9. JANUARY: INITITAL STANDING: 13.785 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FIRST EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL TRANSFER OF 0.08709 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 30.7117TONNES //NEW TOTAL QUEUE JUMPS 30.7117//NORMAL DELIVERY OF GOLD ADVANCES TO 36.8958 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 22.315 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 59.2108 TONNES.
FEB; INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY: 93.567 TONNES OF GOLD TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT 0.0248 TONNES 0.1555 TONNES QUEUE JUMP TO 41.2082 TONNES/ NEW NET QUEUE JUMP INCREASES TO 41.233 TONNES// AND THEN WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK: 10,080 CONTRACTS OR 31.251 TONNES//NEW STANDING REDUCES TO 157.878 TONNES
MARCH:: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY: 8.099 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD TODAY’S FAIR 4600 OZ QUEUE JUMP (0.2320 TONNES) AND THEN WE ADD OUR THREE EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 22.3818 TONNES //NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 67.6648 TONNES/
APRIL: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY: 52.600 TONNES FOLLOWED BY OUR SMALL 15 CONTRACT QUEUE JUMP FOR 1500 OZ//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 57.662 TONNES
MARCH:: SMALL INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD FOR MARCH AT 8.099 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD TODAY’S FAIR 46 CONTRACT QUEUE JUMP OF 4400 OZ OR 0.2320 TONNESAND THEN WE ADD BY OUR THREE EXCHANGE FOR RISK: 22.3818///NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 67.6648 TONNES OF GOLD./
APRIL: INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD; 52.600 TONNES FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 1,500 OZ QUEUE JUMP //NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 57.552 TONNES.
STANDING FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS JANUARY TO APRIL:
FINAL STANDING FOR GOLD, JANUARY CONTRACT AT 59.2108 TONNES OF GOLD
FEBRUARY: INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD: 157.878 TONNES!! WHICH INCLUDES ALL QUEUE JUMPING, THREE EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL TRANSFERS TO LONDON AND OUR SIX ISSUANCES EXCHANGE FOR RISK!!
MARCH: INITIAL STANDING AT 8.099 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FINAL DAY: 0.2320 TONNES QUEUE JUMP AND THEN ADD +22.3818 TONNES EXCHANGE FOR RISK//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 67.6648 TONNES
APRIL: INITIAL STANDING 52.600 TONNES PLUS 1,500 OZ QUEUE JUMP (0.0466 TONNES): NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 57.552 TONNES
JAN. 2025: 257.919 TONNES (ISSUANCE WILL BE PRETTY GOOD THIS MONTH BUT MUCH LOWER THAN LAST MONTH)
FEB: 207.21 TONNES//EX FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE (WILL BE A FAIR SIZED ISSUANCE THIS MONTH)
MARCH 130.84 TONNES//QUITE SMALL THIS MONTH.
APRIL; 208.57 TONNES. STRONG THIS MONTH
MAY: 113.499 TONNES OF GOLD EFP ISSUANCE//QUITE SMALL THIS MONTH
JUNE: 97.79 TONNES OF GOLD EFP ISSUANCE/EXTREMELY SMALL
JULY : 150.877 TONNES// QUITE SMALL
AUGUST: 175.86 TONNES A LOT LARGER THIS MONTH.
SEPT. 116.13 TONNES VERY SMALL
OCT. 252.72 TONNES//CERTAINLY MUCH LARGER THIS MONTH/VERY STRONG
NOV: 124.74 TONNES
DEC: 190.04 TONNES//GOOD SIZED THIS MONTH FINAL.
TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUED FOR YEAR 2025: 2,026.20 TONNES (LOWER THAN LAST YR 2,569.00 TONNES
JANUARY: 209.08 TONNES ( (WILL BE A STRONG MONTH FOR EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL)
FEB. 176.35 TONNES (WHICH IS A FAIR ISSUANCE)
MARCH: 214.67 TONNES//WILL BE STRONG ISSUANCE THIS MONTH
APRIL; 38.526 TONNES// WILL BE VERY SMALL THIS MONTH
HERE IS A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF HOW THE CROOKS FLEECE UNSUSPECTING LONG
YOU WILL ALSO NOTICE THAT THE COMEX OPEN INTEREST STARTS TO RISE BUT SO IS THE OPEN INTEREST OF SPREADERS. THE OPEN INTEREST IN WILL CONTINUE TO RISE UNTIL ONE WEEK BEFORE FIRST DAY NOTICE OF AN UPCOMING ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH (OCT), AND THAT IS WHEN THE CROOKS SELL THEIR SPREAD POSITIONS BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME OF THE DAY. THEY WILL USE THE SELL SIDE OF THE EQUATION TO CREATE THE CASCADE (ALONG WITH THEIR COLLUSIVE FRIENDS) AND THEN COVER ON THE BUY SIDE OF THE SPREAD SITUATION AT THE END OF THE DAY. THEY DO THIS TO AVOID POSIT
WHAT IS ALARMING TO ME, ACCORDING TO OUR LONDON EXPERT ANDREW MAGUIRE IS THAT THESE EFP’S ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO WHAT ARE CALLED SERIAL FORWARD CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS AND THESE CONTRACTS ARE LESS THAN 14 DAYS. ANYTHING GREATER THAN 14 DAYS, THESE MUST BE RECORDED AND SENT TO THE COMPTROLLER, GREAT BRITAIN TO MONITOR RISK TO THE BANKING SYSTEM. IF THIS IS INDEED TRUE, THEN THIS IS A MASSIVE CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD AS WE NOW WITNESS A MONSTROUS TOTAL EFP’S ISSUANCE AS IT HEADS INTO THE STRATOSPHERE.
The crooks also use the spread in the TAS account (trade at settlement). They buy the spot TAS (e.g. June) and sell the future TAS two months out (e.g. August). Then they unload the front month (i.e. unload the buy side first so the price of gold/silver falls. This occurs in the middle of the front delivery month cycle. They unload the sell side of the equation, two months down the road. The crooks violate position limits as the OCC refuse to hear our complaints.
First, here is an outline of what will be discussed tonight:
SILVER:
1.TODAY WE HAD THE OPEN INTEREST AT THE COMEX IN SILVER FELL BY A MEGA HUGE 1026 CONTRACTS
EFP ISSUANCE 454 CONTRACTS
OUR CUSTOMARY MIGRATION OF COMEX LONGS CONTINUE TO MORPH INTO LONDON FORWARDS AS OUR BANKERS USED THEIR EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO ISSUE:
MAY 454 CONTRACTS and 0 ALL OTHER MONTHS: ZERO. TOTAL EFP ISSUANCE: 0 CONTRACTS. EFP’S GIVE OUR COMEX LONGS A FIAT BONUS PLUS A DELIVERABLE PRODUCT OVER IN LONDON. IF WE TAKE THE COMEX OI LOSS OF 1438 CONTRACTS AND ADD TO THE 454 E.FP. ISSUED
WE OBTAIN A STRONG SIZED LOSS OF 572 OI OPEN INTEREST CONTRACTS FROM OUR TWO EXCHANGES WITH OUR LOSS OF $0.79
THUS IN OUNCES, THE LOSS ON THE TWO EXCHANGES TOTALS 2.860 MILLION PAPER OZ
OCCURRED WITH OUR LOSS IN PRICE.OF $0.79
2.ASIAN AFFAIRS APRIL 14 /2025
SHANGHAI CLOSED UP 38.07 PTS OR 0.95%
HANG SENG CLOSED UP 216.65 PTS OR 0.85%
Nikkei CLOSED UP 1377,23 PTS OR 2.44%
//Australia’s all ordinaries CLOSED DOWN 0.45%
//Chinese yuan (ONSHORE) CLOSED UP 6.8175
/ OFFSHORE CLOSED UP AT 6.8144 Oil DOWN TO 95.69 dollars per barrel for WTI and BRENT DOWN TO 98.34 Stocks in Europe OPENED ALL RED
ONSHORE USA/ YUAN TRADING 6.8175 (UP) OFFSHORE YUAN TRADING UP TO 6.8144 ONSHORE YUAN TRADING BELOW OFF SHORE AND UP ON THE DOLLAR// / AND THUS STRONGER/OFF SHORE YUAN TRADING UP AGAINST US DOLLAR/ AND THUS STRONGER
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1. COMEX DATA//AMOUNTS STANDING//VOLUME OF TRADING/INVENTORY MOVEMENTS
THE TOTAL COMEX GOLD OPEN INTEREST ROSE BY A SMALL 683 CONTRACTS UP TO AN OI OF 357,861 CONTRACTS (OI) , HAVING ADVANCED FROM OUR NEW LOW OI SET LATE LAST WEEK AND SURPASSING THE PREVIOUS ALL TIME LOW IN OI OF 354,581 SET APRIL6/2026. PREVIOUS TO THAT THE ALL TIME LOW IN OI WAS 390,000 SET IN THE YEAR 2001 WHEN GOLD WAS TRADING $260.00. THE CME SHOULD BE PROUD OF THEMSELVES AS MANY HAVE ABANDONED THIS CROOKED ARENA!!THUS OUR NEW ALL TIME LOW OF COMEX OI HAS NOW BEEN SET AT 354,581 WITH GOLD AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH $4700.00 WHICH MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE!!!
WE HAD NO T.A.S. LIQUIDATION DURING MONDAY’S TRADING. IT SEEMS THAT THE SPECULATORS CONTINUED AGAIN TO GO MASSIVELY ON THE LONG SIDE WITH THE BANKERS TAKING THE SHORT SIDE, SUPPLYING THE NECESSARY PAPER, AS WELL AS COVERING THEIR SHORTFALL.
CENTRAL BANKS ALSO TENDERED THEIR NEW LONG CONTRACTS AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR PHYSICAL GOLD. YOU CAN VISUALIZE THIS WITH THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING AT THE COMEX FOR THIS APRIL CONTRACT MONTH!!
THE STRONG SIZED GAIN ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES OCCURRED DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE IN GOLD. THE SPECS HAVE NOW GONE MASSIVELY ON THE LONG SIDE AGAIN WITH THE BANKERS BUYING UP ALL THEY COULD AND COVERING THEIR SHORTFALL IN GOLD. THE SHORT SPECS WERE MURDERLIZED WITH THIS WEEK’S HUGE GAIN IN PRICE WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF A CEASEFIRE!.
WE THUS HAD A FAIR GAIN IN OI ON BOTH OF OUR EXCHANGES, THE COMEX AND LONDON’S EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL EQUATING TO 1988 CONTRACTS (OR 6.183 TONNES) DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE, AS WE WERE INFORMED OF A FAIR 1305 CONTRACT EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ISSUANCE..
THEN WE WERE NOTIFIED TODAY OF A ZERO CONTRACT EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE IN GOLD CONTRACTS FOR 0 OZ OR 0.0 TONNES OF GOLD.
DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE FEBRUARY CONTRACT MONTH, WE HAD TWO IDENTICAL MONSTER 3,000 CONTRACT ISSUED FOR THE SAME 9.33 TONNES OF GOLD, AND THESE WERE THE HIGHEST EVER IN TONNAGE EVER ISSUED BY THE COMEX. ALTOGETHER THE TOTAL ISSUANCE FOR FEB TOTALLED SIX.(31.251 TONNES).
MARCH:
THURSDAY MARCH 17 WE RECEIVED ITS INITIAL 2000 CONTRACT EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE FOR 6.22 TONNES. LAST FRIDAY: 0 ISSUANCE OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK. BUT ON MONDAY MARCH 23 WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF OUR SECOND EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE FOR 2,200 CONTRACTS (220,000 OZ OR 6.843 TONNES) AND NOW FRIDAY WITH A MONSTER 2996 CONTRACTS FOR 9.3138 TONNES. THESE THREE ISSUANCES WILL NOW BE ADDED TO THE REGULAR AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING, I.E. 22.3818 TONNES TO OUR NORMAL GOLD STANDING TO GIVE US WHAT WILL STAND FOR PHYSICAL GOLD FOR MARCH!
APRIL;: 0 EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR FAR.
A LITTLE HISTORY OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK DECEMBER THROUGH TO APRIL:
IN DECEMBER WE HAVE RECORDED 5 ISSUANCES OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK/4 FOR DEC AND THE LAST ONE ON DEC 31 FOR JANUARY. WE NOW HAVE 3 CHOICES FOR THE RECIPIENT OF THIS ISSUANCE AND IT MUST BE A CENTRAL BANK. YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE BUYER ASSUMES THE RISK OF THAT DELIVERY. (THUS TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER IS 6.56 TONNES/4 OCCASIONS.
MONTH OF JANUARY/EXCHANGE FOR RISK
IN JANUARY THEY HAVE 6 TOTAL ISSUANCE : 3.446 TONNES EARLY, THEN JAN 9 ISSUANCE OF 9,331 TONNES AND THEN JAN 16: 0.1996 TONNES JAN 26: 1.499 TONNES, JAN 27: 3.160 AND FINALLY JAN 29: 4.659 TONNES TONNES//TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK JANUARY 22.315 TONNES WHICH WAS ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELVERIES.
AND FEBRUARY:
FEB EXCHANGE FOR RISK: NOW 6 ISSUANCES: 10,080 CONTRACTS FOR 1,008,000 OZ OR 31.251 TONNES!
HERE ARE THE CHOICES FOR THE RECIPIENT OF THOSE ISSUANCES:
1 THE CENTRAL BANK OF ENGLAND. BUT THEY RECEIVED CLEARANCE THAT THEIR GOLD IS BACK SO IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THEIR RESERVES.
2. THE CENTRAL BANK OF THE USA: THE FED. LOGICAL CHOICE AS THEY CLAMOUR TRYING TO REDUCE THEIR 106+ TONNES OF SHORTAGE. HOWEVER THEY SEEM NOT TO BE IN A HURRY TO COVER THEIR HUGE SHORTFALL
3. THE CENTRAL BANK OF CHINA AS THEY BATTLE WITS WITH THE USA.
TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR DECEMBER IS 6.56 TONNES AND THIS WAS ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELIVERY TOTALS..
THE JANUARY ISSUANCE OF 17.656 TONNES WAS ADDED TO OUR DAILY DELIVERY TOTALS!!
FEBRUARY ISSUANCES 6 FOR; 31.251 TONNES !! AND THIS WAS ADDED TO OUR DELIVERY TOTALS FOR THIS MONTH.
MARCH: CME ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR 2000 CONTRACTS FOR 200,000 OZ OR 6.22 TONNES OF GOLD DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, AND THEN MONDAY, MARCH 22, WE RECEIVED ITS SECOND NOTICE ISSUANCE OF 2200 CONTRACTS OR 220000 OZ (6.843 TONNES). THEN FINALLY WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF OUR THIRD EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 2996 CONTRACTS OR 9.3188 TONNES. TOGETHER ALL 3 ISSUANCES TOTAL 22.3818 TONNES WHICH WILL BE ADDED TO OUR NORMAL DELIVERY SCHEDULE.
APRIL: 0 EXCHANGE FOR RISK SO FAR.
DETAILS ON OUR NEW APRIL COMEX CONTRACT MONTH//
IN TOTAL WE HAD A STRONG SIZED GAIN ON OUR TWO EXCHANGES OF 10,024 CONTRACTS DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE ($50.60). HOWEVER, OUR FRIENDLY PHYSICAL LONDON BOYS HAD ANOTHER FIELD DAY AGAIN THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK AS THEY WERE READY FOR THE FRBNY.S CONTINUED ORCHESTRATED ATTACKS VERY EARLY IN THE COMEX SESSIONS AS THEY TRIED TO ABSORB EVERYTHING IN SIGHT FROM THEIR DAILY ATTACKS. LONDONERS EXERCISED THEIR BOUGHT CONTRACTS FOR PHYSICAL GOLD VIA THE EXCHANGE FOR PHYSICAL ROUTE AND THANKED THE FRBNY AND OUR SHORT SPECULATORS FOR THE THOUGHTFULNESS.
LONDON ANNOUNCED EARLY IN THE YEAR (AND SCARCITY CONTINUES TO THIS DAY) THAT THEY WERE OUT OF GOLD. WRONGLY IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR SHIPPING PHYSICAL GOLD TO COMEX FOR STORAGE DUE TO TRUMP’S INITIATION OF TARIFFS. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THIS GOLD LEFT LONDON TO OTHER CENTRAL BANKS, AND COMEX BANKS HAVE BEEN PAPERING THEIR LOSSES (DERIVATIVE) WITH KILOBAR ENTRIES. BOTH COMEX AND LBMA ARE WITNESSING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF GOLD LEAVING THEIR VAULTS.
THE LIQUIDATION OF T.A.S. CONTRACTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS OF JUNE THROUGH APRIL/ CONTINUES TO DISTORT OPEN INTEREST NUMBERS GREATLY ALTHOUGH THE T.A.S. ISSUANCES IN GOLD HAVE GENERALLY BEEN ON THE LOW SIDE COMPARED TO SILVER WHICH HAVE BEEN HUGE. TODAY’S NUMBER IS A STRONG SIZED T.A.S ISSUANCE CONTRACTS .THE CME NOTIFIES US THAT THEY HAVE ISSUED 2871 T.A.S CONTRACTS. THESE ARE GENERALLY USED FOR RAID PURPOSES TO STOP GOLD’S RISE AND TO TEMPER HUGE LOSSES IN OTC DERIVATIVE BETS AND IT WAS IN FULL FORCE DURING THIS WEEK WITH MUCH FAILURE DURING LONDON LBMA/OTC OPTION EXPIRY WEEK!! (APRIL FIRST DAY NOTICE)
IT SURE LOOKS LIKE THE BIS HAS SOMEHOW LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WITH ITS GOLD SWAPS WITH THE FRBNY AS THIS ENTITY FOR THE FED REFUSES THE BIS MARCHING ORDERS TO COVER AND THAT MAY EXPLAIN THE STRONG NUMBER OF T.A.S. ISSUANCES IN DECEMBER , JANUARY AND THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY TO GO ALONG WITH OUR HUGE NUMBER OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUED DURING THESE MONTHS INCLUDING FEBRUARY’S 6 EXCHANGE FOR RISK WHICH ALSO INCLUDED TWO MONSTER 9.3312 TONNE ISSUANCE (FEB 10 AND FEB 12). TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK/FEB EQUALS 31.251 TONNES!! AND MARCH’S THREE ISSUANCES FOR 22.3818 TONNES! OTHER CENTRAL BANKS ARE PAYING ATTENTION AS THEY TAKE DELIVERY OF HUGE AMOUNTS OF PHYSICAL GOLD.
FOR MARCH WE HAVE 3 EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCES SO FAR FOR 7196 CONTRACTS OR 719,600 OZ/22.3818 TONNES.. AS DELIVERIES OF GOLD THESE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE BEEN HUGE!!
APRIL: 0 SO FAR HAVE BEEN ISSUED
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY ON OUR LAST 12 MONTHS:
- FOR APRIL AT 209 TONNES
2. AND THIS CONTINUED INTO MAY WITH FINAL STANDING AT 90.23 TONNES.
3. JUNE WHICH IS A HUGE DELIVERY MONTH , FINAL STANDING WAS RECORDED AT A STRONG 93.085 TONNES. //(TOTAL NET QUEUE JUMPING FOR THE JUNE MONTH: 31.027 TONNES.)
4. IN JULY WE HAD HUGE DELIVERY NOTICES ESPECIALLY FOR A NON ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH WITH INITIAL STANDING AT 17.947 TONNES PLUS MANY QUEUE JUMPS + 3.75 TONNES EX FOR RISK = 41.106 TONNES OF GOLD // FINAL TOTAL TONNES STANDING JULY: 41.106 TONNES
5. FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST:
INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR AUGUST: 60.547 TONNES PLUS THE MONTHS HUGE QUEUE JUMPS OF 47.2312 TONNES +44.696 TONNES EX FOR RISK (7 ISSUANCES) //NEW STANDING 152.208 TONNES WHICH IS MONSTROUS!!!
6. FINAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR SEPT; INITIAL STANDING; 2,602 CONTRACTS OR 260,200 OZ FOR 8.093 TONNES OF GOLD FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 0.4883 TONNES QUEUE JUMP TO GO ALONG WITH TODAY’S 1.244 TONNES OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE TODAY AND // TOTAL EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE SEPT: 22.923 TONNES//NEW TOTALS STANDING ADVANCES TO 48.801 TONNES OF GOLD!!!
7. OCTOBER:
OCTOBER: INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD: 90.164 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR LATEST OCT 30 QUEUE JUMP OF 0.00311 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS OCT 29 QUEUE JUMP OF .4096 WHICH FOLLOWS; OCT 28 QUEUE JUMP OF .5069 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS OCT 27 OF 0.3048 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS: OCT 24 OF 0.8615 TONNES, FOLLOWING OCT 23 QUEUE JUMP OF 1.695 TONNES OCT 22 JUMP OF 8.622 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS OCT 21: 3.8600 TONNES TO OCT 20 QUEUE JUMP OF 7.695 TONNE
SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER STANDING:
NOVEMBER WHERE INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING IS REGISTERED AT 15.651 TONNES OF GOLD FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S QUEUE JUMP OF 2 TONNES AND FOLLOWED BY ALL OTHER NOV QUEUE JUMPS OF 21.3775 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR TWO EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE FOR 4.5596 TONNES.
/STANDING ADVANCES TO 43.9716 TONNES OF GOLD.
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DECEMBER: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY IN THIS ACTIVE MONTH IS 83.813 TONNES FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S 0.XXXX TONNES QUEUE JUMP. THIS FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPING: 37.163 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 115.390 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FOUR EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE OF 6.559 TONNES//NEW STANDING THUS INCREASES TO 121.977 TONNES
JANUARY: INITITAL STANDING: 13.785 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR QUEUE JUMP OF 0.000 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 30.7117TONNES //NEW TOTAL QUEUE JUMPS 30.7117//NORMAL DELIVERY OF GOLD ADVANCES TO 36.8958 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 22.315 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 59.2108 TONNES.
FEBRUARY: . FEBRUARY: INITIAL STANDING: 93.566 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 0.0248 TONNES WHICH MUST BE ADDED ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 41.2087 TONNES QUEUE JUMP//TOTAL QUEUE JUMP FOR FEB::ADVANCES TO 41.233 TONNES///STANDING ADVANCES TO 126.628 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 31.251 TONNES/NEW STANDING RISES TO 157.879 TONNES
MARCH: INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD: 8.099 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 0.2320 TONNES AND THEN WE ADD OUR THREE EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 22.3818 TONNES////NEW STANDING FOR GOLD ADVANCES TO: 67.6648TONNES WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY HUGE FOR A NON ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH!!
AND NOW APRIL 2026: INITIAL STANDING FOR GOLD: 52.600 TONNES FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S SMALL 1500 OZ (1.881 TONNES) QUEUE JUMP. THUS STANDING FOR GOLD AT THE COMEX ADVANCES TO 57.552 TONNES.
HERE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT STOOD FOR DELIVERY IN THE PRECEDING 48 MONTHS 2021-2024
DEC 2021: 112.217 TONNES
NOV. 8.074 TONNES
OCT. 57.707 TONNES
SEPT: 11.9160 TONNES
AUGUST: 80.489 TONNES
JULY 7.2814 TONNES
JUNE: 72.289 TONNES
MAY 5.77 TONNES
APRIL 95.331 TONNES
MARCH 30.205 TONNES
FEB ’21. 113.424 TONNES
JAN ’21: 6.500 TONNES.
TOTAL YEAR 2021 (JAN- DEC): 601.213 TONNES
YEAR 2022: STANDING FOR GOLD/COMEX
JANUARY 2022 17.79 TONNES
FEB 2022: 59.023 TONNES
MARCH: 36.678 TONNES
APRIL: 85.340 TONNES FINAL.
MAY: 20.11 TONNES FINAL
JUNE: 74.933 TONNES FINAL
JULY 29.987 TONNES FINAL
AUGUST:104.979 TONNES//FINAL
SEPT. 38.1158 TONNES
OCT: 77.390 TONNES/ FINAL
NOV 27.110 TONNES/FINAL
Dec. 64.000 tonnes
(TOTAL YEAR 656.076 TONNES)
JAN/2023: 20.559 tonnes
FEB 2023: 47.744 tonnes
MAR: 19.0637 TONNES
APRIL: 75.676 tonnes
MAY: 19.094 TONNES + 1.244 tonnes of exchange for risk = 20.338
JUNE: 64.354 TONNES
JULY: 10.2861 TONNES
AUGUST: 38.855 TONNES(INCLUDING .6842 EXCHANGE FOR RISK)
SEPT: 15.281 TONNES FINAL
OCT. 35.869 TONNES + 1.665 EXCHANGE FOR RISK =37.0355 tonnes
NOV: 18.7122 TONNES + 16.2505 EX. FOR RISK = 34.9627 TONNES
DEC. 47.073 + 4.634 TONNES OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK = 51.707 TONNES
TOTAL 2023 YEAR : 436.546 TONNES
2024/STANDING FOR GOLD/COMEX
JAN ’24. 22.706 TONNES
FEB. ’24: 66.276 TONNES (INCLUDES 1.723 TONNES EX. FOR RISK)
MARCH: 18.8398 TONNES + 1.1695 EX FOR RISK = 20.093 TONNES
APRIL: 2024: 53.673TONNES FINAL
MAY/ 2024 8.5536 TONNES + 3.3716 TONNES EX FOR RISK/= 11.9325
JUNE; 95.578 TONNES. + 1.045 TONNES EXCHANGE FOR RISK =96.623 THIS IS THE HIGHEST RECORDED GOLD STANDING SINCE AUGUST 2022
JULY: 11.692 TONNES
AUGUST 69.602 TONNES//FINAL STANDING
SEPT. 13.164 TONNES.
OCT 39.474 TONNES + + 20.917 TONNES EXCHANGE FOR RISK =60.391 TONNES
NOV . 11.265 TONNES +4.665 TONNES EXCHANGE FOR RISK/TUESDAY + 3.11 TONNES OF EX. FOR RISK/PRIOR = 19.0425 TONNES
DEC: 80.4230 TONNES PLUS DEC MONTH EXCHANGE FOR RISK TOTAL 14.6836 TONNES EQUALS 95.1066 TONNES
total year 2024: 540.30 tonnes
COMEX GOLD TRADING BEGINNING APRIL,. CONTRACT;
THE SPECS/HFT WERE SUCCESSFUL IN LOWERING GOLD’S PRICE( IT FELL BY $50.60)
WE HAD ZERO T.A.S. SPREADER LIQUIDATION // COMEX SESSION// DESPITE OUR LOSS IN PRICE , OUR LONG SPECULATORS REMAIN RELENTLESS POURING INTO THE COMEX STARTING TO BUILD ON ITS OI //(OTHER SPECULATORS WENT THIS WEEK ON THE SHORT SIDE AND THEY WERE TORCHERED YESTERDAY!!). OTHER EASTERN CENTRAL BANKS TENDERED FOR PHYSICAL EVERY NIGHT WHICH ALSO EXPLAINS THE HUGE NUMBER OF TONNES OF GOLD THAT STOOD FOR GOLD DURING THESE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS
MONDAY NIGHT//TUESDAY MORNING
THE CROOKS COULD NOT STOP OTHER CENTRAL BANK LONGS, SEIZING THE MOMENT, THEY EXERCISED AGAIN FOR PHYSICAL IN A BIG WAY TENDERING FOR PHYSICAL MONDAY EVENING/TUESDAY MORNING AND THUS OUR HUGE NUMBER OF GOLD CONTRACTS STANDING FOR DELIVERY AT THE COMEX. CENTRAL BANKERS WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE GOLD
A LITTLE REVIEW OF GOLD STANDING THESE PAST 7 MONTHS:
STANDING FOR GOLD OCT THROUGH TO APRIL:
- ANALYSIS// OCT DELIVERY MONTH GOING FROM FIRST DAY NOTICE// OCT COMEX CONTRACT TO FINALIZATION OCT 31:
OCT AT 90.164 TONNES TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALL PREVIOUS QUEUE JUMPS OF 75.696 TONNES WHICH WE ADD OUR 14.553 TONNES EX FOR RISK/6 OCCASIONS:
/ TOTAL STANDING 197.551 TONNE/OCTOBER FINAL//ABSOLUTELY A MONSTER DELIVERY FOR A NORMALLY QUIET OCT MONTH
2. AND NOW NOVEMBER:
NOVEMBER BEGINS WITH A HUGE 15.651 TONNES INITIALLY STANDING FOR DELIVERY FOLLOWED BY OUR TODAY’S QUEUE JUMP OF 2.323 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWED ALL OTHER NOVEMBER QUEUE JUMPS OF 21.3775 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR TWO ISSUANCES OF EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 4.5596 TONNES..
NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 43.9716 ONNES OF GOLD.
3. AND NOW DECEMBER:
3. DECEMBER: INITIAL AMOUNT OF GOLD STANDING FOR DELIVERY: 83.813 TONNES FOLLOWED BY A 0 CONTRACT QUEUE JUMP FOR NIL OZ OR 0.000 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS OTHER DEC QUEUE JUMPS OF: 0 TONNES///STANDING ADVANCES TO 115.390 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR FOUR EXCHANGE FOR RISK ISSUANCE OF 6.559TONNES/NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 121.977TONNES
4. JANUARY:
9. JANUARY: INITITAL STANDING: 13.785 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR QUEUE JUMP OF 0.000 TONNES WHICH FOLLOWS ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 30.7117TONNES //NEW TOTAL QUEUE JUMPS 30.7117//NORMAL DELIVERY OF GOLD ADVANCES TO 36.8958 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 22.315 TONNES//NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 59.2108 TONNES.
10. FEBRUARY: INITIAL STANDING: 93.566 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR LATEST QUEUE JUMP OF 0.0298 TONNES TO WHICH THIS IS ADDED TO ALL OTHER QUEUE JUMPS OF 41.2082 / NEW QUEUE JUMP ADVANCES TO: 41.233 TONNES//STANDING ADVANCES TO: 126.628 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR SIX EXCHANGE FOR RISK OF 10,080 CONTRACTS FOR 1,008,000 OZ OR 31.251 TONNES/NEW STANDING ADVANCES TO 157.879 TONNES
MARCH: INITIAL STANDING: 8.099 TONNES TO WHICH WE ADD OUR NEXT QUEUE JUMP OF 0.2320 TO WHICH WE THEN ADD OUR THREE EXCHANGE FOR RISK FOR 22.3818 TONNES// GOLD STANDING ADVANCES TO: 67.6648 TONNES/
APRIL: INITIAL STANDING: A VERY STRONG 52.600 TONNES FOLLOWED BY TODAY’S SMALL 1500 OZ QUEUE JUMP (1.881 TONNES). THUS STANDING FOR GOLD AT THE COMEX ADVANCES TO 57.552 TONNES
ALL OF THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH OUR LOSS IN PRICE TO THE TUNE OF $50.60
WE HAD A HUGE 8036 CONTRACTS REMOVED FROM THE COMEX TRADES TO OPEN INTEREST (CROOKS)//PRELIMINARY TO FINAL.
NET GAIN ON THE TWO EXCHANGES : 1988 CONTRACTS OR 198,800 OZ OR 6.183 TONNES
INITIAL GOLD COMEX
APRIL DELIVERY MONTH
APRIL 14 2026
| Gold | Ounces |
| Withdrawals from Dealers Inventory in oz | nil |
| Withdrawals from Customer Inventory in oz | ENTRIES; 2 2 entries a) Brinks 91,019.478 oz (2,831 kilobars) b) Manfra: 482.265 oz (15 kilobars) total withdrawal: 91,501.743 oz (2846 kilobars) or 2.846 tonnes |
| Deposit to the Dealer Inventory in oz | 0 ENTRY |
| Deposits to the Customer Inventory, in oz | DEPOSITS/CUSTOMER 1 ENTRY i) Into Brinks 2500.000 oz total deposit: 2500.000 oz xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxI |
| No of oz served (contracts) today | 50 CONTRACTS OR 5,000 OZ 0.1555 TONNES OF GOLD |
| No of oz to be served (notices) | 411 Contracts 41100 OZ 1.278 TONNES |
| Total monthly oz gold served (contracts) so far this month | 18,092 notices 1,809,200 oz 56.270 TONNES |
| Total accumulative withdrawals of gold from the Dealers inventory this month | NIL oz |
| Total accumulative withdrawal of gold from the Customer inventory this month |
dealer deposits: 0
DEPOSITS/CUSTOMER
1 ENTRY
i) Into Brinks 2500.000 oz
total deposit: 2500.000 oz
comex withdrawals:
2 entries
a) Brinks 91,019.478 oz (2,831 kilobars)
b) Manfra: 482.265 oz (15 kilobars)
total withdrawal: 91,501.743 oz (2846 kilobars)
or 2.846 tonnes
total withdrawal: 88,711.157 oz
or /2.75 tonnes
they are draining the comex of gold
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ADJUSTMENTs
adjustments: / / 1
ADJUSTMENTS ://DEALER TO CUSTOMER
a) Brinks 53,166.783 oz
1.653 tonnes leaves the dealer to the customer side.
COMEX IS DRAINING GOLD
chaos inside the comex
THE FRONT MONTH OF APRIL OI STANDS AT 461 CONTRACTS HAVING A LOSS OF 684 CONTRACTS.
WE HAD 699 CONTRACTS SERVED UPON MONDAY SO WE GAINED A SMALL SIZED QUEUE JUMP OF 15 CONTRACTS. THUS 1500 OZ OF ADDITIONAL GOLD WILL STAND ON THIS SIDE OF THE BORDER AND THIS EQUATES TO 0.0466 TONNES.
MAY GAINED 8 CONTRACTS TO AN OI OF 2990
JUNE IS A HUGE DELIVERY MONTH AND HERE THE OI FELL BY 332 CONTRACTS DOWN TO AN OI OF 264,025
We had 50 contracts filed for today representing 5000 oz
Today, 0 notice(s) were issued from J.P.Morgan dealer and 5 notices issued from their client or customer account. The total of all issuance by all participants equate to 50 contract(s) of which 0 notices were stopped (received) by j.P. Morgan dealer and 0 notice(s) was (were) stopped (received) by J.P.Morgan//customer account
To calculate the INITIAL total number of gold ounces standing for APRIL. /2026. contract month, we take the total number of notices filed so far for the month (18,092) to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of APRIL (461 CONTRACTS) minus the number of notices served upon today 50 x 100 oz per contract) equals 1,850,300 OZ OR (57.552 Tonnes of gold)
THUS: INITIAL total number of gold ounces standing for APRIL. /2026. contract month, we take the total number of notices filed so far for the month (18,092) to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of APRIL (461 CONTRACTS) minus the number of notices served upon today 50 x 100 oz per contract) equals 1,850,300 OZ OR (57.552Tonnes of gold)
new total of gold standing in APRIL is 57.552 TONNES//
TOTAL COMEX GOLD STANDING FOR APRIL 57.552 TONNES TONNES WHICH IS NOW HUGE FOR THIS NORMALLY VERY ACTIVE ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH OF APRIL.
confirmed volume MONDAY confirmed 144,508 poor
COMEX GOLD INVENTORIES/CLASSIFICATION
NEW PLEDGED GOLD:
241,794.285 oz NOW PLEDGED /HSBC 5.94 TONNES
204,937.290 OZ PLEDGED MANFRA 3.08 TONNES
83,657.582 PLEDGED JPMorgan no 1 1.690 tonnes
265,999.054, oz JPM No 2
1,152,376.639 oz pledged Brinks/
Manfra: 33,758.550 oz
Delaware: 193.721 oz
International Delaware:: 11,188.542 oz
total pledged gold: 1,921,741.416 oz 59.77 tonnes pledged gold lowers
total inventories in gold declining rapidly
total pledged gold: 1,921,741.416 tonnes oz 59.77 tonnes
TOTAL OF ALL GOLD ELIGIBLE AND REGISTERED GOLD 30,378,145.348 oz
TOTAL REGISTERED GOLD 15,932,154.974 or 495.556 Tonnes
TOTAL OF ALL ELIGIBLE GOLD 14,445,990.374 oz//eligible gold leaving hand over fist
REGISTERED GOLD THAT CAN BE SERVED UPON 14,010413 oz ((REG GOLD- PLEDGED GOLD)=
435.780 Tonnes //
total inventories in gold declining rapidly
SILVER COMEX
APRIL DELIVERY MONTH
APRIL14
| Silver | Ounces |
| Withdrawals from Dealers Inventory | NIL oz |
| Withdrawals from Customer Inventory | 4 entries i) Out of Asahi: 59,974.000 oz ii) Brinks 1531,564.765 oz iii) CNT 600,019.549 oz iv) Delaware 1014.900 oz total withdrawal: 2191,573.214 oz |
| Deposits to the Dealer Inventory | 0 entries xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx |
| Deposits to the Customer Inventory | DEPOSIT ENTRIES/CUSTOMER ACCOUNT a) Into Asahi: 293,725.400 oz b) CNT 400,418.930 oz total deposit: 894,144.330 oz |
| No of oz served today (contracts) | 5 CONTRACT(S) ( 5,000 OZ |
| No of oz to be served (notices) | 33 Contracts (0.165 MILLION oz) |
| Total monthly oz silver served (contracts) | 1657 contracts 8.285 MILLION oz |
| Total accumulative withdrawal of silver from the Dealers inventory this month | NIL oz |
| Total accumulative withdrawal of silver from the Customer inventory this month |
DEPOSITS INTO DEALER ACCOUNTS
0 entries
DEPOSIT ENTRIES/CUSTOMER ACCOUNT
DEPOSITS TWO ENTRIES
a) Into Asahi: 293,725.400 oz
b) CNT 400,418.930 oz
total deposit: 894,144.330 oz
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
withdrawals: customer side/eligible
4 entries
i) Out of Asahi: 59,974.000 oz
ii) Brinks 1531,564.765 oz
iii) CNT 600,019.549 oz
iv) Delaware 1014.900 oz
total withdrawal: 2191,573.214 oz
the comex is being drained of silver
the comex is being drained of silver
adjustments:
one adjustments customer to dealer: Brinks
a) Brinks 5209.900 oz
MONDAY volume: 60,690 oz
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TOTAL REGISTERED SILVER: 76.885 MILLION OZ//.TOTAL REG + ELIGIBLE. 324.846 Million oz
registered silver dropping in numbers
CALCULATIONS FOR THE NEW STANDING FOR SILVER FOR APRIL
silver open interest data:
FRONT MONTH OF APRIL /2026 OI: 38 OPEN INTEREST CONTRACTS FOR A LOSS OF 96 CONTRACTS. WE HAD 100 CONTRACT SERVED ON MONDAY, SO WE GAINED 4 CONTRACTS OR 20,000 OZ UNDERWENT A QUEUE JUMP. STANDING THUS ADVANCES TO 8.450 MILLION OZ WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD FOR THIS NORMALLY SMALL NON ACTIVE DELIVERY MONTH OF APRIL
MAY SAW A LOSS OF 4783 CONTRACTS DOWN TO 52,533 CONTRACTS.
JUNE SAW A GAIN OF 126 CONTRACTS UP TO 707 OI CONTRACTS
TOTAL NUMBER OF NOTICES FILED FOR TODAY: 5 or 5,000 oz
CONFIRMED volume; ON MONDAY; 60,690 fair
AND NOW APRIL. DELIVERIES:
To calculate the number of silver ounces that will stand for delivery in APRIL. we take the total number of notices filed for the month so far at 1657 X5,000 oz = 8.285 MILLION oz
to which we add the difference between the open interest for the front month of APRIL (38) AND the number of notices served upon today (5)x (5000 oz)
Thus the standings for silver for the APRIL 2026 contract month: (1657 )Notices served so far) x 5000 oz + OI for the front month of APRIL (38) minus number of notices served upon today (5 )x 5000 oz equals silver standing for the APRIL..contract month equating to 8.490 MILLION OZ.
NEW STANDING: 8.490 MILLION OZ WHICH IS STRONG FOR A GENERALLY LOUSY DELIVERY MONTH OF APRIL.
We must also keep in mind that there is considerable silver standing in London coming from our longs
There are ONLY 76.885 million oz of registered silver
JPMorgan as a percentage of total silver: 145.541/324.846million: 44.80%
The record level of silver open interest is 234,787 contracts set on April 21./2017 with the price on that day at $18.42. The previous record was 224,540 contracts with the price at that time of $20.44.
BOTH GLD AND SLV ARE MASSIVE FRAUD
APRIL 14/2026/WITH GOLD UP $83.55 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.714 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD//:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1047.192 TONNES
APRIL 13/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $50.60 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.514 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD//:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1048.906 TONNES
APRIL 13/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $50.60 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.514 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD//:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1048.906 TONNES
APRIL 10/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $11.90 TODAY/SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.724 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD//:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1052.42 TONNES
APRIL 9/2026/WITH GOLD UP $42.50 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.429 TONNES OF GOLD FROM THE GLD//:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1052.990 TONNES
APRIL 8/2026/WITH GOLD UP $88.95 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD A//:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1054.419 TONNES
APRIL 7/2026/WITH GOLD UP $5.25 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD A DEPOSIT OF 3.429 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD//:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1054.419 TONNES
APRIL 6/2026/WITH GOLD UP $5.30 TODAY/NO CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1050.99 TONNES
APRIL 2/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $132.75 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A DEPOSIT OF 3.714 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1050.99 TONNES
APRIL 1/2026/WITH GOLD UP $134.70 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A DEPOSIT OF 1.143 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1047.276 TONNES
MAR 31/2026/WITH GOLD UP $119.65 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A MASSIVE WITHDRAWAL OF 3.429 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1046.133 TONNES
MAR 30/2026/WITH GOLD UP $33.45 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.143 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1049.562
MAR 27/2026/WITH GOLD UP $103.55 TODAY/SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A DEPOSIT OF 0.285 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1052.705
MAR 26/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $213.05 TODAY/SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.580 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1052.42
MAR 25/2026/WITH GOLD UP $155.30 TODAY/SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A DEPOSIT OF 0.300 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1053.000
MAR 24/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $7.25 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 4.286 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1052.705
MAR 23/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $165.65 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 5.149 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1056.991
MAR 20/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $39,55 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 4.855 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1062.135
MAR 19/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $XXX TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 2.57 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD/INVENTORY RESTS AT 1066.99
MAR 18/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $111.80 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 1.144 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1069.564 TONNES
MAR 17/2026/WITH GOLD UP $6.80 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 0.857 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1070.708 TONNES
MAR 16/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $60.45 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 4/327 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1071/.565 TONNES
MAR 13/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $61.40 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 1.428 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1075.852 TONNES
MAR 12/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $49.25 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE DEPOSIT OF 3.715 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1077.28 TONNES
MAR 11/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $70.55 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE DEPOSIT OF 2.858 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1073.565 TONNES
MAR 10/2026/WITH GOLD UP $137.75 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:ANOTHER MONSTER WITHDRAWAL OF 2.614 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1070.707 TONNES
MAR 9/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $53.80 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:ANOTHER MONSTER WITHDRAWAL OF 2.573 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1073.321 TONNES
MAR 6/2026/WITH GOLD UP $77.25 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:ANOTHER MONSTER WITHDRAWAL OF 5.144 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1075.894 TONNES
MAR 5/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $49.00 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A WITHDRAWAL OF 18.032 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1081.038 TONNES
MAR 4/2026/WITH GOLD UP $9.55 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.545 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1099.07 TONNES
MAR 3/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $188.75 TODAY/SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A SMALL DEPOSIT OF 0.35 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1101.36 TONNES
MAR 2/2026/WITH GOLD UP $71.00 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A HUGE DEPOSIT OF 3.23 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1101,13 TONNES
FEB 27/2026/WITH GOLD UP $52.50 TODAY/SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A SMALL DEPOSIT OF 0.28 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1097.90 TONNES
FEB 26/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $30.25 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A MASSIVE DEPOSIT OF 11.45 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1097.62 TONNES
FEB 25/2026/WITH GOLD UP $48.40 TODAY/SMALL CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A SMALL WITHDRAWAL OF 0.300 TONNES OF GOLD OUT OF THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1086.17 TONNES
FEB 24/2026/WITH GOLD DOWN $47.40 TODAY/HUGE CHANGES IN GOLD AT THE GLD:A MASSIVE PAPER DEPOSIT OF 7.72 TONNES OF GOLD INTO THE GLD// /// ///INVENTORY RESTS AT 1086.47 TONNES
GLD INVENTORY: 1047.192 TONNES, TONIGHTS TOTAL GOLD INVENTORY
SILVER
APRIL 14 WITH SILVER UP $3.99: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.633 MILLION OZ OUT THE SLV// // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 490.991 MILLION OZ
APRIL 13 WITH SILVER DOWN 0.79: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.589 MILLION OZ OUT THE SLV// // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 491.624 MILLION OZ
APRIL 10 WITH SILVER DOWN 0.16: SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.724 MILLION OZ OUT THE SLV// // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 492.213 MILLION OZ
APRIL 9 WITH SILVER UP $0.91: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A DEPOSIT OF 2.173 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV// // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 492.937 MILLION OZ
APRIL 8 WITH SILVER UP $3.50: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 490.764 MILLION OZ
APRIL 7 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.89: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 490.764 MILLION OZ
APRIL 6 WITH SILVER UP $0.41: TINY CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:A SMALL WITHDRAWAL OF 0.224 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 490.764 MILLION OZ
APRIL 2 WITH SILVER DOWN $3.57: TINY CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.091 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 490.988 MILLION OZ
APRIL 1 WITH SILVER UP $1.38: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:A MASSIVE AND WITHDRAWAL OF 0.453 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 491.079 MILLION OZ
MAR 31 WITH SILVER UP $4.22: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV:A MASSIVE AND FRAUDULENT WITHDRAWAL OF 3.893 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 491.532 MILLION OZ
MAR 30 WITH SILVER UP $0.74: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: // :INVENTORY RESTS AT 495.425 MILLION OZ
MAR 27 WITH SILVER UP $1.91: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV: A HUGE WITHDRAWAL OF 3.351 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV// :INVENTORY RESTS AT 495.425 MILLION OZ
MAR 26 WITH SILVER DOWN $4.75: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// :INVENTORY RESTS AT 498.776 MILLION OZ
MAR 25 WITH SILVER UP $3.25: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// :INVENTORY RESTS AT 498.776 MILLION OZ
MAR 24 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.15: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A MASSIVE AND FRAUDULENT DEPOSIT OF 10.505 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV :INVENTORY RESTS AT 498.776 MILLION OZ
MAR 23 WITH SILVER UP $0.06: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// NO CHANGE IN INVENTORY/.. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 488.271 MILLION OZ
MAR 20 WITH SILVER DOWN $1.92: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.490 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV/.. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 488.271 MILLION OZ
MAR 19 WITH SILVER DOWN $6.22: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.9444 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV/.. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 490.761 MILLION OZ
MAR 18 WITH SILVER DOWN $2.36: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A DEPOSIT OF 1.087 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV/.. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 494.792 MILLION OZ.
MAR 17 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.89: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.351 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV/.. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 493.705 MILLION OZ.
MAR 16 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.57: HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF 2.536 MILLION OZ FROM THE SLV/.. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 497.056 MILLION OZ.
MAR 13 WITH SILVER DOWN $3.83: NO CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// . ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 499.592
MAR 12 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.51 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// ANOTHER MONSTER WITHDRAWAL OF 3.713 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 499.592 MILLION OZ
MAR 11 WITH SILVER DOWN $3.96 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// ANOTHER MONSTER WITHDRAWAL OF 1.812 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 503.305 MILLION OZ
MAR 10 WITH SILVER UP $5. HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A MONSTER WITHDRAWAL OF 1.63 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 505.117 MILLION OZ
MAR 9 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.30 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A MONSTER WITHDRAWAL OF 1.54 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 506.747 MILLION OZ
MAR 6 WITH SILVER UP $2.02 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A MONSTER WITHDRAWAL OF 5.526 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 508,287 MILLION OZ
MAR 5 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.98 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF 1.097 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 512.726 MILLION OZ
MAR 4 WITH SILVER DOWN $0.21 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A DEPOSIT OF 2.545 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 513.813 MILLION OZ
MAR 3 WITH SILVER DOWN $5.27 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF 2/899 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 511.268 MILLION OZ
MAR 2 WITH SILVER DOWN $3.87 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF 3.352 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 514.167 MILLION OZ
FEB 27 WITH SILVER UP $5.54 SMALL CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A DEPOSIT OF 0.544 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 517.519 MILLION OZ
FEB 26 WITH SILVER DOWN $4.05 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A WITHDRAWAL OF 0.906 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 516.975 MILLION OZ
FEB 25 WITH SILVER UP $3.43 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A FRAUDULENT PAPER DEPOSIT OF 8.923 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 517.881 MILLION OZ
FEB 24 WITH SILVER UP $0.55 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A FRAUDULENT PAPER DEPOSIT OF 10.056 MILLION OZ INTO THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 508.958 MILLION OZ
FEB 23 WITH SILVER UP $4.89 HUGE CHANGES IN SILVER INVENTORY AT THE SLV// A FRAUDULENT WITHDRAWAL OF 0.951 MILLION OZ OUT OF THE SLV. ./ :INVENTORY RESTS AT 498.902 MILLION OZ
CLOSING INVENTORY 490.991 MILLION OZ OF SILVER..
Swiss Bank Calls for $6,000 Gold by Year End
by VBL
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 9:03
GFN – GENEVA: Swiss private bank Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) has resumed buying gold after trimming positions during the Iran-driven selloff, signaling renewed confidence in bullion’s structural uptrend and reiterating a $6,000 year-end price target.
In the latest report from Bloomberg, UBP said it is gradually rebuilding gold exposure in discretionary portfolios after cutting allocations from roughly 10% to 3% during the recent drawdown, with positions now recovering toward 6% as market conditions stabilize.
“We have taken the first steps to rebuild” gold portfolios after the flush-out of “one-sided positions.”
The bank attributed the earlier selloff to a combination of rising rate expectations and liquidity stress, as investors were forced to liquidate gold holdings to meet margin calls and cover losses across other asset classes. That process, UBP noted, has largely normalized positioning across both institutional and retail segments.
“The risk of inflation is coming in more immediately.”
Despite short-term pressure tied to higher energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty, UBP maintains that the long-term case for gold remains intact. Structural drivers, including sustained central bank buying, persistent fiscal deficits, and ongoing geopolitical tensions, continue to underpin its bullish outlook.
UBP reiterated its forecast for gold to reach $6,000 per ounce by year-end, aligning with similar calls from major institutions such as Goldman Sachs and ANZ Banking Group, both of which have recently reaffirmed higher price targets for bullion.
Continues here
1.PETER SCHIFF
2. MATHEW PIEPENBERG/EGON VON GREYERZ
MATHEW PIEPENBURG…
XXX
JOHN RUBINO
ALASDAIR MACLEOD…
NO 268 DR STEPHEN LEEB…
4. ANDREW MAGUIRE/LIVE FROM THE VAULT NO 267
end.
5. COMMODITY REPORT//..ALUMINUM..
ASIAN AFFAIRS APRIL 14/2026
YOUR EARLY CURRENCY VALUES/GOLD AND SILVER PRICING/ASIAN AND EUROPEAN BOURSE MOVEMENTS/AND INTEREST RATE SETTINGS TUESDAY MORNING.7:30 AM
SHANGHAI CLOSED UP 38.07 PTS OR 0.95%
HANG SENG CLOSED UP 216.65 PTS OR 0.85%
Nikkei CLOSED UP 1377,23 PTS OR 2.44%
//Australia’s all ordinaries CLOSED DOWN 0.45%
//Chinese yuan (ONSHORE) CLOSED UP 6.8175
/ OFFSHORE CLOSED UP AT 6.8144 Oil DOWN TO 95.69 dollars per barrel for WTI and BRENT DOWN TO 98.34 Stocks in Europe OPENED ALL RED
ONSHORE USA/ YUAN TRADING 6.8175 (UP) OFFSHORE YUAN TRADING UP TO 6.8144 ONSHORE YUAN TRADING BELOW OFF SHORE AND UP ON THE DOLLAR// / AND THUS STRONGER/OFF SHORE YUAN TRADING UP AGAINST US DOLLAR/ AND THUS STRONGER
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
YOUR EARLY CURRENCY VALUES/GOLD AND SILVER PRICING/ASIAN AND EUROPEAN BOURSE MOVEMENTS/AND INTEREST RATE SETTINGS TUESDAY MORNING.7:30 AM
ONSHORE YUAN: CLOSED UP AT 6.8175
OFFSHORE YUAN: DOWN TO 6.8144
1.HANG SANG CLOSED UP 216.75 PTS OR 0.85%
2. Nikkei closed UP 1377.23 PTS OR 2.44%
WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE OIL UP TO 95.69
BRENT; 98.34
3. Europe stocks SO FAR: ALL GREEN
USA dollar INDEX DOWN TO 97.98/// EURO RISES TO 1.1780 UP 14 BASIS PTS
3b Japan 10 YR bond yield:RISES TO. +2.414 DOWN 6 FULL BASIS PTS/ VERY TROUBLESOME//Japan buying 100% of bond issuance)/Japanese YEN vs USA cross now at 159.09… JAPANESE YEN NOW FALLING AS WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE ENDING OF THE YEN CARRY TRADE AGAIN AND THE REPATRIATION OF YEN DENOMINATED BONDS TRADING IN THE USA/EUROPE. JAPAN 30 YR BOND YIELD: 3.722 DOWN 8 FULL BASIS PTS
3c Nikkei now ABOVE 17,000
3d USA/Yen rate now well ABOVE the important 120 barrier this morning
3e Gold UP /JAPANESE Yen UP CHINESE ONSHORE YUAN: 6.8175( UP AND OFFSHORE: UP AT 6.8144
3f Japan is to buy INFINITE TRILLION YEN worth of BONDS. Japan’s GDP equals 5 trillion USA
Japan to buy 100% of all new Japanese debt and NOW they will have OVER 50% of all Japanese debt.
3g Oil DOWN for WTI and BRENT DOWN this morning
3h European bond buying continues to push yields LOWER on all fronts in the EMU. German 10yr bund YIELD DOWN TO +3.0468 Italian 10 Yr bond yield DOWN to 3.806// SPAIN 10 YR BOND YIELD DOWN TO 3.490%
3i Greek 10 year bond yield UP TO 3.795%
3j Gold at $4776.65 //Silver at: 77.35 1 am est) SILVER NEXT RESISTANCE LEVEL AT $100.00
3k USA vs Russian rouble;// Russian rouble UP 0 AND 4 100 roubles/76.01
3m oil (WTI) into the 95 dollar handle for WTI and 98 handle for Brent/
3n Higher foreign deposits moving out of China// huge risk of outflows and a currency depreciation. This can spell financial disaster for the rest of the world/
JAPAN ON JAN 29.2016 CONTINUES NIRP. THIS MORNING RAISES AMOUNT OF BONDS THAT THEY WILL PURCHASE UP TO .5% ON THE 10 YR BOND///YEN TRADES TO 159.09 10 YEAR YIELD AFTER FIRST BREAKING .54% LAST YEAR NOW EXCEEDS THAT LEVEL TO 2.414% DOWN 6 BASIS PTS STILL ON CENTRAL BANK (JAPAN) INTERVENTION//YEN CARRY TRADE NOW UNWINDING//YEN BOND TRADING OVERSEAS REPATRIATED.//JAPAN 30 YR: 3.622 DOWN 8 PTS..: USA/SF this 0.7811 as the Swiss Franc . Euro vs SF: 0.9203
USA 10 YR BOND YIELD: 4.273 DOWN 2 BASIS PTS…
USA 30 YR BOND YIELD: 4.883 DOWN 2 BASIS PTS/
USA 2 YR BOND YIELD: 3.762 DOWN 2 BASIS PTS
USA DOLLAR VS TURKISH LIRA: 44.73 UP 1 BASIS PTS/LIRA GETTING KILLED//IDIOTS FOR SELLING GOLD
10 YR UK BOND YIELD: 4.8240 UP 4 PTS
30 YR UK BOND YIELD: 5.482 DOWN 5 BASIS PTS
10 YR CANADA BOND YIELD: 3.467 UP 0 BASIS PTS
5 YR CANADA BOND YIELD: 3.082 UP 1 BASIS PTS.
1a New York Opening report
1 b European opening report
Equities see modest gains with Crude under $100/bbl on second round negotiation hopes – Newsquawk US Market Open
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 05:41 AM
- Next round of talks between US and Iran could take place this week or early next week, according to the Iranian embassy official in Pakistan.
- US VP Vance said we made some progress in Iran talks, and he wouldn’t say things went wrong, while he added Iranians moved in our direction in talks, but not far enough.
- A US official said there is “continued engagement” with Iran and forward motion on trying to get to an agreement, while a senior US official also said talks between the US and Iran are continuing even now and there is progress in trying to reach an agreement, according to Axios.
- Energy eases amid continued reports of further US-Iran talks.
- Global equities gain on positive risk tone; US banks ahead.
- DXY soften, Kiwi continues to outperform while JPY helped modestly by reports BoJ is to increase price forecast.
- Fixed benchmarks gain, heavy speaker slate ahead.
- Looking ahead, highlights include US NFIB Business Optimism Index (Mar), ADP Weekly Change, PPI (Mar), South Korean Export/Import Prices (Mar), IMF World Economic Outlook Press Briefing (Apr). Speakers include BoE’s Bailey & Greene, ECB’s Lane, Cipollone & Lagarde, RBNZ’s Breman, Fed’s Goolsbee, Barr, Paulson, Collins & Barkin, Earnings from JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock, Citi, J&J, Wells Fargo & Kering.
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IRAN CONFLICT
- Next round of talks between US and Iran could take place this week or early next week, according to the Iranian embassy official in Pakistan. Further commentary by the Pakistan Foreign Ministry stating it offered to host a second round of US-Iran negotiations, no date or time has been set yet.
- Pakistani Journalist Mallick said “While Islamabad has offered to host the next round of in person talks between US and Iran, which could be held at a working level, to my understanding, date and venue for the next round has not been finalised as yet”.
- US and Iran discussing another round of face-to-face talks to secure longer-term ceasefire after Islamabad negotiations ended without a deal, while officials aim to meet again before two-week ceasefire expires next week, according to Clash report. AP also reported that US and Iran could be headed toward a second round of talks, while talks could happen on Thursday.
- US VP Vance said we made some progress in Iran talks and he wouldn’t say things went wrong, adds Iranians moved in our direction in talks but not far enough. Ball is in Iran’s court. We made it clear what US red lines are in Iran talks.
- US and Iran reportedly leave door open to dialogue after tense Islamabad talks, while a source stated that the parties came “very close” to an agreement and were “80% there”, before running into decisions that could not be settled on the spot.
- Iranian President Pezeshkian said to French President Macron in a phone call on Monday that Iran will negotiate only under international law, while he claimed that unreasonable US demands prevented an agreement in weekend talks between US and Iran. He further told Macron that a lack of US good will and maximalist positions prevented finalising an agreement in Islamabad, IRNA reports; further states that diplomacy is the preferred path to resolving disputes.
- Iranian Spokesman for the National Security Committee said the end of the truce should not lead to its extension, Al Mayadeen reported.
- US aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is sailing off the coast of Africa and is heading to the Middle East to join Operation Epic Fury, according to two US officials cited by WSJ.
- Saudi Arabia is pressing the US to drop its Hormuz blockade, with Gulf energy exporters worrying that Iran could escalate and close the Bab al-Mandeb, according to WSJ.
- Alarms have sounded in the Galilee Panhandle due to concerns over potential UAV penetration.
- Lebanese source said “The official mandate of Lebanon’s ambassador in Washington is limited to pursuing a ceasefire with Israel”, via Al Jazeera.
- Switzerland is reportedly ready to help diplomatic initiatives between the US and Iran.
- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov tells Iranian counterpart Araghchi that it is important to ensure that no new fighting breaks out, and Moscow is on high alert to help in the settlement, while the latter warned warns of dangerous consequences of US actions.
- US Secretary of State Rubio is to host Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors for talks on Tuesday, while the talks aim for ceasefire, Hezbollah disarmament and peace deal, according to Axios.
- Meeting between the Israeli ambassador and the Lebanese ambassador Lebanon will be held on Tuesday at 18:00EDT/23:00BST, according to Al Jazeera citing Israeli Channel 15 citing sources.
- Chinese President Xi makes four proposals on maintaining peace in the Middle East, according to Chinese press.
- UK Deputy PM Lammy meets with US VP Vance in Washington and urges Iran ceasefire to hold, while he stresses free shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
EUROPEAN TRADE
EQUITIES
- European bourses (STOXX 600 +0.6%) are rebounding from Monday’s losses as reports of a second round of US-Iran talks taking place as soon as Thursday brighten the risk tone. Outperformance is seen in the DAX, with gains of over 1%, while the FTSE 100 lags behind its peers. Imperial Brands (-8%) trades more softly after it delivered a trading update in which it kept its FY guidance unchanged as pricing in its tobacco business offset continued volume declines.
- European sectors are mainly in the green, with Utilities and Food, Beverage & Tobacco the only sectors with modest losses. Autos tops the sector pile, closely followed by Technology and Basic Resources.
- US equity futures continue to bid higher, with ES futures extending further beyond the 6,900 handle. Looking ahead, many of the US banks are set to report, including JPMorgan, Citi and Wells Fargo. As a reminder, Goldman Sachs reported its Q1 earnings, which were broadly positive, but shares slipped after FICC sales & trading revenue missed expectations.
- United Airlines (+1.9% pre-market), American Airlines (+4.8% pre-market) – United Airlines CEO pitched a possible merger with American Airlines to senior government officials, though it is unclear whether formal overture have been made, or a deal process is underway, according to Bloomberg. Any combination would face intense regulatory scrutiny even under the Trump administration, the report adds. (Bloomberg)
- Click for the sessions European pre-market equity newsflow
- Click for the additional news
FX
- FX began the morning with a slight positive bias which was exacerbated by reports that US and Iran will return to negotiations later in the week. This report sparked a risk-on move, with crude falling USD 1.7/bbl, DXY marking fresh session lows, and high-beta currencies benefiting. It is worth noting that the outlet that ran this headline has since tweaked the headline to “could” resume talks, when it previously said “to” resume talks. With regards to date and time, that is not yet confirmed, though Pakistani Journalist Mallick writes “While Islamabad has offered to host the next round of in person talks between US and Iran, which could be held at a working level, to my understanding, date and venue for the next round has not been finalised as yet”.
- The greenback looks to a busy day with US PPI and a packed calendar for Fed speak. Fed’s Goolsbee (2027 voter, Dovish; no text expected) will speak to Yahoo Finance, He is also set to take part in a panel discussion and give remarks to media separately today. Barkin (2027 Voter, Neutral; no text), Barr (Voter, Neutral; text expected), Paulson (2026 Voter, Dovish; no text) and Collins (2028 Voter, Neutral; no text expected) are to speak on rural economic development.
- DXY continues to trade below all significant DMAs after falling below 100- and 200-DMAs in Monday’s session. In terms of levels below, 97.87 marks the beginning of the war open, while today’s session low was marked at 98.11.
- NZD stays the best performer in the G10FX space as markets price in further bps of hikes from the RBNZ. Overnight, ANZ revised its rate outlook for the RBNZ, now forecasting hikes in July, September and October. This follows moves from other domestic banks, ASB expecting the OCR to rise in September and December to a terminal of 3.25% next year (Terminal consensus), mid next year. ANZ Chief Economist Zollner said it is fair to interpret the recent media appearances from Governor Breman as deliberate. As a reminder, Breman conveyed hawkish marks a few times last week. Elsewhere in the ANZ note, Zollner said we don’t have a strong view on July versus September. But we do have a pretty strong view that hikes will come before our previous call of December.
- JPY continues to be bound within 158-160 parameters. On Monday, remarks from BoJ Governor Ueda saw markets trim expectations of a hike in April’s meeting, with the Japanese curve implying 4bp of hikes (prev. c. 15bp). As such, the haven remains in lockstep with a slightly weaker USD (DXY -0.2%). There was a Bloomberg source that just hit the wires, which suggested BoJ was considering a sharp increase to its price forecast this month, while weighing a possible growth outlook cut due to high oil prices. This report pushed USD/JPY lower by around 10 pips to mark a session low of 158.85.
FIXED INCOME
- Global fixed benchmarks were firmer overnight and continued to move a little higher as the European session progressed. Initial optimism was facilitated by reports that the US is reportedly eyeing a potential second round of in-person talks with Iran as the blockade takes hold, according to CNN. AP reported that the US and Iran could be headed toward a second round of talks, which could happen on Thursday. The complex then took another leg higher after Reuters reported that US and Iranian negotiation teams are to return to Islamabad for peace talks later this week. Markets will now await any official confirmation on if/when talks begin.
- USTs are higher by 4 ticks, and currently trade within a 111-07+ to 111-14+ range. Today’s action is encapsulated by the above, but later on, the domestic docket is packed with Fed speak and US data. In brief, weekly ADP employment stats (prev. +26k average per week over the four-week window), US PPI (expected to rise 1.2% M/M vs prev. 0.7%) and NFIB Business Optimism Index are all expected. On Fed speak, Fed’s Goolsbee (2027 Voter, Dovish; no text expected), Barr (Voter, Neutral; text expected), Paulson (2026 Voter, Dovish; no text expected), Collins (2028 Voter, Neutral) and Barkin (2027 Voter, Neutral) are all to provide comments later.
- Bunds and Gilts also follow the above, extending gains of around 40 ticks and 45 ticks, respectively. For the UK, BRC Retail Sales rose 3.1% (exp. 0.9% prev. 0.7%). The firm pointed towards warmer weather/Easter holidays boosting momentum, but highlighted risks surrounding the Middle East war, which is “is weighing heavily on both retailer and consumer confidence”. On the monetary policy front, BoE’s Mann highlighted that wage expectations could rise amidst the energy price shock.
- For Germany specifically, a large jump in Wholesale Prices in March weighed on Bunds at a time, though ultimately proved fleeting. Much of the jump in prices was associated with rises in “energy products and raw materials”, amid the Iranian conflict.
- Germany sells EUR 3.953bln vs exp. EUR 5.0bln 2.50% 2031 Bobl: b/c 1.04x (prev. 1.1x), average yield 2.74% (prev. 2.72%), retention 20.9% (prev. 29.04%).
- The Netherlands sells EUR 2.81bln vs exp. EUR 2-3.0bln 2.50% 2031 DSL: avg. yield 2.795% (prev. 2.526%).
- Japan sold JPY 525bln 20-year JGBs; b/c 4.82x (prev. 3.25), average yield 3.327% (prev. 3.141%).
- Brazil to sell EUR-denominated 4yr, 7yr and 10yr debt via syndication.
- China’s Finance Ministry to reportedly meet with underwrites on Thursday to discuss ultra-long special Treasury Bond issuance, according to Reuters sources.
- France opens book to sell EUR-denominated June 2037 Green Oat via syndicate; guidance seen at +13bps to May 2036 Oat.
COMMODITIES
- In geopolitics, President Trump said Iran had contacted the US and wanted a deal “very badly”, while a US official said talks were still continuing and progress was being made. The US and Iran are discussing a second round of talks, potentially in Islamabad on Thursday, though nuclear weapons and any Strait of Hormuz blockade remain key sticking points. More recently, an Iranian Embassy official in Pakistan said the next round of talks between US and Iran could take place this week or early next week.
- Elsewhere, the IEA completed the monthly trio of oil market reports. In its release, the IEA sees global oil supply exceeding demand by 410k BPD in 2026, (prev. 2.46mln BPD). IEA said crude, fuel, and NGL flows through Strait of Hormuz at 3.8mln BPD in early April (vs more than 20mln BPD pre-war), and added that resuming flows through the Strait of Hormuz is the single most important variable for easing pressure on energy supplies and prices.
- Brent Jun fell below USD 99/bbl (USD 96.50-99.45/bbl range), and WTI Jun resided in a USD 90.19-92.10/bbl parameter. Dutch TTF fell -2.5% in choppy trade. Natgas supply is seen as sufficient this summer despite Iran war-related disruption, with National Gas Transmission expecting domestic output and Norwegian flows to meet demand during the lower-consumption warmer months.
- Spot gold rose to levels just shy of USD 4,800/oz after a two-day decline, as signs of diplomatic engagement slightly eased inflation concerns. The yellow metal resides towards the top end of a USD 4,743-4,797/oz range at the time of writing.
- Copper hit a one-month high and other industrial metals also advanced on optimism around talks, though investors remain cautious over escalation risks. 3M LME copper resides in a USD 13,054.95- 13,201.93/t. In trade, China’s export growth slowed sharply to 2.5% Y/Y in March, missing forecasts after February’s near-40% gain, while imports surged amid energy-related disruption; analysts said Lunar New Year distortions and a high base likely exaggerated the slowdown. Elsewhere, the EU reached a prelim deal to cut tariff-free steel imports by 47% to 18.3mln metric tons per year and double out-of-quota duties to 50%, while also moving to phase out Russian steel imports, potentially by September 2028.
- Russian oil product exports from Black Sea port of Tuapse revised up to 1.27mln tons for April (vs 794k tons in prev. plan), according to traders cited by Reuters.
- IEA OMR: sees world oil demand falling by 80k in 2026 due to Iran (prev. forecast for a 640k BPD rise); sees world oil supply falling by 1.5mln BPD in 2026 (prev. forecast for 1.1mln BPD rise). SUPPLY/DEMAND IEA sees global oil supply exceeding demand by 410k BPD in 2026, (prev. 2.46mln BPD)MIDDLE EAST. IEA said crude, fuel, and NGL flows through Strait of Hormuz at 3.8mln BPD in early April (vs more than 20mln BPD pre-war). Resuming flows through the Strait of Hormuz is the single most important variable for easing pressure on energy supplies and prices. RUSSIA. Russia may struggle to produce oil above levels seen in early Q1 due to attacks on ports. Russia’s March crude production up to 8.96mln BPD from 8.67 mln BPD in February. Russia’s March crude exports up by 270k BPD from February to 4.6mln BPD.
- Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear power plant offsite power has been restored via one power line. This comes following reports by the IAEA saying Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost all off site power earlier in the morning.
- US Energy Secretary Wright said US energy prices will likely rise in the next few weeks and remain until meaningful ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resumes. Venezuelan oil production has surpassed 1.2mln bpd, representing a 25% increase over three months. 150mln barrels of Venezuelan oil sold since January 3rd. There is an announcement coming soon about a large American company with a history in Venezuela ramping up production. By this summer is an aggressive timeframe now for oil and gas prices to start coming down.
- Chevron (CVX) is signing a deal with Venezuela’s PDVSA aimed at increasing production by joint ventures, according to state TV, while it agrees to asset swap with PDVSA.
- China is said to ease restrictions on certain BHP (BHP AT) iron ore cargoes.
- Petrobras (PBR) reportedly in early stage talks to buy back Brazil’s Mataripe refinery from Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala.
- SHFE said it will adjust price limits and margin requirements for certain gold and silver futures contracts from listing.
TRADE/TARIFFS
- Chinese President Xi said China and Spain should enhance cooperation and mutual trust, rejects the return to the law of the jungle, adds they are to jointly defend multilateralism and safeguard global development.
- China Foreign Ministry said if the US imposes tariffs on China over Iran related issues, China will take “firm” countermeasures.
- EU Chamber in China warns of expansion of China’s export controls and said EU companies continue to suffer from China’s export controls on rare earths, according to Handelsblatt.
- EU is considering flexibilities for methane regulation due to US pressure, while EU may ease forest protection law amid US pressure and the Trump administration is pressuring the EU to weaken Green Deal laws, according to Handelsblatt.
- EU reaches a provisional agreement on measures to limit steel imports.
NOTABLE EUROPEAN DATA RECAP
- German Wholesale Prices YoY (Mar) Y/Y 4.1% (Prev. 1.2%).
- German Wholesale Prices MoM (Mar) M/M 2.7% vs. Exp. 0.4% (Prev. 0.6%).
- Spanish Inflation Rate YoY Final (Mar) Y/Y 3.4% vs. Exp. 3.3% (Prev. 2.3%).
- Spanish Inflation Rate MoM Final (Mar) M/M 1.2% vs. Exp. 1.0% (Prev. 0.4%).
- Spanish Core Inflation Rate YoY Final (Mar) Y/Y 2.9% vs. Exp. 2.7% (Prev. 2.7%).
- Swedish CPIF YoY Final (Mar) Y/Y 1.6% vs. Exp. 1.6% (Prev. 1.7%).
- Swedish CPIF MoM Final (Mar) M/M -0.6% vs. Exp. -0.6%.
- Swedish Inflation Rate MoM Final (Mar) M/M -0.6% vs. Exp. -0.6% (Prev. 0.6%).
- Swedish Inflation Rate YoY Final (Mar) Y/Y 0.5% vs. Exp. 0.6% (Prev. 0.5%).
- UK BRC Retail Sales Monitor YoY (Mar) Y/Y 3.1% vs. Exp. 0.9% (Prev. 0.7%).
CENTRAL BANKS
- The BoJ is said to be considering a sharp increase to its price forecast this month, while weighing a possible growth outlook cut due to high oil prices, Bloomberg reports.
- BoE’s Mann says concerned that a price shock could show up in wage expectations; inflation expectations are very volatile if CPI is above 3-3.5%.
- ECB’s Rehn said it is unclear the war effect on medium term inflation, rate decisions not locked in beforehand. Monetary policy should not be based on a single price, such as oil; it should be based on the economy as a whole. Impact of the war on inflation is not straightforward.
- Fed’s Miran (voter, dovish dissenter) said expects inflation to be close to target in a year. No reason to think oil prices will remain elevated. Thus far, seems wise to look through this oil shock.
- The ECB is urging EU governments to fast-track common deposit insurance to break the impasse in banking integration while warning against softening guardrails to boost competitiveness, the FT reported.
- RBA Deputy Governor Hauser said not sure interest rates are at the right level to tame inflation, adds rates need to bring inflation to the 2-3% target and that Q2 headline inflation is around 5% due to fuel costs. Further, RBA’s Deputy Governor Hauser said inflation in Australia is too high and Australia’s supply capacity is constrained, adds energy price spikes has been a big income shock for Australia.
- Monetary Authority of Singapore tightens policy as expected by slightly raising the rate of appreciation of the SGD NEER policy band, while it made no change to the width and level the band is centred. In an appropriate position to respond effectively to any risk in medium-term price stability. Stands ready to curb excessive volatility in SGD NEER. MAS Core inflation will pick up and remain elevated over next few quarters. GDP growth will slow over the course of the year.
GEOPOLITICS
RUSSIA-UKRAINE
- Russian drones attacked Ukraine’s Izmail port and damaged a Panama-flagged vessel, according to Ukraine’s Deputy PM cited by Reuters.
OTHERS
- North Korea test fires a cruise missile and anti-warship missiles from a naval destroyer, according to KCNA.
CRYPTO
- Bitcoin nears USD 75k on improved risk sentiment, Ethereum bids towards USD 2.4k.
APAC TRADE
- APAC stocks traded higher as risk sentiment was underpinned by hopes regarding US-Iran peace talks after President Trump suggested Iran called the US and wants to make a deal very badly, while a US official said that talks between the sides are continuing even now and there is progress, with some reports also noting that the second round of face-to-face talks could take place this Thursday, although there hasn’t been any confirmation.
- ASX 200 was lifted by outperformance in tech and miners, but with the upside capped following a deterioration in Australian Consumer Sentiment and Business Confidence surveys.
- Nikkei 225 rallied to just shy of the 58,000 level with tech-related stocks dominating the list of best performers, including SoftBank, Advantest, NEC Corp and Renesas, all in the top five biggest gainers.
- Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp gained, but with the advances limited as participants also digested mixed Chinese trade data, in which exports disappointed and imports surged, while China Customs Vice Minister said the international situation is currently turbulent, geopolitical conflicts are intensifying and global oil prices fluctuate sharply.
NOTABLE ASIA-PAC HEADLINES
- South Korean Pension Fund allows more FX hedging to bolster KRW, Bloomberg reported.
- China will refine its drug pricing system with 14 measures, Xinhua reported.
- China Customs Vice Minister said China foreign trade situation had a good start.
- Japanese Finance Minister Katayama said to discuss financial markets and energy conditions with counterparts at meetings and ready to roll out measures to support Asian nations. Will maintain close dialogue with JGB market participants amid rising yields. Specific monetary policy operations are for the BoJ to determine.
NOTABLE APAC DATA RECAP
- Chinese Yuan-Denominated Balance of Trade (Mar) 354.8B (Prev. 1503.49B).
- Chinese Yuan-Denominated Exports YY (Mar) -0.7% (Prev. 36.1%).
- Chinese Yuan-Denominated Imports YY (Mar) 23.8% (Prev. 10.9%).
- Chinese Balance of Trade (Mar) 51.13B vs. Exp. 112B (Prev. 213.62B).
- Chinese Imports YoY (Mar) Y/Y 27.8% vs. Exp. 11.1% (Prev. 19.8%).
- Chinese Exports YoY (Mar) Y/Y 2.5% vs. Exp. 8.3% (Prev. 21.8%).
- Australian NAB Business Conditions (Mar) 6 (Prev. 7).
- Australian NAB Business Confidence (Mar) -29 (Prev. -1).
- Australian Westpac Consumer Confidence Change (Apr) -12.5% (Prev. 1.2%).
- Australian Westpac Consumer Sentiment (Apr) 80.1 (Prev. 91.6).
- Japanese Industrial Production MoM Final (Feb) M/M -2.0% vs. Exp. -2.1% (Prev. 4.3%).
- Japanese Industrial Production YoY Final (Feb) Y/Y 0.4% (Prev. 0.7%).
- Japanese Capacity Utilization MoM (Feb) M/M -0.1% (Prev. 2.9%).
1 c Asian opening report
Oil back below USD 100/bbl as reporting suggests US and Iran eyeing talks – Newsquawk EU Market Open
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 02:16 AM
- The US is reportedly eyeing a potential second round of in-person talks with Iran as the blockade takes hold, according to CNN.
- AP reported that the US and Iran could be headed toward a second round of talks, which could happen on Thursday.
- US VP Vance said we made some progress in Iran talks, and he wouldn’t say things went wrong, while he added Iranians moved in our direction in talks, but not far enough.
- A US official said there is “continued engagement” with Iran and forward motion on trying to get to an agreement, while a senior US official also said talks between the US and Iran are continuing even now and there is progress in trying to reach an agreement, according to Axios.
- An IRGC spokesperson said that if the war continues, they will unveil capabilities that the enemy has no idea about, according to SNN.
- APAC stocks traded higher as risk sentiment was underpinned by hopes regarding US-Iran peace talks; European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.4%.
- Looking ahead, highlights include Swedish CPIF Final (Mar), German Wholesale Prices (Mar), Spanish HICP Final (Mar), US NFIB Business Optimism Index (Mar), ADP Weekly Change, PPI (Mar), South Korean Export/Import Prices (Mar), IEA OMR (Apr), IMF World Economic Outlook Press Briefing (Apr). Speakers include BoE’s Mann, Bailey & Greene, ECB’s Lane, Cipollone & Lagarde, RBNZ’s Breman, Fed’s Goolsbee, Barr, Paulson, Collins & Barkin, Supply from the Netherlands & Germany. Earnings from JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock, Citi, J&J, Wells Fargo, BMW & Kering.
SNAPSHOT
Newsquawk in 3 steps:
1. Subscribe to the free premarket movers reports
2. Listen to this report in the market open podcast (available on Apple and Spotify)
3. Trial Newsquawk’s premium real-time audio news squawk box for 7 days
IRAN CONFLICT
- US President Trump said VP Vance has done a good job on Iran, while he added the US has been called by the other side, which wants to make a deal very badly, with the sticking point in talks being over nuclear issues. Trump also stated that the US will get nuclear material back and that if Iran does not agree to no nuclear weapons, there will be no deal. Furthermore, he stated that the blockade started at 10 am EDT as previously touted and that they may stop by Cuba after finishing with Iran.
- US President Trump posted “For those people that still read The Failing New York Times and, despite the fact that Iran has been totally OBLITERATED, Militarily, and otherwise, you would think that Iran is actually winning or, at the very least, doing quite well — But that’s not true, and The New York Times knows that it’s FAKE NEWS! When does this Corrupt Media Outlet apologize for their LIES and horrible actions against me, my supporters, and our Country itself! HAVE THEY NO SHAME? HAVE THEY NO SENSE OF DECENCY?”
- US President Trump said 34 ships went through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, which is the highest since the closure began. It was separately reported that at least 15–20 mainly Chinese, Pakistani, Russian and Iranian vessels recently transited the Strait of Hormuz using a controlled shipping corridor with IRGC permission after paying tolls.
- US VP Vance said we made some progress in Iran talks and he wouldn’t say things went wrong, while he added Iranians moved in our direction in talks, but not far enough. Vance also stated that the ball is in Iran’s court and have made it clear what US red lines are in Iran talks.
- US proposed that Iran accept a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment during negotiations in Islamabad over the weekend, while the Iranians countered with a shorter “single-digit” period, and the differences over Iran’s nuclear program — and in particular whether Tehran will agree not to enrich uranium and to give up its existing stockpile — were the main sticking points that prevented a deal, according to Axios citing sources. A source said the proposal included “all kinds of other restrictions,” while the US also asked Iran to remove all highly enriched uranium from the country, and Iranians said they would agree to a “monitored process of down-blending” it instead.
- US official said there is “continued engagement” with Iran and forward motion on trying to get to an agreement, while a senior US official also said talks between the US and Iran are continuing even now and there is progress in trying to reach an agreement, according to Axios.
- US eyes potential second round of in-person talks with Iran as blockade takes hold, according to CNN. It was also reported that US officials are weighing another possible face-to-face session with Iranians and are looking at potential dates and locations should ongoing talks with Iran and mediators in the region progress in the coming days, with the source describing the discussions as preliminary, according to CNN.
- US and Iran left door open to dialogue after tense Islamabad talks, while a source stated that the parties came “very close” to an agreement and were “80% there”, before running into decisions that could not be settled on the spot, according to Reuters.
- US and Iran are discussing another round of face-to-face talks to secure a longer-term ceasefire after Islamabad negotiations ended without a deal, while officials aim to meet again before the two-week ceasefire expires next week, according to reports. Furthermore, AP reported that the US and Iran could be headed toward a second round of talks, which could happen on Thursday, while a source in Tehran also said the next round of Iran-US direct talks will be held in Islamabad on Thursday.
- US aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is sailing off the coast of Africa and is heading to the Middle East to join Operation Epic Fury, according to two US officials cited by WSJ.
- Iranian President Pezeshkian said to French President Macron in a phone call on Monday that Iran will negotiate only under international law, while he claimed that unreasonable US demands prevented an agreement in weekend talks.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and warned of the dangerous consequences of US actions in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, while Lavrov told his Iranian counterpart it is important to ensure that no new fighting breaks out, and that Moscow is on high alert to help in the settlement.
- IRGC spokesperson said if the war continues, they will unveil capabilities that the enemy has no idea about, according to SNN on Telegram. IRGC spokesperson said they have not yet unveiled many of their capabilities and have methods of warfare that the enemy will not have much power to counter.
- Iranian Defence Ministry spokesperson said any military intervention by foreign powers in the security of the Strait of Hormuz would escalate the crisis and instability in global energy security.
- Iranian lawmaker said a draft bill, “Strategic Action for the Security of the Strait of Hormuz,” aims to redefine passage rules through the key waterway, while it was stated that charging tolls in rials or using yuan and crypto in energy trade would weaken US financial dominance and mark the start of de-dollarisation.
- Pakistani official said they intensified diplomatic attempts to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table, while they are awaiting replies from the US and Iran to resume talks, according to CBS citing sources.
- US Secretary of State Rubio is to host Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors for talks on Tuesday, while the talks aim for a ceasefire, Hezbollah disarmament and peace deal, according to Axios.
- Meeting between the Israeli ambassador and the Lebanese ambassador Lebanon will be held on Tuesday at 18:00EDT/23:00BST, according to Al Jazeera citing Israeli Channel 15 citing sources.
- Hezbollah’s head called on the Lebanese government to cancel the Tuesday meeting with Israeli officials in Washington. It was also reported that senior Hezbollah figure Wafik Safa said the group will not abide by any agreement reached during Tuesday’s meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington.
- Saudi Arabia is pressing the US to drop its Hormuz blockade, with Gulf energy exporters worrying that Iran could escalate and close the Bab al-Mandeb, according to WSJ.
- UK Deputy PM Lammy met with US VP Vance in Washington and urged for the Iran ceasefire to hold, while he stressed free shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
- British Defence Ministry said it has deployed additional military planners to the US Central Command “to explore the options for making the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe once the hostilities have ceased”.
- China’s Defence Minister Dong reportedly sent a message to the Trump administration and US Navy emphasising Beijing’s intent to continue operating in the Strait of Hormuz and uphold its agreements with Iran.
- Tanker that was heading to China was forced to reverse course under the US blockade, according to ship tracking data.
US TRADE
EQUITIES
- US stocks clawed back losses in which markets initially returned from the weekend in escalation mode after the US and Iran failed to reach an agreement, with equity futures lower, oil surging, and Treasuries under pressure. However, sentiment improved throughout the session on reports that talks remain ongoing and progress is being made, with the possibility of another in-person meeting before the ceasefire expires. As such, equities pared initial losses, with the Russell outperforming, while the Dow lagged amid weakness in Goldman Sachs (GS) following softer FICC trading revenues, while oil prices settled higher but well off overnight peaks, and Treasuries reversed earlier losses to close firmer.
- SPX +1.03% at 6,887, NDX +1.07% at 25,284, DJI +0.63% at 48,219, RUT +1.43% at 2,668.
- Click here for a detailed summary.
TARIFFS/TRADE
- EU reached a provisional agreement on measures to limit steel imports.
- EU Chamber in China warned of an expansion of China’s export controls and said EU companies continue to suffer from China’s export controls on rare earths, according to Handelsblatt.
- Chinese President Xi said China and Spain should enhance cooperation and mutual trust, while he rejects a return to the law of the jungle, as well as stated that they are to jointly defend multilateralism and safeguard global development.
NOTABLE HEADLINES
- Fed’s Miran (voter, dovish dissenter) said he expects inflation to be close to target in a year and there is no reason to think oil prices will remain elevated, while he added that so far, it seems wise to look through this oil shock.
- Fed’s Goolsbee (2027 voter) said if oil prices were USD 90/bbl month after month, it would start spilling over to other prices, while he added that oil futures prices show people think that this will be a short-run argument. Goolsbee also stated that as long as the consumer remains strong, economic growth will too, and don’t be surprised if consumer sentiment sours.
- Fed Chair Nominee Warsh submitted financial disclosures that are required before he can advance to a confirmation hearing, according to CNBC.
APAC TRADE
EQUITIES
- APAC stocks traded higher as risk sentiment was underpinned by hopes regarding US-Iran peace talks after President Trump suggested Iran called the US and wants to make a deal very badly, while a US official said that talks between the sides are continuing even now and there is progress, with some reports also noting that the second round of face-to-face talks could take place this Thursday, although there hasn’t been any confirmation.
- ASX 200 was lifted by outperformance in tech and miners, but with the upside capped following a deterioration in Australian Consumer Sentiment and Business Confidence surveys.
- Nikkei 225 rallied to just shy of the 58,000 level with tech-related stocks dominating the list of best performers, including SoftBank, Advantest, NEC Corp and Renesas, all in the top five biggest gainers.
- Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp gained, but with the advances limited as participants also digested mixed Chinese trade data, in which exports disappointed and imports surged, while China Customs Vice Minister said the international situation is currently turbulent, geopolitical conflicts are intensifying and global oil prices fluctuate sharply.
- US equity futures plateaued overnight after rallying on US-Iran peace talk hopes.
- European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.4% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.4% on Monday.
FX
- DXY was little changed after ultimately weakening yesterday as US-Iran talks seemingly continued despite the initial failure over the weekend, with a senior US official noting that talks between the US and Iran are continuing even now, and there is progress in trying to reach an agreement, while some US officials stated that the second round of face-to-face talks could take place on Thursday, as the sides seek a solution to the conflict ahead of the ceasefire expiry next Tuesday. Nonetheless, nuclear remained the main sticking point as the US wants a longer moratorium on uranium enrichment than the Iranians, and for Iran to remove all highly enriched uranium, while Iranians want a “monitored process of down-blending”.
- EUR/USD retained a firm footing above 1.1700 after having benefitted from the recent retreat in the dollar.
- GBP/USD held on to its spoils after reclaiming the 1.3500 status and with little reaction seen following comments from BoE Governor Bailey regarding financial stability, in which he sees an increased likelihood of multiple vulnerabilities, and stated that they must stay vigilant.
- USD/JPY trickled towards the 159.00 level after the dollar recently dwindled, and with lower oil prices supportive of the yen.
- Antipodeans were rangebound amid the positive risk appetite and recent deterioration in Australian business and consumer confidence surveys, while participants also digested mixed Chinese trade data.
- PBoC set USD/CNY mid-point at 6.8593 vs exp. 6.8173 (Prev. 6.8657)
- Canadian PM Carney received a parliamentary majority following a win by liberals in the special election for a vacant seat, as expected.
FIXED INCOME
- 10yr UST futures marginally extended on yesterday’s rebound after yields reversed this week’s initial upside, as diplomatic efforts to revive peace talks continued, while US President Trump said the US had been called by the other side, which wants to make a deal very badly.
- Bund futures remained firmer and returned to the 125.00 level after clawing back recent lost ground, although further upside was capped ahead of supply, including EUR 5bln of Bobls today, followed by EUR 3bln of Bunds tomorrow.
- 10yr JGB futures tracked the recovery in global peers and with further upside seen after the latest 20yr JGB auction results showed the highest bid/cover ratio since 2019.
COMMODITIES
- Crude futures were lower and continued to pull back from the initial spike seen at this week’s open, while the retreat coincided with optimism regarding US-Iran talks, as the sides could be headed towards another round of face-to-face discussions, which could happen on Thursday.
- IEA Chief Birol said he hopes another oil stockpile release is not needed but “we stand ready to act”, while he noted over 80 oil and gas facilities, including production, terminals and refineries, were damaged by the Iran war.
- US Energy Secretary Wright said US energy prices will likely rise in the next few weeks and remain until meaningful ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resumes. Wright said Venezuelan oil production has surpassed 1.2mln bpd, representing a 25% increase over three months and 150mln barrels of Venezuelan oil were sold since January 3rd. He also said there is an announcement coming soon about a large US company with a history in Venezuela ramping up production and noted that ‘by this summer’ is an aggressive timeframe for oil and gas prices to start coming down.
- Chevron (CVX) agreed a deal with Venezuela’s PDVSA aimed at increasing production by joint ventures, which included an asset swap with PDVSA.
- Spot gold continued to edge higher after recouping recent losses, with upside facilitated after the dollar lost steam.
- Copper futures remained afloat amid optimism about US-Iran talks, although gains were limited overnight amid the mostly disappointing Chinese trade data.
- China is said to ease restrictions on certain BHP (BHP AT) iron ore cargoes.
CRYPTO
- Bitcoin lacked conviction and is ultimately flat after price action was confined within relatively tight parameters.
NOTABLE ASIA-PAC HEADLINES
- China Customs Vice Minister said the international situation is currently turbulent, while geopolitical conflicts are intensifying and global oil prices fluctuate sharply. Furthermore, China is willing to be not only the world’s factory but also the world’s market, while they have the capabilities to continue to promote a stable scale of foreign trade.
- Monetary Authority of Singapore tightened its FX-based policy, as expected, in which it slightly raised the rate of appreciation of the SGD NEER policy band, while it made no change to the width and the level at which the band is centred. MAS said it is in an appropriate position to respond effectively to any risk in medium-term price stability, and it stands ready to curb excessive volatility in the SGD NEER. Furthermore, it stated that MAS Core inflation will pick up and remain elevated over the next few quarters, while it expects GDP growth to slow over the course of the year.
DATA RECAP
- Chinese Balance of Trade (Mar) 51.1B vs. Exp. 112B (Prev. 213.62B)
- Chinese Exports YY (Mar) 2.5% vs. Exp. 8.3% (Prev. 21.8%)
- Chinese Imports YY (Mar) 27.8% vs. Exp. 11.1% (Prev. 19.8%)
- Chinese Yuan-Denominated Balance of Trade (Mar) 354.8B (Prev. 1503.49B)
- Chinese Yuan-Denominated Exports YY (Mar) -0.7% (Prev. 36.1%)
- Chinese Yuan-Denominated Imports YY (Mar) 23.8% (Prev. 10.9%)
- Singaporean GDP Advanced QQ (Q1) -0.3% vs. Exp. -0.5% (Prev. 2.1%)
- Singaporean GDP Advanced YY (Q1) 4.6% vs. Exp. 5.4% (Prev. 6.9%)
- Australian Westpac Consumer Confidence Change (Apr) -12.5% (Prev. 1.2%)
- Australian Westpac Consumer Sentiment (Apr) 80.1 (Prev. 91.6)
- Australian NAB Business Confidence (Mar) -29 (Prev. -1)
- Australian NAB Business Conditions (Mar) 6 (Prev. 7)
GEOPOLITICS
RUSSIA-UKRAINE
- Ukraine’s drone force commander said a chemicals plant in Russia’s Vologda region was struck.
OTHER NEWS
- North Korea test-fired a cruise missile and anti-warship missiles from a naval destroyer, according to KCNA.
EU/UK
NOTABLE HEADLINES
- BoE Governor Bailey spoke about financial stability, in which he stated that he sees an increased likelihood of multiple vulnerabilities, and that they must stay vigilant.
DATA RECAP
- UK BRC Retail Sales Monitor YY (Mar) Y/Y 3.1% vs. Exp. 0.9% (Prev. 0.7%
2.a NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA/JAPAN
NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA
3. CHINA/
CHINA/IRAN/OIL
LET US SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT:
(ZEROHEDGE)
US-Sanctioned Tanker Signaling Chinese Ownerships Test Trump Blockade With Hormuz Crossing
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 – 11:28 PM
Following news that two tankers, one of which indicated China as its destination, had turned around earlier in the day after the Trump blockade of the Straits of Hormuz had kicked in, one of them – a tanker linked to China – is making its way through the Strait of Hormuz, testing President Trump’s naval blockade, Bloomberg reported.
Rich Starry, a 188-meter medium-range tanker earlier known as Full Star, was blacklisted by Washington in 2023 for helping Tehran evade energy sanctions. It was not clear on this occasion whether it visited Iranian ports before its transit, or is carrying cargo.
This exit from the Persian Gulf is a second attempt for the carrier in less than 24 hours. Just as the blockade came into effect, the Rich Starry was making its way into the narrow waterway near Iran’s Qeshm Island and turned back, as reported earlier, only to restart its exit just hours later, broadcasting that it has a Chinese owner and crew. While this is a safety mechanism frequently used by vessels not to attract Iran’s attention, it will now test US resolve to challenge vessels tied to the world’s largest oil importer.
Rich Starry is owned by Full Star Shipping Ltd., which shares the same contact details as Shanghai Xuanrun Shpg. Co. Ltd., maritime database Equasis shows. A call made to Shanghai Xuanrun did not get through, while the company didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The Shanghai-based entity is also sanctioned by the State Department.
Another tanker, the Elpis, headed into the Gulf of Oman via the strait just as the blockade began. Ship-tracking platforms Kpler and Vortexa indicate that Elpis had docked at an Iranian port in the gulf before attempting to pass through Hormuz. Elpis’s owner is Chartchemical SA that uses its manager, IMS Ltd.’s contact details. A call made to Malaysia-based IMS failed to connect. IMS did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
No vessels with their transponders on have been seen sailing into the Persian Gulf since the blockade came into effect.
The global shipping community and energy traders have been on edge since Trump announced a naval blockade of Iran beginning on Monday at 10 a.m. New York time, leaving them scrambling to understand the fine print. Most of those reached by Bloomberg across the Middle East and Asia said they would pause moves until the detail of the US blockade, which is meant to restrict Iran’s capacity to sell its oil to China, was clear.
According to unconfirmed reports earlier on Monday, China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun reportedly sent a message to the Trump administration and the U.S. Navy emphasizing Beijing’s intent to continue operating in the Strait of Hormuz and uphold its agreements with Iran. “Our ships are moving in and out of the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. We have trade and energy agreements with Iran. We will respect and honor those agreements and expect others not to interfere in our affairs” adding that “Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz and it is open for us.”
Whether this was true or not, we are about to find out what happens when an “Iran-friendly” ship tried to penetrate Trump’s blockade which according to the WSJ counted more than 15 ships – including an aircraft carrier, multiple guided-missile destroyers, an amphibious assault ship and several other warships in the Middle East – in place to support the blockade. These ships have the ability to launch helicopters that support boarding operations, and some are capable of marshalling commercial vessels to specific areas to hold them in place.
END
THEN
CHINA/USA
Xi Says “Global Order Crumbling Into Disarray” As Trump Turns Up Pressure Campaign On China
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 08:45 AM
President Trump’s four-and-a-half-month crusade across the Western Hemisphere, and now into the Middle East, increasingly looks like a massive blitz to acquire – or control – energy assets and maritime chokepoints as part of a broader economic pressure campaign against China, which depends heavily on the Gulf and Venezuelan crude.
“Chokepoint after chokepoint: the administration is methodically building a portfolio of assets that they are stacking against China: the Panama Canal, which is the only exit route for oil and gas from the Gulf of Mexico to China; Venezuela and her oil that used to go to China; Kharg Island and Iran’s oil which used to go to China, and SoH through which Iran’s and all Arab countries’ oil used to go everywhere but mostly to China,” Zoltan Pozsar of advisory firm Ex Uno Plures wrote in a March note.
Pozsar’s view is important because, when placed alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping’s comments earlier today that the world is slipping into “disarray,” the larger picture comes into sharp focus.
“The international order is crumbling into disarray,” Xi told Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Beijing. He used a Chinese expression indicating not only chaos but also moral decay.
What Xi calls disorder increasingly looks like the unwinding of the global order that allowed China to roam freely across markets, resources, and trade corridors for years. In the Trump era, that ability appears to have been systematically dismantled – to some degree – in just four months.
Xi’s comments are his first public statements on the US-Iran conflict, as new economic data overnight show the conflict took a sharp toll on Chinese exports in March.
China has criticized Trump’s military action against Iran and called the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz “dangerous and irresponsible,” while warning it could respond if Washington links the conflict to a new round of tariffs on Chinese exports.
For more context, about half of China’s crude imports came from the Gulf/Middle East before the war disruption. Reuters reported the region accounted for 52% of China’s oil imports. That share recently fell to 31% as Hormuz-related disruptions forced China to replace crude supplies with imports from Brazil and Russia.
Pozsar noted: “Again, the game is not to control Venezuela and Iran to choke China…”
And you might ask why Trump is squeezing China. Well, as Pozsar pointed out, “The aim is not to deny energy to China. The aim is to level the playing field between the two countries. To be blunt, in ways I couldn’t be at Credit Suisse: if you fuck me on rare earths, I fuck you on energy.”
President Trump has previously said his meeting with Xi in Beijing was pushed to May because of the conflict. The question now is whether Washington and Beijing can still strike a deal.
END
THEN
CHINA/USA IRAN
NOT A VERY SMART MOVE ON CHINA’S PART IF SENDING WEAPONS TO IRAN. USA HOLDS THE CARDS ON OIL
China Rejects ‘Baseless Smear’ It’s Sending Weapons To Iran After Trump Warned Of ‘Big Problems’
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 11:22 AM
China has dismissed reports that it supplied or plans to supply weapons to Iran as “baseless smears,” after multiple outlets cited US intelligence accusing Beijing of potentially entering the war indirectly.
“China has always adopted a cautious and responsible attitude towards the export of military items, implementing strict controls in accordance with its own export control laws and regulations and its international obligations. We oppose baseless smears or malicious association,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated at a regular briefing on Monday.
Reports first published by CNN and later cited by Reuters and The New York Times said US intelligence assesses that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within weeks, citing three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.
CNN reported indications that Beijing is working to route the shipments through third countries to conceal their origin. The report said China is preparing to transfer shoulder-fired anti-air missile systems known as MANPADs, while citing unnamed sources.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington also addressed the claims, seeking to make clear that Beijing “has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict” and urged the United States to avoid leveling such baseless charges.
This accusation first surfaced shortly before US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad collapsed, and was followed by an escalation in tensions as Washington imposed a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, over the weekend, when he was asked by reporters about reports that China is sending the weapons, the president responded that “if China does that, China will have big problems, OK?”
Recall too that in early April an American pilot whose F-15 jet was shot down over Iran was rescued after evading capture for more than a day in a dramatic special forces raid into Iran – this is at least according to the official story anyway.
It’s widely believed that this shootdown was the result of Iranians deploying MANPADs or other smaller, mobile anti-air defense system. It came after both the US and Israel declared total air superiority and freedom of action over Iran’s skies.
Amid China’s denials and the ongoing speculation, what is for sure is that Russia and Iran have military ties which run deeper, given especially they are running a joint Shahed drone program related to the Ukraine war. Western mainstream media has also been eager to true and tie ‘rogue’ Beijing in with some kind of Tehran-Moscow-Beijing nexus.
4. European and Scandinavian affairs + NATO
GERMANY
Rapes In Germany Soar To Nearly 14,000 Cases In 2025, Migrants Vastly Overrepresented
by Tyler Durden
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 02:00 AM
German police statistics for 2025 reveal that the number of reported rapes in Germany has reached its highest level in several years.reaching approximately 13,920 cases under the specific legal paragraphs.
What is driving this explosive number of rapes?
According to a number of experts and foreigners and people with a migration background are one of the primary perpetrators of such acts.
This represents an increase of 9 percent compared to the previous year and continues a long-term upward trend. In 2018, there were 8,106 such cases, showing an increase, an increase of 71.72 percent.
“Sexualized violence against women is a serious problem in Germany. Rape is a horrific crime and a particularly serious form of sexual violence,” said Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) to Welt, which obtained the data.
Hesse’s Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) said that while most perpetrators of rape have German citizenship, “the truth is that perpetrators with a migration background are overrepresented.”
While the exact percentage of migrants involved in rape has not yet been disclosed, as the official federal Interior Minsitry data will not be available until April 15, previous years have revealed the outsized role of migrants in such cases.
In 2024, approximately 41 percent of suspects for crimes against sexual self-determination, which includes rape, were non-German nationals.
A specific sub-category in German statistics refers to “Zuwanderer,” covering asylum seekers, refugees, and those with tolerated stay. In 2024, around 15 to 18 percent of rape suspects fell into this category, despite them making up roughly 2 to 3 percent of the total population.
“Among the immigrants are people who are characterized by a completely wrong understanding of roles and who therefore disregard women’s rights of self-determination,” said Poseck.
Individual states have begun publishing their 2025 findings, which confirm the trend cited by Welt. In North Rhine-Westphalia, Interior Minister Herbert Reul recently reported that sexual offenses in the state rose by 5.2 percent in 2025. The proportion of non-German suspects in violent crime and sexual offenses remains disproportionately high, reaching nearly 50 percent in some violent crime categories.
Similar briefings from Bavaria and Hesse indicated that non-German suspects are overrepresented by a factor of roughly three to four relative to their share of the population in the serious sexual offense category.
END
FRANCE
France Plans €10 Billion Push To Cut Reliance On Gas and Oil
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 02:45 AM
France is shifting its response to rising fuel costs away from short-term relief and toward long-term electrification, according to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Instead of expanding fuel subsidies after oil prices spiked due to the Iran conflict, the government plans to redirect funding into helping households and businesses transition to electric energy, according to Bloomberg.
Under the plan, annual support for electrification will nearly double to €10 billion by 2030, up from €5.5 billion today. The increase will come from reallocating existing spending and cutting the state’s own energy use, with funds aimed at technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps to replace gas-based systems. Lecornu emphasized that the support would be targeted at those most in need while staying consistent with France’s deficit-reduction goals.
Bloomberg writes that the government is prioritizing structural change over temporary fixes, a stance Lecornu made clear by saying, “This means refusing measures that are too generous, too costly, that too often create windfall effects and sometimes rents, without resolving fundamental problems.” His comments reflect a deliberate move away from broad subsidies toward more focused, long-term investments.
This marks a notable departure from 2022, when France spent tens of billions of euros cushioning consumers from energy shocks. Those measures contributed to the largest budget deficit in the eurozone and, combined with political instability, made it harder to restore fiscal balance. Rising borrowing costs have since added further pressure, with officials warning that higher bond yields linked to geopolitical tensions could increase debt servicing costs by billions.
While the government had considered additional aid for workers dependent on cars, those plans were paused after a temporary drop in oil prices following a ceasefire involving Iran. Lecornu signaled that flexibility remains, stating that further action could still be taken if fuel prices rise again and begin to significantly impact vulnerable workers.
end
From Fiestas To Ferraris, Britain’s Fuel Shock Has Rich And Poor Stealing Petrol
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 04:15 AM
Across the U.K., motorists face record-breaking fuel costs at the gas pump as the Gulf energy shock ripples around the world. One of the clearest second-order effects now emerging is a surge in petrol station thefts, spanning from organized crime gangs to even drivers in exotic cars simply filling up and driving off.
British newspaper The Times cited new data from 500 UK filling stations showing that the daily value of stolen fuel jumped 27% from February to March. The spike coincided with the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict, which sent energy prices sharply higher. This means around £1.2 million worth of fuel is now being stolen every week across Britain.
What stands out in the report is that folks stealing fuel are not just desperate working poor folks or criminal gangs, but in fact, some petrol station owners report that even drivers of Ferraris and Mercedes are filling up and zooming off without paying.
Research firm Forecourt Eye, which helps petrol stations detect, track, and recover unpaid fuel bills, said that current theft levels across the UK have exceeded those of the early days after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Michelle Henchoz, managing director of Forecourt Eye, said:
With someone taking fuel you think that you’d have a vision of what they look like but they aren’t what you think. They are driving supercars.
One came up yesterday and the car was a Mercedes AMG GT and they did a drive-off at one of our petrol stations. I checked online what the value of the car was. It was beautiful. I was thinking, how can they drive off? The fuel energy crisis in 2022 wasn’t as bad.
What we’re seeing is not just more fuel theft, but a different kind of behaviour that shows a clear increase in first-time offenders and in people who aren’t attempting to flee, but instead are declaring they cannot pay.
Henchoz noted:
The data suggests this may reflect growing financial pressure, with more drivers filling full tanks rather than taking small amounts. Career criminals continue to do it but now ordinary people do it too because they can’t cover the cost of fuel.
Goran Raven, who runs a petrol station in Essex, told the outlet that fuel thefts are noticeable and alarming:
You’ll see everything from a crappy Fiesta going to a Ferrari. It really depends. The people who do it are brazen. They don’t worry about covering up their faces, they will even wave at cashiers.
On one occasion we had an Aston Martin and Ferrari drive off within 30 seconds here. It was just short of £300 for two cars.
I’m sure there are people on the breadline who are desperate, that must be the case, but I reckon that would be single-digit percentage of people committing these crimes out there.
The energy shock is taking longer to materialize in the U.S. because of robust domestic energy supplies and President Trump’s continued push for “drill, baby, drill.” While there are no indications that fuel theft is surging at gas stations across the country, there are early signs that consumers are starting to look at EVs again, given that the national average price for regular 87-octane gasoline is trending above the politically sensitive $4-per-gallon line.
END
IRELAND
REVOLT TIME!
Irish Patriots Are Fighting Back
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 06:30 AM
Authored by J.B. Shurk via American Thinker,
So you say you want a revolution? Well, take a look at what’s happening in Ireland right now. Tens of thousands of farmers, truckers, and other fed-up “normies” are taking to the streets of Dublin to protest fuel taxes, mass immigration, and poverty-inducing “climate change” policies. For the most part, corporate news propagandists in both Europe and North America are intentionally ignoring the combustible situation. Just when I had begun to think that all the “fighting Irish” had moved to America, the Old Country has started to show signs of life. Perhaps there are still a few irascible pugilists willing to bash heads and take on the globalist empire after all.
Speaking of irascible pugilists, Irish slugger Conor McGregor issued a bit of an ultimatum to the ruling class after the government mobilized the military and sent tanks to intimidate the protesters: “One wrong move by government here, and you will see, at the very least, 250k Irish people descend on the capital in a blink. They must step down, there is no other way.” Declaring war against ordinary Irishmen isn’t a good look for an Irish Deep State that can’t be bothered to guard its borders from hordes of invading foreigners. While McGregor and his compatriots are out feeding protesters in the streets, the Irish government is hiking taxes on those who can least afford to pay them. “One wrong move” could spark a revolution.
Perhaps that’s why — after an initial show of force — Ireland’s globalist government appears to be trying to settle things down. Reports on the ground say that police officers have remained friendly with protesters. Some have suggested that Irish authorities are wary of following in the footsteps of Canada’s former prime minister, Justin Trudeau, when he exercised martial law powers to seize the bank accounts of and jail “Freedom Convoy” truckers protesting coercive COVID “vaccination” mandates. On the other hand, a lot of the Irish protesters have also described a sense that many of the law enforcement officers patrolling the streets appear to be on their side. If that’s the case, then Ireland’s political class may be worried about the effectiveness of siccing the military on a broadly-backed citizen uprising.
Although few people saw the present brouhaha coming, Ireland makes a natural “ground zero” in the war between Big Government globalists (aka, the “international rules-based order” club of World Economic Forum totalitarians) and ordinary citizens willing to defend their nation’s sovereignty and their own personal freedoms. For two decades, the globalists have been taking over Ireland and stripping it for parts. As a country that once took pride in its meaningful traditions, customs, family loyalties, and Catholic heritage, Ireland has been one of the globalists’ favorite targets for conquest. If the “multicultural” atheists could convert Ireland into another globalist outpost devoid of religious or civilizational allegiances, they knew that they would collect a valuable scalp in their war against the West. Sadly, the globalists have been largely successful. By transforming a conservative, staunchly pro-life, Catholic nation into a “woke” re-education zone embracing abortion, “trans” surgeries for children, open borders, Islamic supremacy, and the fetishization of “diversity,” the World Economic Forum’s “Borg” hive mind gutted one of the most culturally rich nations on the planet and mounted Ireland’s head on globalism’s wall of slaughtered states.
Two months ago, free speech defenders Lorcán Price and Graham Linehan testified before the House Judiciary Committee concerning the mass censorship operation being run through the expanding Big Tech enclave in Dublin. There are over 32,000 NGOs in Ireland receiving billions of dollars in U.S. and E.U. grants meant to help shape public opinion. These organizations — one for every 155 Irishmen — represent the “information warfare” army that supports Europe’s globalist policies. Over 70% of Irish legislation is copy-and-pasted from bureaucratic edicts originating in the European Union. These laws include special incentives for illegal immigrants who arrive on Ireland’s shores. They also include “hate speech” laws that have been used to criminally prosecute Irish citizens who object to foreigners raping and murdering their children. The NGO-E.U. takeover of the Irish political system this century has drastically reshaped the country.
Once Christian Ireland now has constitutional protections for gay “marriage” and abortion up to a baby’s birth. Two years ago, Ireland’s globalist cabal nearly succeeded in removing all mentions of “women” from the national constitution, as well as nearly redefining “family” as a “durable relationship.” The Irish government continues to attack Ireland’s Catholic history, going so far as to depict Catholic saints as pagan goddesses in shameless acts of historical revisionism. Globalists continue to rename historic institutions due to ludicrous accusations that Irish clergymen and scholars had ties to slavery and “white supremacy.” As Irish writer Roger Berkeley sorrowfully observes, “Ireland shows what happens when elites, bureaucracies, and ideology override national identity.”
Wherever they conquer, modern globalists prefer to implement blunt-force “divide and conquer” tactics that pit parts of society against each other. Women versus men. Young people versus families. “Green energy” fanatics versus small businesses. Islamic supremacists versus Christians. “Multiculturalism” versus Western civilization. Non-whites versus whites. Globalists succeed wherever they are able to stir up so much domestic strife that nobody pays attention to the cultural, economic, and political agendas being enforced upon the invaded countries. After targeting Ireland for destruction and subverting its traditional culture, globalists appeared to have taken over the island for good.
However, when an outside force conquers a nation, there’s always an inherent risk that forced subjugation sparks a rebellion. When those being gradually enslaved begin to believe that they have nothing else to lose, the ruling class has real problems. Despite the corporate news media’s best attempts to cover up what is going on in Ireland, the current protests against “climate change” taxes and mass immigration suggest that the natives are growing restless. What happens next isn’t entirely clear.
What is clear is that ordinary people in nations across the West are becoming aware of the information war that has long been waged against them. For decades, they have been conditioned to believe false things: “Diversity is our strength.” “Islam is a religion of peace.” “Trans-women are real women.” “Sex is a social construct.” “Man-made climate change is killing the planet.” “New taxes will save the planet.” “Christianity is hate speech.” “Hate speech is a violent crime.” “Free speech requires government-moderated censorship.” “National sovereignty is fascist.” “Families promote white supremacy.” “Merit is white supremacy.” “Math, home ownership, mowed lawns, and punctuality are all forms of white supremacy.” “Equal rights require ‘Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity.’” “Unelected bureaucrats protect democracy.” “NATO must protect non-NATO Ukraine.” Et cetera ad infinitum.
Perhaps globalism’s lies have become too numerous for the average Westerner to ignore. Or perhaps globalists’ hubris has grown too grating for the average Westerner to tolerate. Either way, there is a growing movement of people dedicated to defending Western civilization from the pernicious cancer of godless, multicultural, “woke,” and totalitarian globalism. Because globalists control the corporate news media, these people are disparaged as “populists.” In truth, they are Western citizens committed to national self-determination, the preservation of individual rights, and protections for personal liberty.
Globalists call the will of the people “populism” and the will of bureaucrats “democracy.” But when enough people decide to fight back against the bureaucrats, the spirit of revolution hangs in the air. Perhaps that’s what we’re seeing right now in Ireland — a fresh reminder of Thomas Jefferson’s observation that no “country can preserve its liberties” if its “rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance.” After all, the “tree of liberty must be refreshed … with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.”
5. RUSSIAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN AFFAIRS
ISRAEL/USA VS IRAN
MONDAY NIGHT
Live Updates: Trump says Iran wants to make deal ‘very badly’ as US blockade on Hormuz goes into effect
European countries raise concerns over naval blockade • Trump: ‘I don’t care’ if Iran comes back to negotiations • Erdogan threatens military action against Israel
This photograph taken from the southern Lebanese area of Tyre shows smoke as it rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Qlaileh on April 13, 2026.(photo credit: KAWNAT HAJU / AFP via Getty Images)
Trump claims Iran calling United States, wants to make deal ‘very badly’
Trump said he didn’t want to comment on what would happen if a deal wasn’t reached by the end of the ongoing ceasefire, but that “it won’t be pleasant for them, let me put it that way.”
US President Donald Trump walks toward reporters before answering questions prior to boarding Air Force One on April 10, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Charlottesville, Virginia.
(photo credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
APRIL 13, 2026 21:27
Iran called the United States, wanting “very badly” to make a deal, US President Donald Trump claimed to reporters at the White House on Monday.
Trump said he didn’t want to comment on what would happen if a deal wasn’t reached by the end of the ongoing ceasefire, but that “it won’t be pleasant for them, let me put it that way.”
Trump also said that Iran had refused to agree to having a nuclear weapon and that the US would get the nuclear material back.
“We can’t let a country blackmail or extort the world,” Trump said.
Vice President JD Vance had done a “very good job” on Iran, the president added.
Trump also threatened that the US might also visit Cuba after finishing with Iran.
Trump threatens Iranian ships in Strait of Hormuz
Trump warned that any Iranian vessels attempting to come close to the US’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will be “immediately ELIMINATED,” in a post to Truth Social on Monday.
“Iran’s Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated – 158 ships,” Trump said.
“What we have not hit are their small number of, what they call, ‘fast attack ships,’ because we did not consider them much of a threat,” he continued.
James Genn contributed to this report.
end
MONDAY NIGHT
Dialogue between US, Iran still alive after Islamabad talks ended
A source involved in the talks said the parties came “very close” to an agreement and were “80% there” before running into decisions that could not be settled on the spot.
US Vice President JD Vance, left, meets with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for talks about Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11, 2026.(photo credit: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS)ByREUTERSAPRIL 13, 2026 23:58
After a sleepless and at times tense night in Islamabad, Iranian and US officials ended their highest-level talks in decades without a breakthrough, but 11 sources familiar with the negotiations said the dialogue was still alive.
The weekend meeting to resolve the conflict between the US and Iran, held four days after last Tuesday’s ceasefire announcement, was the first direct encounter between US and Iranian officials in more than a decade and the most senior engagement since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Inside Islamabad’s luxury Serena Hotel, the talks unfolded across two separate wings and one common area — one for the US side, one for the Iranians, and one for trilateral meetings involving Pakistani mediators, operational staff told Reuters.
Among the slew of issues at stake was the Strait of Hormuz, a major transit point for global energy supplies that Iran has effectively blocked, but the US has vowed to reopen, as well as Iran’s nuclear program and international sanctions on Tehran.
Phones were not allowed in the main room, forcing delegates, including US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, to step out during breaks to relay messages back home, two of the sources said.
“There was a strong hope in the middle of the talks that there would be a breakthrough and the two sides would reach an agreement. However, things changed within no time,” a Pakistani government source said.
Another source involved in the talks said the parties came “very close” to an agreement and were “80% there” before running into decisions that could not be settled on the spot.
Two senior Iranian sources described the atmosphere as heavy and unfriendly, adding that while Pakistan tried to soften the mood, neither side showed any willingness to ease tensions.
At one point, atmosphere began to lift
Nevertheless, the two Iranian sources said that by early Sunday morning, the atmosphere had shown some improvement, and the possibility of a one-day extension began to take shape.
However, differences persisted. A US source said the Iranians did not properly understand that the core US aim was to have a deal that ensured Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon. Among Iran’s concerns was a distrust of US intentions.
This account, based on sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, offers a first account of the internal dynamics of the meeting, how the mood in the room shifted, how talks ended after signs that the meeting might be extended, and how further dialogue remains on the cards.
There was no immediate response from the Iranian government to a request for comment on the issues reported in this story.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump said Iran had “called this morning” and that “they’d like to work a deal.” Reuters could not immediately verify the assertion.
A US official, referring to Trump’s comment, said there was continued engagement between the US and Iran and progress toward an agreement.
Asked for comment, White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said the US position had never shifted in the Islamabad meeting.
“Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and President Trump’s negotiating team stuck to this red line and many others. Engagement continues toward an agreement,” she said.
‘Ups and downs’
A Middle East-based diplomat said conversations between mediators and the Americans have continued since Vance left Islamabad, while the source involved in the talks said Pakistan was still passing messages between Tehran and Washington.
“I want to tell you that a full effort is still on to resolve the issues,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday.
Despite numerous obstacles to peace, both sides appear to have strong reasons to consider de-escalation.
The US strikes appear unpopular at home and look unlikely to topple Iran’s theocratic ruling system, while Tehran’s strangling of energy supplies is hurting the global economy and pushing up inflation months before the US midterm elections.
Also, war damage to Iran’s ailing economy risks leaving the authorities there weaker internally, just weeks after protests, they were able to put down only with mass killings.
In Islamabad, the longtime foes had gathered to try to chart a path to a long-term settlement, after a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire paused six weeks of war that has killed thousands of people and disrupted the world’s energy supplies.
Central to the dispute is a belief among Western countries and Israel that Iran wants a nuclear bomb. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
A White House official said the US wanted Iran to end all uranium enrichment, dismantle all major nuclear enrichment facilities, turn over its highly enriched uranium, accept a broader peace, agree a security framework that includes regional allies, end funding for regional proxies and fully open Hormuz, charging no tolls.
Iran’s demands included a guaranteed permanent ceasefire, assurances of no future strikes on Iran and its allies in the region, lifting of primary and secondary sanctions, unfreezing of all assets, recognition of its right to enrichment, and continued control of Hormuz, Iranian sources have said.
Four of the 11 sources said that at times the dialogue appeared close to producing at least a framework understanding, but unraveled over Iran’s nuclear program, the Hormuz Strait, and the amount of frozen assets Tehran wants access to.
The Iranian sources said most of the substantive exchanges in Islamabad were between Vance, Qalibaf and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
“There were ups and downs. There were tense moments. People left the room, and then came back,” the security source said.
Pakistani representatives, including Army Chief Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, moved between the sides through the night to keep things on track, five Pakistani sources said.
‘How can we trust you?’
The talks stretched for more than 20 hours, with on-duty hotel staff eating, sleeping, and working on site after undergoing expedited background checks, they said.
When discussions turned to guarantees, both non-aggression assurances and sanctions relief, the tone of the normally mild-mannered Araghchi grew sharper, the two Iranian sources said.
The sources quoted him as saying: “How can we trust you when, in the last Geneva meeting, you said the US would not attack while diplomacy was underway?”
The US-Israeli attack on Iran began two days after the two sides held a previous round of talks in Geneva.
In addition to differences over Hormuz, sanctions, and other topics, the two sides also disagreed over the scope of any deal. While Washington focused on the nuclear file and the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran wanted a broader understanding, according to two of the sources.
During one tense moment, raised voices could be heard outside the negotiating room before Munir and Dar called a tea break and moved the two sides back into separate rooms, the government source said.
‘Our final and best offer’
Toward the final stages of the discussions, which spilled into Sunday morning, the US delegates were moving between the negotiating room and their private floor far more often than the Iranians, the senior Pakistani official said.
A US source said the vice president came to the talks with the aim of making a deal and reaching a mutual understanding. The US side has been wary of protracted negotiations with Iran, believing the Iranians are adept at delaying tactics and refusing to make concessions, the source said.
Despite the deadlock, when Vance appeared in front of reporters later to announce the talks had ended, his remarks suggested more exchanges of some kind might be in prospect.
“We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that is our final and best offer,” he said. “We’ll see if the Iranians accept it.”
END
ISRAEL IRAN/USA/TUESDAY UPDATE
TRUMP WINS AGAIN: CHINESE TANKER DOES A U TURN; IRAN THINKS IT MIGHT PAUSE OIL SHIPMENTS THROUGH THE STRAIT
(ZEROHEDGE)
Chinese Tanker U-Turns, Iran Mulls Hormuz Shipping Pause To Preserve Talks, Avoid Trump Blockade Showdown
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 09:00 AM
Summary
- Diplomacy is not yet dead, as Bloomberg reports Iran is mulling a short-term pause to shipments through Hormuz Strait, in order to avoid a fresh clash with US forces & avoid testing Trump’s blockade.
- Mediators are scrambling to put together another round of US-Iran talks in the coming days: Iran is reportedly offering a 5-year moratorium on nuclear program, while US demands 20.
- Saudis are among those calling for an end to the US blockade of the Hormuz Strait, amid fears the Houthis could shut down Bab al-Mandeb strait. Chinese ship testing America’s Hormuz blockade appears to U-turn.
- Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem rejects upcoming talks between the Lebanese government and Israel, which are set for 11am in Washington, DC on Tuesday.
https://embed.polymarket.com/market?market=us-x-iran-permanent-peace-deal-by-june-30-2026&height=300US x Iran permanent peace deal by June 30, 2026?
Yes 60% · No 40%
View full market & trade on Polymarket
* * *
Iran Could Pause Hormuz Shipping
Bloomberg says Tuesday in a fresh report that “Iran is considering a short-term pause to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid testing a US blockade and scuppering a fresh round of peace talks, according to a person familiar with the Tehran’s deliberations.”
“The potential pause reflects a desire to avoid immediate escalation at a sensitive diplomatic juncture as Washington and Tehran sort logistics for another face-to-face meeting, the person said, asking not to be identified as the deliberations are private,” continues Bloomberg. It adds, “Holding back maritime activity for several days is seen as one possible, pragmatic step to prevent an incident that could undermine the fragile efforts to revive discussions, people familiar with the matter said.”
This would be seen as short-term de-escalation, and suggests that Tehran indeed still has the desire of taking a hopeful, pragmatic approach – rather than returning the all out war by the close of the temporary ceasefire. No one is willing to completely shut the door on all diplomacy, and the bombs have been silent across the Gulf and in Iran and Israel. Per latest emerging reports:
The Nasdaq 100 looked set to notch its longest streak of gains since 2021 as optimism that the US and Iran are considering another round of peace talks pushed oil lower and lifted stocks globally.
Chinese ship testing America’s Hormuz blockade appears to U-turn…
5-Years vs. 20-Year Nuclear Moratorium
More info and color has been added in the wake of failed talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan, per The New York Times citing officials from both countries. Iran signaled Monday it would halt uranium enrichment for up to five years. The Trump administration rejected the offer, according to two senior Iranian officials and one US official who spoke to the Times.
The US position, shaped in part by Vice President JD Vance, calls for a roughly 20-year suspension. Vance has argued such a timeframe is necessary to permanently limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “The Iranians, in a formal response sent on Monday, said they would agree to up to five years, according to two senior Iranian officials and one U.S. official. Trump has rejected that offer, the U.S. official said,” writes NY Times.
“The official said the U.S. has also asked Iran to remove highly enriched uranium from the country, and the Iranians have insisted the fuel stays inside Iran. But they have offered to dilute it significantly, so that it could not be used to produce a nuclear weapon,” the report adds.
Sides Could Return to Islamabad for Talks
This behind the scenes back-and-forth suggests that the mediated talks might not be entirely over, also as the clock ticks away on the initial 2-week ceasefire, now a week in. US and Iranian negotiating teams plan to return to Pakistan later this week to resume talks aimed at ending the Gulf war, Pakistani and Iranian officials said Tuesday, as cited in Reuters. Other reports say the talks could be hosted in another venue.
However, US officials have not confirmed the plans, and the reality is that in Islamabad the two sides demands were very far apart, having reportedly finally collapsed on the nuclear issue.
Israel-Lebanon talks are taking a separate track, set to begin in Washington Tuesday, but Hezbollah has rejected this process – with only the Lebanese government represented.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron is among those calling on Washington and Tehran to urgently resume negotiations to end the war, and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “without controls or tolls, as soon as possible.” Iran is reportedly charging steep tolls to let a handful of ‘friendly’ countries’ vessels through – a situation which President Trump has warned against.
Saudis Push Trump To Call Off Hormuz Blockade
The NY Times has on Tuesday highlighted that “Questions over the status of the U.S. military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz persisted on Tuesday, as tracking data showed that several ships had passed through the waterway, including some that had departed from Iran.”
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday evening that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is urging the Trump administration to reverse its newly implemented blockade of Iranian-linked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, on immediate fears that Iranian escalation could halt Red Sea traffic. On Sunday, a senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran has “large, untouched levers” to respond to such a blockade.
Arab officials who spoke to the Journal said Iran could retaliate by shutting down the Bab al-Mandeb, a 20-mile-wide, 70-mile-long choke point linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Iran could do so by leveraging the Houthis, the political and military organization that controls much of Yemen.
Saudi Arabia recently has been able to get its oil exports back up to their prewar level of around seven million barrels a day despite the blockage in the strategic strait by piping its crude across the desert to the Red Sea. Those supplies would be at risk if the Red Sea’s exit route were closed as well. — WSJ
“If Iran does want to shut down Bab al-Mandeb, the Houthis are the obvious partner to do it, and their response to the Gaza conflict demonstrates that they have the capacity to do it,” Adam Baron, an expert on Yemen at the New America policy institute, told the Journal.
More Geopolitical Latest
via Newsquawk…
- The next round of talks between the United States and Iran could take place this week or early next week, according to an Iranian embassy official in Pakistan.
- Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said it has offered to host a second round of U.S.–Iran negotiations, but no date or time has been set.
- Pakistani journalist Mallick said, “While Islamabad has offered to host the next round of in person talks between US and Iran, which could be held at a working level, to my understanding, date and venue for the next round has not been finalised as yet”.
- The United States and Iran are discussing another round of face-to-face talks to secure a longer-term ceasefire after Islamabad negotiations ended without a deal.
- Officials aim to meet again before the two-week ceasefire expires next week, according to Clash report.
- The Associated Press reported that a second round of talks is likely and could take place on Thursday.
- U.S. Vice President JD Vance said progress was made in talks with Iran and stated that things did not go wrong.
- Vance said Iran moved in the U.S. direction but not far enough.
- Vance said the ball is in Iran’s court and that U.S. red lines were clearly communicated.
- The United States and Iran left the door open to further dialogue after tense Islamabad talks.
- A source said the sides came “very close” to an agreement and were “80% there” before hitting unresolved issues.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told French President Emmanuel Macron in a Monday phone call that Iran will negotiate only under international law.
- Pezeshkian said unreasonable U.S. demands blocked an agreement in weekend talks.
- He said a lack of U.S. goodwill and maximalist positions prevented finalizing a deal in Islamabad, according to IRNA.
- Pezeshkian said diplomacy remains the preferred path to resolve disputes.
- An Iranian National Security Committee spokesman said the end of the truce should not lead to its extension, according to Al Mayadeen.
- The U.S. aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is sailing off the coast of Africa toward the Middle East to join Operation Epic Fury, according to two U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
- Saudi Arabia is pressing the United States to drop its Hormuz blockade.
- Gulf energy exporters warn Iran could escalate by closing the Bab al-Mandeb, according to The Wall Street Journal.
- Alarms sounded in the Galilee Panhandle over concerns of potential UAV infiltration.
- A Lebanese source said, “The official mandate of Lebanon’s ambassador in Washington is limited to pursuing a ceasefire with Israel”, according to Al Jazeera.
- Switzerland is ready to support diplomatic initiatives between the United States and Iran.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that preventing further fighting is critical.
- Lavrov said Moscow is on high alert to assist in a settlement.
- Araghchi warned of dangerous consequences from U.S. actions.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors for talks on Tuesday.
- The talks aim to secure a ceasefire, Hezbollah disarmament, and a peace agreement, according to Axios.
- A meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors will take place Tuesday at 18:00 EDT / 23:00 BST, according to Al Jazeera citing Israeli Channel 15.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping issued four proposals to maintain peace in the Middle East, according to Chinese media.
- UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Washington.
- Lammy urged that the Iran ceasefire hold and emphasized the importance of free shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
IBN ISRAEL
ISRAEL VS HEZBOLLAH/LEBANON
Rubio to participate in Israel – Lebanon talks – CNN
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will join the talks between the Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday, CNN wrote early Tuesday morning.
Rubio will join the Israeli delegation led by ambassador Yechiel Leiter and the Lebenese delegation led by ambassador Nada Hamadeh for the talks at the US State Department.
“This conversation will scope the ongoing dialogue about how to ensure the long-term security of Israel’s northern border and to support the Government of Lebanon’s determination to reclaim full sovereignty over its territory and political life,” a State Department official told CNN, emphasizing that Israel and Lebanon are not at war.
“Israel is at war with Hezbollah, not Lebanon, so there is no reason the two neighbors should not be talking,” the official added.
END
IRAN
How Iran’s Mosaic Doctrine Is Fracturing
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 – 11:25 PM
Authored by Zineb Riboua via Beyond the Ideological,
Following President Trump’s announcement of a cease-fire, US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated: “Iran has suffered a generational military defeat.”
Tehran’s response has been a single counterargument: the Islamic Republic still stands.
That argument mistakes the question. The survival of the Islamic Republic is not in dispute. What is in dispute is whether the surviving entity retains the capacity to direct the forces operating in its name.
Iran developed its mosaic military doctrine by drawing direct lessons from Saddam Hussein’s collapse in just twenty-six days. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Iranian Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Jafari reorganized the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 2008 into thirty-one provincial commands, each with its own weapons stockpiles, logistics chains and pre-delegated authority.
Asymmetric warfare is the recourse of states that cannot prevail conventionally. Dispersion and concealment are the tools of a military that has already conceded the conventional battlefield.
Israel, operating alongside the United States in Operation Epic Fury, mastered asymmetric tactics and turned Iran’s own doctrine against it, employing intelligence penetration, targeted eliminations and network disruption with superior precision.
The clearest demonstration came before the operation began.
In July 2024, Israel assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh inside a Revolutionary Guard guesthouse in Tehran. Iran’s security services must now operate under the assumption that they do not know the extent of the compromise — and that uncertainty is the most debilitating condition an intelligence service can face.
Operation Epic Fury then pushed that penetration to its extreme.
The killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the elimination of hundreds of senior IRGC commanders and the degradation of the Quds Force’s extraterritorial capacity together constituted a decapitation campaign of unprecedented precision.
More importantly, fractures between Iran’s political leadership and its military have already surfaced publicly. On March 7, 2026, President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a televised apology to Arab Gulf states for missile and drone strikes conducted during the conflict, pledging that further attacks would cease.
That a sitting president apologized for his own military’s actions within minutes of their execution illustrates precisely what pre-delegated authority has produced: a military that the political leadership must answer for rather than control.
Three vulnerabilities now compound one another.
The first is the mosaic doctrine’s foundational limitation under sustained pressure.
The doctrine solved the problem that Saddam could not, preventing decapitation from producing immediate collapse. It never solved attrition. The mosaic delays the timeline of dissolution but leaves the dissolution itself intact.
The cease-fire arrived at a moment of Iranian weakness, and the pressure that produced that weakness remains available to Washington. The Islamic Republic knows that each day the cease-fire holds, it does so on terms that Washington can revise.
The second vulnerability is structural.
The mosaic doctrine distributed resilience horizontally across provincial land commands, but the IRGC’s functional branches — its navy, air force, missile corps and cyber and intelligence directorates — each represent a distinct accumulation of “tiles” with separate supply chains and command structures.
The United States has dismantled these branches sequentially rather than simultaneously, degrading each functional pillar while removing leadership at the center.
The result is a system weakening from two directions at once: horizontal provincial networks loses coherence as the vertical command spine collapses, and neither compensates for the deterioration of the other.
The third vulnerability is financial, and the most immediately exposing. The IRGC’s ability to sustain operations and evade sanctions has depended on Hezbollah and the broader proxy network to move money and provide the transactional infrastructure linking the center to the periphery. That system has been degraded.
Iran’s shadow fleet — the network of vessels moving sanctioned oil through falsified documentation and ship-to-ship transfers — has faced intensified US interdiction. China-linked front companies that provided financial cover to the IRGC have been sanctioned in successive rounds by the US Treasury.
On March 31, dozens of money changers linked to the IRGC were arrested across the United Arab Emirates following the escalation of Gulf tensions after Iranian strikes, severing one of the regime’s most critical cash arteries. A network that cannot pay its operators does not remain in a network for long.
Washington enters the cease-fire holding all the cards: military dominance, financial strangulation and a regional architecture that has isolated Tehran from the Arab world it once sought to mobilize.
Iran’s response has been to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, the final lever a regime reaches for when it has exhausted all others. That threat is a measure of desperation, not strength.
The operation has not concluded, but the conditions for Iranian defeat are in place.
The entity that emerges from what comes next will bear little resemblance to the Islamic Republic that launched its doctrine of resistance four decades ago. What remains depends entirely on whether Tehran meets Trump’s terms.
END
HAMAS
IDF kills Hamas terrorist involved in building collapse which killed 21 soldiers
Yousef Ibrahim Mahmoud Basheti had been part of a group of terrorists who fired anti-tank missiles at buildings in Gaza in January, 2024, where IDF soldiers were operating.
A HAMAS terrorist killed by the IDF, April, 2026.(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)ByTZVI JASPERAPRIL 13, 2026 19:01
The IDF killed several Hamas terrorists in Gaza this week, including one who had previously been involved in killing several dozen Israeli soldiers, the military announced on Monday.
Yousef Ibrahim Mahmoud Basheti had been part of a group of terrorists who fired anti-tank missiles at buildings in Gaza in January, 2024, where IDF soldiers were operating, as well as at a tank that had been guarding the troops.
The buildings were laden with stored explosives, and the missiles set them off, causing their total collapse, and the death of 21 IDF soldiers.
The IDF forces who were harmed were mostly reservists from Unit 8208 assigned to clear certain areas of dangerous items, such as mines, or in this case, to use the mines to destroy certain structures which were viewed as presenting a threat to future Israeli southern residents’ security.
“The elimination of Basheti constitutes a significant step in addressing one of the most severe attacks carried out against IDF troops during the war,” a military spokesperson stated.
Hamas terrorists killed by IDF
Several other Hamas terrorists had been seen this week approaching the Yellow Line, intending to commit terrorist acts, the military said, and were killed in an IDF strike.
Among these terrorists was an operative in Hamas’ military wing, an officer in the Hamas police, a Nukhba terrorist, and three other Hamas terrorists.
Yonah Jeremy Bob and Gadi Zaig contributed to this report.
END
ISRAEL/LEBANON
Israel is not angry with Lebanon ..only the criminal organization inside the country: Hezbollah
(JerusalemPost)
Officials seek to temper expectations as Israel, Lebanon envoys set to hold historic meeting
Beirut looks to use most senior level engagement to date with Jerusalem to secure ceasefire, though Israeli government has shown no interest in a truce until Hezbollah is defanged
By Jacob Magid FollowToday, 4:03 am
Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh and Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter. (Collage/Lebanese Embassy in Washington, AP)
Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter will meet with his Lebanese counterpart Nada Hamadeh in Washington on Tuesday morning, marking the most senior in-person engagement ever between the two countries, though two officials familiar with the planning for the Washington meeting told The Times of Israel that expectations should be tempered.
“We’re not about to release the peace doves,” said an Israeli official.
While a goal of the talks is an eventual peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel, the more immediate concern is the disarmament of Hezbollah, on which the gaps between the sides are significant, a US official acknowledged.
Lebanon says it is committed to stripping Hezbollah of its weapons, especially after it dragged the country into the Iran war by starting to fire at Israel two days after the February 28 Israeli strike that killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
But Jerusalem is not convinced of Beirut’s ability to deliver and is pushing for more aggressive IDF action, even floating the reestablishment of a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, a policy first employed several decades ago before being abandoned after Israel determined it was counter-productive.
Beirut is hoping Tuesday’s talks will lead to a halt of Israeli strikes in Lebanon, with its foreign minister arguing that such an outcome could be framed as a blow to Iran — which has pushed to extend the truce it inked with the US last week to protect Hezbollah — by further “reinforcing the separation between the Lebanese file and the Iranian track.”
After launching a massively deadly wave of strikes across Lebanon on April 8, Israel has apparently heeded US calls for restraint, refraining from targeting Beirut and other areas deeper in Lebanon since April 9. Leiter, however, insisted on Friday that a complete ceasefire is off the table.
Still, Leiter plans to discuss with Hamadeh during Tuesday’s meeting how the Israeli and Lebanese governments, along with their respective militaries, can collaborate on disarming Hezbollah, the Israeli official said.
The sit-down will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Time at the US State Department, with senior US official Mike Needham and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa facilitating the dialogue. The State Department said later Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would also participate in the meeting, as Washington looked to highlight the historic nature of the meeting, regardless of whether it will be able to produce major results.
“As a direct result of Hezbollah’s reckless actions, the Israeli and Lebanese governments are engaging in open, direct, high-level diplomatic talks —the first such talks since 1993 — brokered by the United States,” a State Department official said in a statement.
“This conversation will scope the ongoing dialogue about how to ensure the long-term security of Israel’s northern border and to support the government of Lebanon’s determination to reclaim full sovereignty over its territory and political life. Israel is at war with Hezbollah, not Lebanon, so there is no reason the two neighbors should not be talking,” the State Department official added.
No follow-up meeting has been scheduled and the Israeli official said the sides will see how the first gathering goes before planning next steps.
For its part, Hezbollah has called on the Lebanese government to cancel Tuesday’s meeting, pledging not to abide by any agreements that are reached. Beirut has bucked those calls, with the Iran-backed terrorist group continuing to attack Israel in the interim.
Analyst says disarmament deal possible if Israel is patient
Hussein Ibish, who is a senior scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, said Lebanon has long been seeking direct talks with Israel and has been let down by the lack of enthusiasm from Jerusalem to date.
He acknowledged the current Lebanese government’s rhetoric about disarming Hezbollah has not matched the results. However, he insisted that Hezbollah’s decision to join the Iran war was a major turning point in the country’s approach to the Shiite organization.
Ibish was in Beirut when Hezbollah began firing at Israel on March 2. “I have never seen people react to Hezbollah the way that they did. I was walking around Muslim-dominated areas with lots of Shiites. Everything was open, and people were launching into diatribes against the ‘terrorists,’ without caring who was listening.”
The Mideast analyst urged Israel to take advantage of the newfound Lebanese anger at Hezbollah, while cautioning Jerusalem against “overplaying its hand.”
“If Israel were to reestablish a long-term occupation in southern Lebanon, it would be providing Hezbollah a back-to-basics program to rebuild itself after endless miscalculations and blunders,” Ibish argued.
While a major Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon may be less likely in an election year for Netanyahu, Ibish maintained that Tuesday’s meeting could still lay the groundwork for an eventual comprehensive deal involving Lebanese recognition of Israel, the demarcation of a new land border separating the two countries, and the Lebanese military moving in stages to disarm Hezbollah.
Cooperating with the Lebanese government against Hezbollah will require patience from Jerusalem, as a rushed disarmament process risks sparking another civil war, Ibish warned.
“Getting a grip on Hezbollah would probably take a few years, but getting an agreement to do it need not take as long. The question is, will Israel be willing to be patient?” he said.
END
RUSSIA VS UKRAINE
6.GLOBAL ISSUES, COVID ISSUES, VACCINE INJURIES/HEALTH ISSUES
this is for sure!!
Biden FDA Knew About COVID Vaccine Stroke Risk And Kept Americans In The Dark
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 – 06:50 PM
Senate investigators spent months reviewing roughly 2,000 pages of federal records. What they found is damning. FDA and CDC officials under the Biden administration identified a significant stroke risk tied to Pfizer’s COVID-19 bivalent booster in seniors – and never breathed a word to the public.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), chairman of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a formal letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laying out the evidence. He wasn’t speculating. He was citing the government’s own files.
“HHS records show that as early as October 2022, federal health officials identified a potential connection between the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent booster and ischemic stroke for individuals over the age of 65,” Johnson wrote.
An ischemic stroke means a blockage of blood to the brain. Between November 2022 and March 2023, seven separate analyses of incoming data flagged the same stroke signal — specifically in adults over 65. CDC data cited by Johnson shows 226 stroke cases reported between August 2022 and February 2023, with additional cases surfacing throughout 2023 and 2024.
Despite the risk, the Biden administration issued no formal warnings. No Health Alert Network message. No changes to booster recommendations for seniors. Nothing.
Instead, in February 2023, HHS quietly hired a private contractor, Lukos LLC, to conduct a deeper internal investigation, dubbed “The Stroke Project.” Publicly, officials kept insisting the vaccines were safe.
“From the initial detection of the safety signal in late 2022 … health officials continued to say the vaccine was safe while simultaneously searching for evidence to support that assertion,” Johnson said.
It gets worse. Federal officials drafted a communications plan about the stroke risk that included a “Tough Questions and Answers” section prepared for President-ish Biden and his White House team. During final edits, the description of the stroke signal was quietly changed from “moderately elevated” to “slightly elevated.” Who made that change? Nobody knows. The language softened, the edit went unattributed, and the public remained in the dark.
The pattern is consistent. Senate investigators previously established that Biden officials also downplayed the risk of vaccine-induced myocarditis and kept that from the public. This wasn’t a one-time failure. It was a system.
Here’s what makes this cover-up even more infuriating. The Biden administration showed it was more than willing to pull the plug on a vaccine when it wanted to.
In April 2021, officials paused the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine due to blood clot concerns. The controversial move was pitched as proof of the administration’s commitment to safety. At the time of the pause, six cases of severe blood clots had been reported out of nearly 7 million doses administered. So when 226 stroke cases surfaced tied to Pfizer’s bivalent booster in the most vulnerable seniors, the same administration did nothing. That double standard wasn’t accidental; it was deliberate.
The fallout from that kind of institutional betrayal is hard to overstate. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, fewer than half of all Americans now trust the CDC and FDA to operate free from political or special-interest influence.
GLOBAL ISSUES
MARK CRISPIN MILLER
NEWSWIZE
MICHAEL EVERY/OR OR PICTON/GIFFIN OR RABOBANK EXECUTIVE/COMMENTARY ON WORLDLY AFFAIRS
World’s Top Oil Trader Hit by Massive Loss on Bets Gone Wrong | OilPrice.com
ROBERT H
The Middle East conflict is exposing some very large canyons not seen before on a scale not imagined by many people.
The West’s economies are paraded for what they are–low industry, high speculation ventures ….
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Worlds-Top-Oil-Trader-Hit-by-Massive-Loss-on-Bets-Gone-Wrong.htmlThey are not alone. There are others trapped with losses that no one will bail out. We have yet to see the losses in full or their tertiary impacts.
Wait until the bond market collapses in America in Municipal and School bonds. That explosion which will go on for some time will take down hundreds of US banks who have their capital invested in these bonds. Who will bail that out? This will be 2008 on steroids.
In Europe mindless debt creation and future dating of the problem is rapidly finding a place to explode. And Europe is not alone. Today, all governmental debt is suspect at best. These ongoing debt assemblies always have a expiry date. It just takes many years to get there.
Finding lasting value these days takes on a new meaning.
END
USA IS NOW THE GAS STATION FOR THE WORLD WITH RESPECT TO FILL UP IN OIL:
Fill ‘er Up: Record Armada Of Tankers Bound For US Gulf To Load Oil
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 10:00 AM
An unusually large number of crude oil tankers on the open seas has the American Gulf coast as a destination as the ships are redirected to load cargoes bound for markets around the world already experiencing shortages.
As Alton Wallace writes at The Center Square, second-term Republican President Donald Trump said Saturday on social media that “massive numbers” of “completely empty” oil tankers are en route to the United States to purchase American energy.
“Foreign buyers are voting with their ships: American energy means stability, strength, and freedom from Middle East blackmail,” the president posted on Monday.
Shipping data posted by maritime intelligence company Windward shows 171 crude tankers are bound for the U.S. Gulf to load crude oil cargoes, which compares with about 110 in a typical month.
The surging vessel traffic comes as nations throughout Europe and Asia grapple to secure energy supplies and regional prices skyrocket. Germany is providing emergency fuel relief to its citizens while officials in the Philippines recently declared a national energy emergency as the world looks increasingly to the U.S. to replenish war-starved oil and gas markets.
“Hundreds of supertankers, the kind that carry two million barrels each, are currently racing toward the US Gulf Coast from every direction, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, around Africa, the scenic route, the ‘we were heading to Saudi Arabia but never mind’ route,” Jesús Enrique Rosas noted this weekend.
Oil markets research firm Kpler estimates U.S. crude oil exports in April will reach 5.2 million barrels per day, up about one-third from 3.9 million barrels a day in March, the Financial Times reported last week.
North Carolina-based Kpler analyst Matt Smith described the great volume of incoming ships as an “armada of tankers heading this way.”
Trump on Saturday remarked that the U.S. oil output is more than the combined total of Saudi Arabia and Russia, the next two largest producers, and the president promised a “quick turnaround” for the arriving fleet.
Shipping data shows approximately 28 very large crude carriers, which can hold about 2 million barrels of oil, have been contracted to load U.S. crude in May compared to a monthly average of just five in a typical month, according to Kpler.
Trump shared a post on Saturday by oil market researcher Rory Johnston that read “very cool seeing the wave of empty tankers heading to the U.S. to pick up some desperately needed crude for Hormuz-starved markets,” to which the president responded, “Great!!!”
“The more Iran leans on Hormuz, the faster global energy flows reroute around it. Over time, that erodes Tehran’s leverage and cuts into its long-term power,” Osint613 posted Sunday.
America and Israel on Feb. 28 launched military strikes against Iran. The Iranians, with control of the Strait of Hormuz, has stymied an otherwise one-sided confrontation. An 11th-hour ceasefire to last two weeks was announced Tuesday.
As the shipping logjam continues, Windward’s daily intelligence report on Monday shows 732 vessels carrying oil, gas, refined fuels, and other fossil fuels-based products await transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
To avoid the volatile region, many of these vessels are now rounding the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa – a detour that bypasses the Suez Canal but adds up to 15 days of travel time to reach American docks.
In March, Port of Houston officials announced completion of the Project 11 channel widening project, which eliminated longstanding nighttime vessel movement restrictions in place for more than a century, allowing large vessels to safely transit the channel without waiting for daylight.
Finally, as Stephen Green explains at PJMedia.com, there may be a strategy here…
Supporters and critics alike – the honest critics, that is, who deserve protection under the Endangered Species Act – understand that Trump acts as a chaos agent. He knows the end result he wants, even if sometimes only broadly defined as “Make America Great Again.” The established rules and methods don’t allow for that, so Trump is happy to blow things up (sometimes literally), and see what can be rebuilt from the pieces.
The thing about that Persian Gulf stranglehold is that, like the Sword of Damocles, it’s most effective before it’s used. Now that Tehran has tried (and only partly and temporarily succeeded) in closing the Strait of Hormuz, “About the only escalation option the IRGC has is to renew its missile and drone attacks on neighboring Gulf states,” as my Hot Air colleague Ed Morrissey put it on Monday. But “Trump has an escalation for that as well: Bridge and Power Plant Day. Let’s see how long it takes for Iran to provoke it.”
Looking at the bigger picture, Rosas also wrote: “Iran played its biggest card and the main result is that the United States became the world’s emergency gas station and China’s cheap energy subsidy evaporated. The spice — er, oil — must flow. But Trump rewrote the rulebook about where it flows from.”
But, as Andrew Moran writes at Liberty Nation, there is a tricky balancing act here…
On the one hand, the US economy is far more insulated from global oil shocks than it was during the Iraq War, as it is a net petroleum exporter.
The March, April, and May trade data, to be released later this summer and early fall, should yield fascinating economic insights into the Iranian conflict.
On the other hand, consumers still bear the brunt of higher gas prices.
Private-sector data suggest that consumers continued to shop in March, even after excluding gasoline station transactions. Whether they can keep their wallets open this spring, even with handsome windfalls from the One Big Beautiful Bill’s tax refunds, will be a wild card for GDP numbers.
In the end, will this be a winning message for November’s midterm elections? It will be challenging to convince voters of a grand 4D chess scheme involving America’s oil and military prowess.
END
8. EMERGING MARKETS//AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND ISSUES
CANADA
I think we are in trouble
Mark Carney’s Tough Talk On The US Is Rooted In The Liberal Reset Agenda
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 – 11:00 PM
Are Canadians being primed for an open conflict with the US? The rhetoric coming from the nation’s liberal government is sounding increasingly hostile, and not just in terms of economic separation. Prime Minister and avid globalist Mark Carney recently took the stage at the Liberal Convention in Montreal; the event is being heralded as a “battle cry” for leftists and a disturbing joke by conservatives.
One of the biggest stories coming out of Canada this week was politician Leah Gazan desperately proclaiming that there was a “genocide” taking place against the country’s “MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+” population.
“When the budget was released, I was shocked to find out that Prime Minister Carney is cutting $7 billion between Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations,” Gazan said.
“They provided zero to deal with the ongoing genocide of MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+. This is abhorrent. This is callous.”
If you’re confused as to what any of this means, you’re not alone. No one knows (or cares) what it really stands for. The point is, Canada has lost it’s way in the darkness of leftist insanity.
The story showcases not only the woke insanity that is overtaking Canada, but also the reality of the internal browbeating that leftists try to harness against each other as they virtue signal for attention and political power. However, gay Wifi passwords aside, the real story from America’s northern neighbor is the escalation of economic and political posturing coming from the Liberal government.
Carney’s statements in Montreal invariably wandered over to Donald Trump and the US, with the Prime Minister claiming that the “international order is crumbling” rapidly. He insinuated that pulling back from the leftist vision of multiculturalism and woke “progress” is impossible. In other words, conservatives that want to step back from the brink of societal madness are the enemy, and of course, the US is presented as the core of this disruption
The full speech can be viewed HERE.
Keep in mind, Canada (and much of the western world) is facing its own anti-globalist movements after the draconian nightmare of the pandemic lockdowns, not to mention rampant inflation and open immigration which is crushing Canada’s housing market. Canada’s federal government might seek to cut ties with the US, but provinces like Alberta are seeking to cut ties with Canada.
The idea that the Canadian military sends “70 cents of every dollar” to the US is a misrepresentation of stats. Canada does buy large amounts of US military hardware, largely because they are not capable of manufacturing next gen weapons for themselves. While they do have the industry to produce around 50% of their own military logistics, this is only because their armed forces are incredibly small, with only 22,500 actual combat troops compared to 268,000 front line troops in the US.
This may be why Canada’s Defense Chief, General Jennie Carginan, is now calling for an expansion of reserves to include 300,000 Canadian citizens. Oddly, she suggests that recruitment focus on people with a “public services” background (police, federal law enforcement), leading some critics to suggest that the Canadian military is gearing up to control its own citizenry rather than fight a foreign enemy.
Carney mentions US “betrayal”, ostensibly referring to Trump’s tariff policies. Canada has long benefited from lax trade regulations with the US, at one point generating the wealthiest middle class in the world due to ample and easy exports to US markets. This, of course, was ruined by leftist policies under Justin Trudeau, including carbon controls and resource restrictions.
Trump’s tariffs were a response to the parasitic liberal relationship between Canada and the US which was funding a government that, ultimately, despises free markets and freedom in general.
Tough talk from NATO and European “allies” has been rampant lately, and it would seem globalist politicians in Canada got the memo. The Trump Administration’s recent announcement of a naval blockade of the Hormuz to stop Iranian ships from Iranian ports has suddenly inspired the Europeans to take action…in favor of the Iranians.
Though, none of these countries has the means to end a US blockade of Iran, it is interesting that they now want to get involved when they expressed no interest a month ago. Their interest is clearly not based on principle; if it were then they would have expressed as much outrage over Iran trying to control the same vital international shipping lane. Instead, it would appear that the multicultural “reset” agenda is more important to the liberal movements of the west than anything else.
In the meantime, Mark Carney is acting like a crazy drunk girlfriend at a party, trying to get her boyfriend (Canada) into a bar fight, but his agenda is more calculated than it seems.
END
The Exit: Why Alberta Will Leave Canada
Dave Bradley (founder: Bitcoin Brains and Calgary’s Bitcoin Rodeo conference) recently joined Daily Bell publisher Mark Jeftovic on an episode of Bombthrower.TV to talk about his Bitcoin origin story and the inevitability of Alberta’s Exit from Canada.
Summary
Alberta Separation Economics
- Dave Bradley claims average Albertan would save $17,000-$25,000 per year after independence, as Alberta currently pays to stay in Canada while Quebec is paid to stay, creating massive incentive asymmetry for separation.
- Steve Bannon told Jeftovic that 4 more years of Marxism coming for Canada after a Liberal victory would deliver Alberta with all its oil to US interests, revealing geopolitical calculations around Canadian federal governance and resource control.
- Alberta independence referendum in October 2026 features three-part question on independence, immigration control, and transfer payment renegotiation, with Dave Bradley predicting it passes handily on first try due to anti-Ottawa sentiment.
Currency and Monetary System
- Dave Bradley predicts world consolidates to 6-7 currencies within five years, with Bitcoin absorbing monetary premium from gold ($25T market cap), silver, and real estate as it grows toward $100-150T valuation.
- Independent Alberta would launch new currency backed by basket of gold, silver, oil, and Bitcoin, with potential for Bitcoin to become legal tender under Premier Danielle Smith, who is described as a Bitcoiner discussing provincial Bitcoin reserves.
- Canadian dollar has no real reason to exist according to Dave Bradley, who predicts currency collapse as nation-state fragmentation accelerates per Sovereign Individual thesis playing out in real time.
Real Estate vs Bitcoin
- Dave Bradley argues you don’t really own your house because property taxes function as government lease, making real estate catastrophically inferior to Bitcoin over last 20 years due to illiquidity and lack of divisibility.
- Toronto real estate in free fall threatens rental income models, while real estate’s monetary premium gets absorbed by Bitcoin as superior collateral and store of value.
Political Control and Freedom
- Emergency Act bank account seizures in G7 nation Canada during trucker protests created permanent scar driving independence sentiment, as citizens experienced financial deplatforming by federal government.
- Trump’s “51st state” comments deliberately tipped Canadian federal election to Mark Carney, described as City of London pawn and Bank of England operative positioned to loot Canada for European banker class.
Bitcoin Corporate Strategy
- MicroStrategy premium evaporation was inevitable according to Dave Bradley, as Bitcoin treasury companies became obsolete after ETF approval changed institutional access landscape permanently.
- Bitcoin HODL Code concept involves collateralizing Bitcoin to fund corporate acquisitions rather than selling, positioning Bitcoin as best form of collateral for business expansion strategies.
View the episode page here. follow @CanadaShrugged on X here
YOUR EARLY CURRENCY/GOLD AND SILVER PRICING/ASIAN CLOSING MARKETS AND EUROPEAN BOURSE OPENING AND CLOSING/ INTEREST RATE SETTINGS TUESDAY MORNING 6;30AM//OPENING AND CLOSING
OPENING LEVELS OF CURRENCIES// AND CLOSING ASIAN STOCK MARKET AND OPENING EUROPEAN STOCKS:6 AM EST
EURO VS USA DOLLAR: 1.17780 UP 0.0014
USA/ YEN 159.08 DOWN .139 NOW TARGETS INTEREST RATE AT 1.75% AS IT WILL BUY UNLIMITED BONDS TO GETS TO THAT LEVEL…//YEN STILL FALLS//END OF YEN CARRY TRADE BEGINS AGAIN DEC 2024/Bank of Japan raises rates by .25% TO 1.75 ..TAKAICHI NEW PM AS YIELDS RISE//JAPAN DEEPLY IN TROUBLE WITH RISING RATES AND A FALLING YEN!!
GBP/USA 1.3528 UP 0.0012 OR 12 BASIS PTS
USA/CAN DOLLAR: 1.3772 DOWN 0.0014 CDN DOLLAR UP 14 BASIS PTS//
Last night Shanghai COMPOSITE CLOSED UP 38.09 PTS OR 0.95%
Hang Seng CLOSED DOWN 216.65 PTS OR 0.85%
AUSTRALIA CLOSED DOWN 0.45%
// EUROPEAN BOURSE: ALL GREEN
Trading from Europe and ASIA
I) EUROPEAN BOURSES: ALL GREEN
2/ CHINESE BOURSES / :Hang SENG CLOSED UP 216.65 PTS OR 0.85%
/SHANGHAI CLOSED UP 38.07 PTS OR 0.95%
AUSTRALIA BOURSE CLOSED DOWN 0.45%
(Nikkei (Japan) CLOSED UP 1377.23 PTS OR 2.44%
INDIA’S SENSEX IN THE RED
Gold very early morning trading: $4774.40
silver:$77.53
USA DOLLAR VS TRY (TURKISH LIRA): 44.73 PLUS 1 BASIS PTS AND NOW WE SEE THEIR STUPIDITY OF SELLING SOME OF THEIR GOLD.
USA DOLLAR VS RUSSIAN ROUBLE: 76.01 ROUBLE// UP 0 ROUBLE AND 4 BASIS PTS
UK 10 YR BOND YIELD: 4.8240 DOWN 7 BASIS PTS
UK 30 YR BOND YIELD: 5.482 DOWN 7 BASIS PTS
CDN 10 YR BOND YIELD: 3.469 UP 2 BASIS PTS
CDN 5 YR BOND YIELD; 3.082 UP 1 BASIS PTS
USA dollar index early TUESDAY MORNING: 97.98 DOWN 18 BASIS POINTS FROM MONDAY’s CLOSE
TUESDAY MORNING NUMBERS ENDS
And now your closing TUESDAY NUMBERS 10.00 AM
Portuguese 10 year bond yield: 3.453% DOWN 4 in basis point(s) yield
JAPANESE BOND 10 yr YIELD: +2.425% DOWN 5 FULL POINTS BASIS POINTS /JAPAN losing control of its yield curve/
JAPAN 30 YR: 3.635 DOWN 8 BASIS PTS//
SPANISH 10 YR BOND YIELD: 3.504 DOWN 4 in basis points yield
ITALY 10 YR BOND: 3.829 DOWN 5 points in basis points yield ./ THE ECB IS QE’ ING ITALIAN BONDS (
GERMAN 10 YR BOND YIELD: 3.0782 UP 4 BASIS PTS
IMPORTANT CURRENCY CLOSES : MID DAY TUESDAY
Closing currency crosses for day /USA DOLLAR INDEX/USA 10 YR BOND YIELD/10:00 AM
Euro/USA 1.1805 UP 0.0039 OR 39 basis points
USA/Japan: 158.72 DOWN 0.502 OR YEN IS UP 50 BASIS PTS// HIGHLY INFLATIONARY TO JAPAN
Great Britain 10 YR RATE 4.8230 DOWN 4 BASIS POINTS //
GREAT BRITAIN 30 YR BOND; 5.487 DOWN 5 BASIS POINTS.
Canadian dollar UP 31 BASIS pts to 1.3732
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The USA/Yuan CNY DOWN 6.8312 ON SHORE ..
THE USA/YUAN OFFSHORE// CNH DOWN TO 6.8299
TURKISH LIRA: 44.72 EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LEVEL/DEATH WATCH/HYPERINFLATION TO BEGIN.//
Your closing 10 yr US bond yield DOWN 2 in basis points from MONDAY at 4.291.% //trading well ABOVE the resistance level of 2.27-2.32%)
USA 30 yr bond yield 4.895 DOWN 1 basis points /10:00 AM
USA 2 YR BOND YIELD: 3.778 DOWN 0 BASIS PTS.
GOLD AT 10;00 AM 4781.10
SILVER AT 10;00: 77.80
Your 11:00 AM bourses for Europe and the Dow along with the USA dollar index closing and interest rates TUESDAY CLOSING TIME 10:00 AM//
London: CLOSED UP 26.10 PTS OR 0.25%
GERMAN DAX: CLOSED UP 301.78 PTS OR 1.27%
FRANCE: CLOSED UP 91.88 PTS OR 1.12%
Spain IBEX CLOSED UP 262.20 PTS OR 1.45%
Italian MIB: CLOSED UP 648.49 PTS OR 1.36%
WTI Oil price 95.99 10.00 EST/
Brent Oil: 97.59 10:00 EST
USA /RUSSIAN ROUBLE /// AT: 76.80 ROUBLE DOWN 0 AND 75 / 100
CDN 10 YEAR RATE: 3.470 DOWN 2 BASIS PTS.
CDN 5 YEAR RATE: 3.079 DOWN 1 BASIS PTS
CLOSING NUMBERS: 4 PM
Euro vs USA 1.1794 UP 0.0023 OR 23 BASIS POINTS//
British Pound: 1.3566 UP 0.0058 OR 58 basis pts/
BRITISH 10 YR GILT BOND YIELD: 4.7740 DOWN 8 FULL BASIS PTS//
BRITISH 30 YR BOND YIELD: 5.430 DOWN 12 IN BASIS PTS.
JAPAN 10 YR YIELD: 2.416 DOWN 6 FULL BASIS PTS (DANGEROUS TO THEIR ECONOMY
JAPANESE 30 YR BOND: 3.628 DOWN 8 PTS AND STILL VERY DANGEROUS TO THEIR ECONOMY
USA dollar vs Japanese Yen: 158.84 DOWN 0.373 OR YEN UP 38 BASIS PTS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS/YEN FALLING DEEPLY IN VALUE
USA dollar vs Canadian dollar: 1.3768 DOWN 0.0018 PTS// CDN DOLLAR UP 18 BASIS PTS
West Texas intermediate oil: 92.04
Brent OIL: 95.09
USA 10 yr bond yield DOWN 5 BASIS pts to 4.242
USA 30 yr bond yield: DOWN 2 PTS to 4.883%
USA 2 YR BOND 3.7474 DOWN 4 PTS
CDN 10 YR RATE 3.429 DOWN 4 BASIS PTS
CDN 5 YEAR RATE: 3.049 DOWN 3 BASIS PTS
USA dollar index: 97.89 DOWN 27 BASIS POINTS
USA DOLLAR VS TURKISH LIRA: 44.73 GETTING QUITE CLOSE TO BLOWING UP/IDIOTS SOLD GOLD
USA DOLLAR VS RUSSIA//// ROUBLE: 75.86 UP 0 AND 13/100 roubles //
GOLD $4843.40 3:30 PM)
SILVER: 79.60 3;30 PM)
DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE: UP 317.74 UP .66%
NASDAQ 100 UP 458.28 PTS OR 1.81%
VOLATILITY INDEX 18.38 DOWN 0.74 PTS OR 3.83%
GLD: $ 445.08 UP 9.72 PTS OR 2.23%
SLV/ $72.04 PTS OR OR 3.76%
TORONTO STOCK INDEX// TSX INDEX: CLOSED UP 223.12 PTS OR 0.66%
end
TRADING today ZEROHEDGE 4 PM: HEADLINE NEWS/TRADING
Mission Accomplished? S&P Retraces All Iran Losses; Big-Tech, Bonds, Bitcoin, & Bullion All Bid
WRAP UP
Risk-on sentiment seen amid greater optimism surrounding US/Iran talks – Newsquawk US Market Wrap
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 04:06 PM
- SNAPSHOT: Equities up, Treasuries up, Crude down, Dollar down, Gold up
- REAR VIEW: US/Iranian negotiation teams reportedly to return to Islamabad for peace talks later this week; Trump tells NY Post talks with Iran could be happening over the next two days in Pakistan; Iran reportedly mulling pausing its Hormuz shipping to avoid derailing talks; US CENTCOM said no ships made it through the US blockade in the first 24 hours; Cooler-than-expected US PPI; BoJ is said to be considering a sharp increase to its price forecast this month; JPM beats on Q1, cuts FY NII outlook; WFC misses on revenue and FY NII view; C beats on earnings.
- COMING UP: Data: South Korean Unemployment Rate (Mar), French HICP Final (Mar), EZ Industrial Production (Feb), US Export/Import Prices (Mar). Events: Fed Beige Book (Apr). Speakers: Fed’s Barr, Bowman; ECB’s Cipollone, Lagarde, Schnabel; BoE’s Bailey; SNB’s Schlegel; RBA’s Hauser; RBNZ’s Breman. Supply: Australia, Germany. Earnings: Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, ASML, Hermes.
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MARKET WRAP
Risk-on trade was seen across markets on Tuesday amid greater optimism regarding US/Iran talks, as TASS said the two countries have shown readiness for further negotiations, and Trump told the NY Post that talks with Iran could be happening over the next two days in Pakistan. As such, US indices posted strong gains, with the NDX outperforming, and most sectors in the green led by Communications, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology. Energy was the clear laggard and hit by the notable weakness in the crude complex, whereby benchmarks saw losses of c. USD 4.30/bbl amid the more encouraging risk environment. The Dollar saw losses, to the benefit of G10 peers, as the Kiwi outperformed and the Yen was buoyed on reports that the BoJ will lift inflation forecasts. Given the aforementioned risk sentiment, precious metals gains, with spot silver surging in excess of 5%. Treasuries were bid on US/Iran hopes as talks look set to resume. On data, the US PPI was softer than anticipated, although key PCE components were firmer. However, the report was viewed as somewhat stale given its March 10th reference period, likely not capturing the full impact of the recent energy price shock, so market reaction was limited. Fed speak via Goolsbee offered little new. Earnings season has begun with mixed results across the Financials space, as missing on NII quarterly figures or guidance is weighing on names, as shown by weakness in JPMorgan and Wells Fargo today.
US
PPI: March PPI rose 0.5% M/M, below the 1.2% forecast and cooling from the prior 0.7%, leaving the Y/Y rate at 4.0%, below the 4.6% forecast but up from the prior 3.4%. Core measures rose 0.1% (forecast 0.6%), slowing from the prior 0.5% pace. Core Y/Y eased to 3.8% from 3.9%, below the 4.2% forecast. The super core measure, excluding food, energy and trade, rose 0.2% M/M (prior 0.5%) and 3.6% Y/Y (prior 3.5%). Meanwhile, the report showed that nearly half of the March increase in the index for final demand goods was due to a 15.7% rise in gasoline prices. The indexes for diesel fuel, jet fuel, home heating oil, meats and primary basic organic chemicals also increased. Pantheon Macroeconomics highlighted that the reference date for the PPI data was March 10, and therefore, near the start of the energy price shock. The desk said April PPI energy prices would rise considerably further. Overall, Pantheon Macroeconomics wrote that the modest rise in March core PPI brought some genuinely good news, suggesting momentum in January and February was partly due to residual seasonality. It also highlighted that retailers’ healthy margins suggested tariff pass-through was now complete. Although the report was softer than expected, the components that feed through to PCE accelerated in March, particularly air passenger transport PPI amid rising fuel costs in the face of the US-Iran war. Pantheon Macroeconomics expects that core PCE rose 0.29% M/M and 3.2% Y/Y.
GOOLSBEE (2027 voter) said there are circumstances where rates can go up, and circumstances for a hold, or decrease. Goolsbee’s concern is how long this is going to last, noting that more rate cuts in 2026 are unlikely without disinflation. If gas gets to USD 5 and stays there for months, inflation expectations could get unanchored, which they have to pay attention towards. He would feel better if core inflation made progress, even if headline inflation was high. The longer it lasts, if inflation stays up, it pushes cuts out of 2026. Despite this, he affirmed they will get inflation to 2%, and expectations are anchored so far. Chicago Fed President added have had good news on housing inflation, and so far, the consumer just keeps chugging along.
FIXED INCOME
T-NOTE FUTURES (M6) SETTLED 9 TICKS HIGHER AT 111-17
Yields fall on US/Iran hopes as talks look set to resume. At settlement, 2-year -2.5bps at 3.751%, 3-year -3.2bps at 3.762%, 5-year -3.9bps at 3.871%, 7-year -4.3bps at 4.053%, 10-year -3.7bps at 4.256%, 20-year -3.3bps at 4.844%, 30-year -3.2bps at 4.867%.
THE DAY: Treasuries firmed across the curve on Tuesday, with yields moving lower as oil prices extended their decline on expectations of renewed progress in US/Iran talks. President Trump said discussions could resume in the coming days, likely in Islamabad, raising hopes of a potential resolution or at least an extension of the ceasefire set to expire on April 21st. The move in oil helped ease inflation concerns, supporting the bid in Treasuries.
On the data front, US PPI came in softer than expected, although key PCE components were firmer. However, the report was viewed as somewhat stale given its March 10th reference period, likely not capturing the full impact of the recent energy price shock. As a result, data had a limited influence on price action, with markets remaining focused on geopolitical developments.
Fed commentary was broadly in line with recent messaging. Goolsbee said there were circumstances where rates could be held, cut, or raised. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Bessent suggested the Fed should remain patient and wait before cutting rates, marking a shift from the administration’s pre-war push for immediate easing.
Overall, the session highlights how markets continue to be driven by developments in energy and geopolitics, with easing oil prices helping to unwind inflation concerns and support Treasuries, while data and Fed commentary remain secondary.
SUPPLY
Bills
- US sold 1-year bills at a high rate of 3.560%, B/C 3.21x; sold 6-week bills at a high rate of 3.630%, B/C 3.04x
- US to sell USD 75bln of 8-week bills and USD 80bln of 4-week bills on April 16th; to sell USD 69bln on April 15th; all to settle April 21st
STIRS/OPERATIONS
- Fed Money Market Pricing (D/D): April +1.8bps (prev. +1.8bps), June +1.8bps (prev. +1.8bps), July -0.2bps (prev. -0.2bps), Dec -8.6bps (prev. -7bps).
- NY Fed RRP op demand at USD 0.306bln (prev. 0.227bln) across 13 counterparties (prev. 4)
- SOFR at 3.63% (prev. 3.61%), volumes at USD 3.135tln (prev. USD 3.063tln) on April 13th
- EFFR at 3.64% (prev. 3.64%), volumes at USD 97bln (prev. USD 106bln) on April 13th
CRUDE
WTI (M6) SETTLED USD 4.76 LOWER AT 88.19/BBL; BRENT (M6) SETTLED USD 4.57 LOWER AT 94.79/BBL
The crude complex was weaker amid broader optimism regarding US/Iran talks. Highlighting this, downside was seen on reports that Iran is reportedly mulling pausing its Hormuz shipping to avoid derailing talks, with separate sources noting that the US and Iran have shown readiness for further negotiations. Regarding talks, US President Trump told the NY Post that they could be happening with Iran over the next two days in Pakistan, with the Iranian embassy official in Pakistan earlier adding that the next round could take place this week or early next week. Elsewhere, the IEA noted supply could exceed demand by 410k BPD in 2026 and highlighted that restoring Hormuz flows remains key. As such, benchmarks sold off for the duration of the session to settle at lows with WTI falling from peaks of USD 92.66/bbl to 88.01, with Brent trading between USD 94.42-9945/bbl. Ahead, private inventory data is after-hours, whereby current expectations are (bbls): Crude +0.2mln, Distillates -2.4mln, Gasoline -2.1mln.
EQUITIES
CLOSES: SPX +1.17% at 6,967, NDX +1.81% at 25,842, DJI +0.66% at 48,536, RUT +1.29% at 2,705
SECTORS: Energy -2.16%, Materials -0.33%, Consumer Staples -0.23%, Utilities +0.18%, Financials +0.20%, Industrials +0.34%, Health +0.50%, Real Estate +0.85%, Technology +1.66%, Consumer Discretionary +2.54%, Communication Services +3.18%.
EUROPEAN CLOSES: European Closes: Euro Stoxx 50 +1.32% at 5,983, Dax 40 +1.23% at 24,034, FTSE 100 +0.25% at 10,609, CAC 40 +1.12% at 8,328, FTSE MIB +1.36% at 48,176, IBEX 35 +1.46% at 18,286, PSI +0.03% at 9,362, SMI +0.93% at 13,268, AEX +0.75% at 1,020.
EARNINGS:
- Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): Despite strong report as top & bottom-line surpassed exp., marginally lifted FY rev. view & raised Q div. c. 3%.
- JPMorgan (JPM): FY NII guidance fell short; note, EPS, rev., & FICC rev all beat.
- Wells Fargo (WFC): Rev, NII, NIM missed.
- Citigroup (C): EPS, rev. & NII beat.
STOCK SPECIFICS:
- Bloom Energy (BE) expanded its partnership w/ Oracle to support AI & cloud infrastructure buildout.
- Lucid (LCID) to receive new investments from PIF & UBER w/ UBER/LCID expanding robotaxi partnership to at least 35k vehicles.
- Amazon (AMZN) confirmed it is to acquire Globalstar (GSAT) for USD 90/shr.
- United Airlines (UAL) CEO pitched a possible merger w/ American Airlines (AAL) to senior government officials.
- Tesla (TSLA) upgraded at UBS to ‘Neutral’ from ‘Sell’.
- Microsoft (MSFT) sharply raised prices across its Surface device lineup amid a memory chip shortage.
- Nvidia (NVDA) denied reports that it is in discussions to acquire a PC manufacturer, calling the claims false. Dell (DELL) & HP (HPQ) rallied on Mon. following the initial reports.
- Wolf Research is short Poet Technologies (POET).
- Anthropic is preparing its next flagship model, Claude Opus 4.7, along with a new AI-powered tool for designing websites and presentations, The Information reported. Those new products could be released as soon as this week.
FX
DXY has now mostly pared the strength seen from the Middle-East conflict as a long-term solution found through diplomacy seems increasingly likely. Reports suggest the US-Iran talks could resume this week in Islamabad or early next week, albeit nothing is scheduled yet. The US blockade seemingly pressures Iran both militarily and economically, with no ships making it through, and reports noting that Iran is considering pausing its Hormuz shipping to avoid derailing talks. Elsewhere, US PPI accelerated less than expected in March amid the surge in oil prices, albeit the reference period was March 10th, not incorporating the resilience in oil markets seen since; DXY was little moved.
The rally in AUD and NZD unsurprisingly continued as risk-sentiment across markets. JPY also caught a bid, supported by lower US yields, and Bloomberg reports that the BoJ is said to be considering a sharp increase to its price forecast this month, while weighing a possible growth outlook cut due to high oil prices. USD/JPY trades around 158.83 from Monday’s close of 159.445.
USD/SGD was lower on the day, amid a mixed GDP report and the Monetary Authority of Singapore tightening policy as expected by slightly raising the rate of appreciation of the SGD NEER policy band, while it made no change to the width and level the band is centred. USD/SGD trades ~1.2712 from 1.2765 seen at the start of the week.
JPMorgan lifted its stance on EMFX back to overweight, saying the “end game” US-Iran war is now emerging. The points analysts cited were 1) US have adhered to the timeline set out at the start of the war 2) US and Iran walked away from escalation 3) A degree of overlap in demands which may allow a deal 4) The failure of weekend talks has not resulted in exchange of strikes 5) Headlines suggest US are pressuring Israel for a Lebanon ceasefire.
USA DATA RELEASES
PRICES COOLER THAN EXPECTED DESPITE SURGE IN ENERGY COSTS
(ZEROHEDGE)
US Producer Prices Cooler Than Expected In March Despite Surge In Energy Costs
by Tyler Durden
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 08:40 AM
The month-over-month change in producer prices had accelerated for five straight months ahead of today’s March data, which is expected to surge thanks to Iran-war impacts on energy costs.
Against expectations of a 1.1% MoM rise, March’s Headline PPI shocked everyone by rising only 0.5% MoM (equal to the revised lower 0.5% MoM rise in both of the last two months). This pushed PPI up 4.0% YoY (the highest since Feb 2023) but well below the +4.6% YoY exp…
Source: Bloomberg
Energy dominated the increase…
But the Energy PPI index appears to have ‘underperformed’ relative to oil…
Source: Bloomberg
PPI Final demand goods: The index for final demand goods increased 1.6%, the largest rise since August 2023. Most of the March advance can be traced to prices for final demand energy, which jumped 8.5%. The index for final demand goods less foods and energy increased 0.2% In contrast, prices for final demand foods declined 0.3 percent.
- Product detail: Nearly half of the March advance in the index for final demand goods is attributable to a 15.7% rise in gasoline prices. The indexes for diesel fuel, jet fuel, home heating oil, meats, and primary basic organic chemicals also increased. Conversely, prices for fresh and dry vegetables fell 10.7%. The indexes for natural gas and for carbon steel scrap also decreased.
PPI Final demand services: The index for final demand services was unchanged in March following a 0.3% advance in February. In March, price increases of 1.3% for final demand transportation and warehousing services and 0.1% for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing offset a 0.3% decline in margins for final demand trade services.
- Product detail: Within final demand services in March, prices for airline passenger services rose 2.8%. The indexes for food retailing; apparel, jewelry, footwear, and accessories retailing; outpatient care (partial); and truck transportation of freight also moved higher. In contrast, margins for food and alcohol wholesaling fell 6.0%. The indexes for fuels and lubricants retailing; securities brokerage, dealing, and investment advice; deposit services (partial); and brokerage fees and commissions for residential property agreements also decreased.
However, in a similar manner to CPI, we see Core Producer prices (ex-food-and-energy) rising just 0.1% MoM (dramatically cooler than +0.4% MoM exp). This pulled the Core PPI YoY down from +3.9% to +3.8%…
Source: Bloomberg
So that’s all ‘good news’.
Here’s the bad news… the pipeline for inflation is accelerating significantly…
Source: Bloomberg
It seems the panic over energy fears sparking massive inflation (in March) was overdone (again).
For now, the market continues to price in a higher chance of a rate-cut next than rate-hike.
USA ECONOMIC REPORTS
US Carrier Takes Long Route To Gulf To Avoid Bab el-Mandab Strait And Houthis
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 01:00 PM
By Mallory Shelbourne of USNI News
Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is operating off the coast of Namibia, as it sails around the African continent and is set to join a growing naval force in the Arabian Sea amid a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, USNI News has learned.
Bush, which deployed at the end of March, did not sail through the Strait of Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean Sea, a typical transit for East Coast-based carriers headed to the Middle East. The carrier and its escorts – which include USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), USS Mason (DDG-87) and USS Ross (DDG-71) – are instead sailing around Africa, two defense officials confirmed to USNI News on Monday. Supply-class fast oiler USNS Arctic (TAOE-8) is also operating with the Bush Carrier Strike Group.
The path around Africa allows the carrier and its escorts to avoid transiting the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb, which were both hubs of activity for the Houthis in their drone and missile attacks on U.S. and commercial shipping in 2024 and 2025.
Bush’s transit around Africa comes as the U.S. initiates a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following a Sunday announcement from President Donald Trump.
U.S. Central Command subsequently issued a statement explaining how U.S. forces would execute a blockade of the crucial waterway that has been a main flashpoint since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran at the end of February.
“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” reads the Sunday CENTCOM statement. “CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”
A Monday notice issued to mariners, obtained by USNI News, said a so-called “grace period” that would allow neutral ships at Iranian ports to leave ended at 10 a.m. Eastern time Monday.
“Following this time, any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion, and capture,” reads the notice.
“Neutral vessels may still be subject to the right of visit and search to determine the presence of contraband cargo,” the notice continues. “Humanitarian shipments including food, medical supplies, and other goods essential for survival of the civilian populations will be permitted, subject to inspection.”
In a Monday appearance at the Atlantic Council, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle spoke about the considerations for a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, including the risk of mines, how contested the airspace is and whether allies and partners join in the blockade.
“I mean, this is a major undertaking that would have to take place here to do this effectively,” Caudle said. “And of course all that’s bounded by a legal structure – a ‘rules of engagement,’ the legal aspects of this, having good firm legal structure that underwrites the ability to enforce a blockade.”
A U.S. carrier has not transited the Bab el-Mandeb since USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) sailed through the strait in December 2023, shortly after the Houthis started their campaign of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. U.S. destroyers that transited the Bab el-Mandeb in recent years have come under sustained attacks from Houthi forces.
Before Trump announced the blockade, two U.S. guided-missile destroyers sailed through the Strait of Hormuz and briefly operated in the Persian Gulf on Saturday, several days after the Trump administration announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran while American and Iranian officials continued negotiations.
USS Frank E. Petersen (DDG-121) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) entered the strait to start “setting conditions for clearing mines,” USNI News reported at the time. The talks between Iran and the U.S. fell apart late Saturday, according to reports.
The Japan-based Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group – which includes big-deck amphibious warship USS Tripoli (LHA-7), amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD-18) and dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47) – is currently operating in the Arabian Sea.
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group – featuring USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), USS Spruance (DDG-111) and Petersen – is also in the Arabian Sea. There are also seven independently-deployed guided-missile destroyers operating in the waters.
VICTOR DAVIS HANSON
KING NEWS
| The King Report April 13, 2026 Issue 7716 | Independent View of the News |
| NO DEAL with Iran! The US delegation headed by VP Vance left Pakistan on Saturday night. Trump: So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not. Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz. At some point, we will reach an “ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT” basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, “There may be a mine out there somewhere,” that nobody knows about but them. THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted. I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas. We will also begin destroying the mines the Iranians laid in the Straits. Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL! Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country. Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft and Radar are useless, Khomeini, and most of their “Leaders,” are dead, all because of their Nuclear ambition. The Blockade will begin shortly. Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade. Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION. They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear. Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran! Iran promised to open the Strait of Hormuz, and they knowingly failed to do so. This caused anxiety, dislocation, and pain to many people and Countries throughout the World. They say they put mines in the water, even though all of their Navy, and most of their “mine droppers,” have been completely blown up. They may have done so, but what ship owner would want to take the chance? There is great dishonor and permanent harm to the reputation of Iran, and what’s left of their “Leaders,” but we are beyond all of that. As they promised, they better begin the process of getting this INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY OPEN AND FAST! Every Law in the book is being violated by them. I have been fully debriefed by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, on the meeting that took place in Islamabad through the kind and very competent leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan. They are very extraordinary men, and continuously thank me for saving 30 to 50 million lives in what would have been a horrendous War with India. I always appreciate hearing that — The amount of Humanity spoken of is incomprehensible. The meeting with Iran began early in the morning, and lasted throughout the night — Close to 20 hours. I could go into great detail, and talk about much that has been gotten but, there is only one thing that matters — IRAN IS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS NUCLEAR AMBITIONS! In many ways, the points that were agreed to are better than us continuing our Military Operations to conclusion, but all of those points don’t matter compared to allowing Nuclear Power to be in the hands of such volatile, difficult, unpredictable people. My three Representatives, as all of this time went by, became, not surprisingly, very friendly and respectful of Iran’s Representatives, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri, but that doesn’t matter because they were very unyielding as to the single most important issue and, as I have always said, right from the beginning, and many years ago, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON! The Hormuz Get Out of Jail Card Turned to a Grave For decades the IRGC relied on its ability to threaten closure of the waterway as its premier economic shield and golden get out of jail card. Roughly 21 million barrels per day of oil and petroleum products normally transit the strait. That volume accounts for one fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption and one quarter of all seaborne traded oil… Europe received just 3.8 percent and the United States only 2.5 percent. The IRGC was never holding the West hostage. It holds the East… More critically Gulf producers gained the political urgency and capital they needed to lock in permanent bypass infrastructure… Saudi Arabia ramped its East West Petroline to near its seven million barrels per day capacity routing crude to Red Sea terminals at Yanbu. The United Arab Emirates expanded the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman. Additional overland proposals and expanded export terminals emerged almost immediately. Once those routes reach commercial scale the strait loses its status as a global chokepoint… United States crude exports have surged to a record 4.9 million barrels per day in April 2026 with forecasts pointing toward five million or higher in coming months… Iran confronts structural marginalization as a secondary supplier at best. Internal pressures from economic rot and factional rivalry mount inexorably… The United States stands as the unambiguous winner across all horizons… The IRGC executed a classic use it or lose it blunder. By weaponizing the eastern hostage it compelled the very adaptations that render the hostage irrelevant. Global energy flows have begun a permanent eastward rerouting that favors flexible producers over vulnerable chokepoint holders. The 2026 crisis therefore accelerates the long term isolation of Iran. It diminishes the regime’s economic shield permanently and hastens the internal collapse dynamics already evident before the conflict… https://x.com/avavidan/status/2042992890666787115 @World_Affairs11: Saudi Arabia fully restores East-West oil pipeline, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz and pumping 7,000,000 barrels per day. Saudi Arabia says it needs no more strait of Hormuz. Dr. Mehrdad Ashabi @Medinfo_X: The CIA and Mossad knew from the very beginning, through eavesdropping on the conversations and communications of the Islamic Republic’s leaders, that the two sides’ demands were 180 degrees in opposition. So why waste time and even send JD Vance…? Two main reasons: 1. Diplomatic showmanship, so that if the tables turn someday, they can tell the world we gave negotiations a chance until the very last second, and in the end, it was they who flipped the table. 2. Sending JD Vance (who is inherently anti-war) was to let him see with his own eyes what the other side is after. When someone like him, who opposes conflict, comes and experiences the Islamic Republic’s “tricks” up close, no one in Washington can say anymore, “It could have been resolved with sweet talk.” In fact, America didn’t go there to reach an agreement; it went to “fact-build” the “impossibility of agreement” for everyone (especially its own internal hardliners). CNN: U.S. intelligence indicates that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments. https://t.co/Cu8qpIut3l Iran Parliament Speaker @mb_ghalibaf, Friday: Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations. These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin. Fox’s @TreyYingst: Significant statement from one of the men leading negotiations for Iran. Vice President Vance already left for the talks, and now the Iranian Parliament speaker says negotiations won’t begin until there is a ceasefire in Lebanon, and Iranian assets unfrozen. Trump to NY Post, Friday: “We’re loading up the ships with the best weapons ever made — even better than what we did previously. And if we don’t have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.” Trump post: The Iranians don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate! Team Trump apparently crafted a better than reality CPI for March despite a surge in energy prices. March CPI 0.9% m/m & 3.3% y/y, 0.9% & 3.4% exp; Core CPI 0.2% m/m & 2.6% y/y, 0.3% m/m & 2.7% y/y expected https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/get_attachment_url%20%287%29_8.jpg?itok=F-SXaDKe @fcastofthemonth: There was a large fall in CPI legal services. Now the question is whether BEA will use this in the PCE, where it would cut about-3.5bps from the core rate, or whether they will use the PPI (which they prob should to be consistent with not using the Jan CPI jump). Nobody knows. The BEA’s decision to change legal services source data in the PCE from CPI (around 11.3% in Jan) to PPI (1.8% in Jan) cut the core PCE MoM chg by 8bps (would have been 0.44% vs 0.36%). Could defend move on the merits (not political) but timing & lack of heads up were troubling… https://x.com/fcastofthemonth/status/2032512768134561828 US Consumer Sentiment Drops to Record Low (survey began in 1952) on Price Concerns – BBG Consumers expect prices to rise at an annual rate of 4.8% over the next year… https://x.com/charliebilello/status/2042672877946732988/photo/1 April UM Sentiment 47.6, 51.5 exp; Current Conditions 50.1, 53.4 consensus; Expectations 46.1, 50.2 exp; 1-yr Inflation 4.8%, 4.2% exp; 5-10-yr Inflation 3.4% as expected Feb Factory Orders unchanged, -0.2% m/m exp; Ex-Trans 1.2%, 0.4% exp; Feb Durable Goods -1.3% m/m, -1.4% exp; Ex-Trans 0.9%, Nondef Ex-Air 0.7%, Shipments 1.0% March Federal Budget Balance: -$164.1B, -$153.3B expected, -$160.5B prior @charliebilello: In the first 6 months of the 2026 Fiscal Year the US Federal Government took in $2.5 trillion and spent $3.7 trillion. Don’t try this at home. ESMs opened modestly lower on Thursday night and fell to 6851.00 (-12.25) at 18:59 ET. After a rally to 6869.25 (+6.00) at 21:33 ET, ESMs stair stepped down to 6850.50 at 4:54 ET. Traders eagerly bought; ESMs rallied to a daily high of 6888.00 (+14.75) at 8:28 ET. After sinking to 6862.50 at 9:59 ET, ESMs did a jagged A-B-C rally to 6883.00 at 11:23 ET. Abetting by liquidation for the European close and the weekend, ESMs tumbled to a daily low of 6846.25 (-17.00) at 13:30 ET. The Friday Afternoon Rally was a stair step to 6862.00 at 15:20 ET. ESMs then fell to 6848.75 at 15:48 ET. The late manipulation was modest; ESMs hit 6855.00 at the NYSE close. Palantir stock plunges after ‘Big Short’ investor Michael Burry says Anthropic is eating its lunch https://finance.yahoo.com/news/palantir-stock-plunges-after-big-short-investor-michael-burry-says-anthropic-is-eating-its-lunch-171120431.html In a very unseemly and unpresidential action, Trump touted Palantir after it sank. Trump on Truth Social: “Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment. Just ask our enemies!!!” Trump: “I’ll pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval.” Biden aide Michael LaRosa: “By testing the boundaries of the pardon power, Biden cracked the door open and we can’t now complain about Donald Trump walking through it, even if he blows it wide open.” Positive aspects of previous session Traders reflexively bought Fangs and related trading sardines (cuz there was nothing else to buy) The NY Fang+ Index rallied 135.42; the Nas 100 rallied modestly. Negative aspects of previous session Stocks declined moderately; USMs declined as much as 15/32 May WTI Oil and May Gasoline rallied moderately. Ambiguous aspects of previous session What happens next? First Hour/Last Hour NYSE Action [S&P 500 Index]: 1st Hour: Up; Last Hour: Down Pivot Point for S&P 500 Index [above/below indicates daily trend to day traders]: 6823.71 Previous session (S&P 500 Index) High/Low: 6845.77; 6708.46 @HedgieMarkets: The biggest banks on Wall Street are launching a new tool next week to bet against private credit funds, the same $3 trillion corner of finance that quietly holds money from pension funds and retirement accounts. JPMorgan, Bank of America, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs are working with S&P Global to launch a credit default swap index called CDX Financials, allowing investors to profit if private credit fund managers including Apollo, Ares, and Blackstone run into trouble. Credit default swaps are insurance contracts that pay out when borrowers default. Banks want protection against their own exposure. Hedge funds want to profit from a downturn… What the banks are doing now is building the infrastructure to profit when that happens. Credit default swap indexes were central to the 2008 financial crisis, and that doesn’t mean we’re heading there again. But when the largest banks on Wall Street simultaneously decide they need protection against private credit losses, and hedge funds are lining up to bet on a collapse, people with retirement savings in these funds deserve to understand what the people on the other side of that trade are seeing… https://x.com/HedgieMarkets/status/2042975708876861830 BBG: Fed Seeks Details on US Banks’ Exposure to Private Credit FirmsThe Federal Reserve is asking major US banks for details about their exposure to private credit due to a surge in redemptions and a rise in troubled loans in the industry.The Fed’s queries are intended to assess the level of stress in the private credit industry and the potential for it to spill over to the wider financial system.The Treasury Department is also questioning the insurance industry about exposures to private credit, as part of a broader regulatory push to get a handle on the scale of the strains in the $1.8 trillion private credit industry…https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-04-10/fed-seeks-details-on-us-banks-exposure-to-private-credit-firms Trump on Saturday: Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the World, are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and “sweetest” oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World. We have more oil than the next two largest oil economies combined – and higher quality. We are waiting for you. Quick turnaround!… The Fake News Media is CRAZY, or just plain CORRUPT! The United States has completely destroyed Iran’s Military, including their entire Navy and Air Force, and everything else. Their Leadership is DEAD! The Strait of Hormuz will soon be open, and the empty ships are rushing to the United States to “load up.” But, if you listen to the Fake News, we’re losing!… @Doranimated CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper announced that the United States has begun establishing a new safe passage for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The route will be shared soon to restore confidence and ensure the free flow of commerce. U.S. forces have already begun clearing Iranian-laid sea mines. Two Navy destroyers have transited the strait and are operating in the Gulf to secure the corridor. Underwater drones are now being deployed to accelerate the mine-clearing effort. (Map at link) https://x.com/Doranimated/status/2043014176247845290 Today – The S&P 500 Index traded within a 37.31-point range on Friday. A breach of the high (6845.77) or low (6708.46) from Friday should provoke a spirited move. In recent weeks when stocks have opened sharply lower on Monday after dismal Iran news, the usual suspects have aggressively bought stuff after the morning carnage for the Monday Rally. ESMs hit a Sunday night low of 6767.00 (-88.25) and NQMs made a low of 24,904.50 (-376.75) at 1828 ET. ESMs are -72.00 NGMs are -293.00; USMs are -18/32; and gas & oil are up sharply at 20:10 ET. Expected Economic Data: March Existing Home Sales 4.08m S&P Index 50-day MA: 6762; 100-day MA: 6805; 150-day MA: 6770; 200-day MA: 6663 DJIA 50-day MA: 47,999;100-day MA: 48,100; 150-day MA: 47,592; 200-day MA: 46,842 (Green is positive slope; Red is negative slope S&P 500 Index (6816.89 close) – BBG trading model Trender and MACD for key time frames Monthly: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 6035.78 triggers a sell signal Weekly: Trender and MACD are negative – a close above 7137.44 triggers a buy signal Daily: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 6616.89 triggers a sell signal Hourly: Trender is positive; MACD is negative – a close below 6808.53 triggers a sell signal The biggest advance in AI since the LLM – Why Claude Code changes everything Claude Code is NOT a pure LLM. And it’s not pure deep learning… Claude Code isn’t better because of scaling. It’s better because it is neurosymbolic… (integrates neural network capabilities with symbolic reasoning… AI systems that combine pattern recognition with robust reasoning…) https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/the-biggest-advance-in-ai-since-the @AriFleischer: Tom Friedman of the NYT bluntly shines a terrible light on how much of the liberal MSM covers ALL the news. Their anti-Trump bias taints how they cover the news, to the point where they are torn over the Iran War because they don’t want Trump to win it. This is why it’s so hard to trust the accuracy and fairness of the MSM… NYC cops shoot machete-wielding stabber at Grand Central Terminal, halting weekend trains (13 prior arrests, stabbed two elderly people) https://nypost.com/2026/04/11/us-news/nyc-cops-shoot-machete-wielding-stabber-at-grand-central-station-halting-weekend-trains/ @KatieMiller: While the reports of the women sexually harassed and abused by Eric Swalwell are deeply disturbing, the timing and intensity are questionable and alarming. The Legacy Media and the DC Press Corps knew about these allegations for over a decade. Women on Capitol Hill knew the type of man Eric was—this has persisted since my early days on the Hill in 2013. This was an open secret. He was drunk at bars with young women. Eric was an elected member of Congress who ran for President. Yet, the Liberal Elite Media didn’t peel back the curtain until it served their interests when he was close to the Governorship. The media is complicit in further abuses of power by Eric Swalwell; they covered for him. This would have NEVER been the case if this were a Republican—it would never have served their interests. The double standard is evident in all the disclosures of media who received texts and shared evidence that they held for years. This is a coordinated takedown we are all watching. The allegations are, of course, true, yet the coordination exists to serve the elites’ plan. Why was a grown man still on Snapchat? They knew. They all knew, and they were in on it. @ABC: A Secret Service agent in training who previously worked as an analyst with the presidential protection team was arrested on charges of felony eavesdropping at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement training academy. https://abcnews.com/US/secret-service-trainee-accused-spying-roommate-hidden-camera/story | |
END
| The King Report April 14, 2026 Issue 7720 | Independent View of the News |
| @MOSSADil: China signals it will continue Hormuz transit, warns against interference China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun reportedly sent a message to the Trump administration and the U.S. Navy emphasizing Beijing’s intent to continue operating in the Strait of Hormuz and uphold its agreements with Iran. “Our ships are moving in and out of the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. We have trade and energy agreements with Iran. We will respect and honor those agreements and expect others not to interfere in our affairs.” “Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, and it is open for us.” The market ignored the potential high-stakes confrontation with China over DJT’s blockage of Iran. As we noted in yesterday’s missive: “In recent weeks when stocks have opened sharply lower on Monday after dismal Iran news, the usual suspects have aggressively bought stuff after the morning carnage for the Monday Rally.” This occurred Monday; but the lows occurred early on Sunday night. ESMs hit their daily low of 6767.00 (-88.25) and NQMs made a daily low of 24,904.50 (-376.75) at 18:28 ET. After a jump to 6807.75 at 21:12 ET, ESMs went inert until they plodded to 6817.25 at the 3 ET European opening and went inert again. After a spike to 6831.50 at 6:57 ET on buying ahead of the rally that often commences with the 7 ET US repo market opening, ESMs fell to 6802.50 at 8:03 ET. The rally for the NYSE opening then commenced; ESMs hit a daily high of 6868.25 (+13.00) at 10:58 ET. The entire ESM and NGM sharp declines were erased. Proving once again the trading proclivities almost always trump fundamentals and negative news. Why? The Street is now mostly active traders/hedge funds and passive investors – and computer models/quants drive daily trading. After a retreat. ESMs rallied anew on this from Axios’ @BarakRavid: “There is continued engagement between the U.S. and Iran and forward motion on trying to get to an agreement.” 12:20 ET ESMs hit new high of 6890.00 (+34.75) at 12:51 ET. Also contributing to the rally was a report that Trump would hold a press conference near 12:40 ET. Trump talked about Iran and his conflict with the Pope. DJT said, the right people from Iran called us this morning; “they want to make a deal very bad.” The sticking point is nuclear. Trump concluded his remarks near 12:55 ET. Trump: “We can’t let a country blackmail or extort the world because that’s what they’re doing, they’re really blackmailing the world. We’re not going to let that happen. And many ships are heading to our country right now as we speak to load up with the best [oil]…” https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2043733783078187281 “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon… If they don’t agree, there’s no deal. There’ll never be a deal. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon and we’re going to get the dust back — either we’ll get it back from them or we’ll take it.” https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2043734546093363216 ESMs went inert after Trump’s impromptu presser. After 14:42 ET, the rally resumed; ESMs hit a daily high of 6927.25 (+72.00) at 16:46 ET. The War’s Central Mistake – How Trump empowered a defeated Islamic Republic by opening talks Mehdi Parpanchi Less than a month ago, the regime did not look like a power that believed it had won. Until about March 15, it was frightened. It felt exposed. It was under pressure not only militarily, but politically. Then Trump began speaking about negotiations. At that moment, the administration did more than open the door to talks. It changed the meaning of the war. That was the central mistake… That is why the regime is now celebrating. For the Islamic Republic, survival is enough. It does not need a clear triumph. It only needs to remain standing… The regime’s apparent resilience was not an accident. It was the survival strategy it had prepared all along. The Islamic Republic never believed it could defeat the United States in war. Its aim was to endure long enough for the United States to stop. If the war ends here, the regime will conclude that this strategy worked. It will study that lesson and build on it… If the United States and Israel stop here, they will have given up a rare chance to produce meaningful change in Iran… Beijing and Moscow would read that lesson carefully. They would see not only American caution, but possible limits on American power. The consequences would reach far beyond Iran. It would not only embolden the Islamic Republic. It would embolden China and Russia as well. https://parpanchi.com/p/the-wars-central-mistake Brit Hume: NYT Columnist’s Iran-Over-Trump Comment Is a ‘Perfect’ Example of TDS A viral video of New York Times Columnist Tom Friedman suggesting he’d rather have the U.S. lose the Iran war than see President Donald Trump succeed is the epitome of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS), iconic Fox News Channel Chief Political Analyst Brit Hume says… https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/cnsnews/craig-bannister/2026/04/13/brit-hume-nyt-columnists-iran-over-trump-comment-perfect @PeterSweden7: This should be headline news EVERYWHERE. A Pfizer insider who was former head of toxicology in Europe has just come out and said something that many “conspiracy theorists” suspected. He estimates that 20 000 to 60 000 people in Germany have died from the c*vid vaccine. This was said at a parliamentary enquiry commission in Germany. So why isn’t this massive news being reported everywhere? Is the mainstream media that has received millions in funding from Bill Gates deliberately covering this up? @TrendSpider: INTC has risen an absurd 53% over the past 9 trading days. Now up over 200% since the Trump Administration purchase @ $20.47 https://t.co/9M6AImKnKL 7-Eleven will close 600 stores this year – to make room for massive makeover https://trib.al/kApciFO Positive aspects of previous session Stocks rallied smartly; the DJIA jumped 502.22 points; USMs closed +12/32. United CEO (Scott Kirby) Has Pitched Possible Tie-Up with American Airlines – BBG Negative aspects of previous session May WTI Oil and May Gasoline rallied smartly. Ambiguous aspects of previous session Semiconductor stocks soared while software stocks sank on AI projections. First Hour/Last Hour NYSE Action [S&P 500 Index]: 1st Hour: Up; Last Hour: Up Pivot Point for S&P 500 Index [above/below indicates daily trend to day traders]: 6854.42 Previous session (S&P 500 Index) High/Low: 6887.00; 6790.02 @FCNightingale: Office vacancy in the Chicago suburbs rose to an all-time high of 33.4% from 22.1% in 2020, having now hit new record highs for 21 consecutive quarters. This is despite the fact that total suburban office inventory has fallen to 93.2 million square feet from nearly 100 million square feet as a result of demolitions and conversions. “The data shows the stubborn post-pandemic imbalance of suburban office supply and demand, an ongoing headache for both landlords and local governments that have long counted on offices for both foot traffic and property taxes.” “Office product wholesaler Essendant joined the trend during the first quarter, vacating about 200,000 square feet at 1 Parkway North in Deerfield (below) as it relocated to just 40,000 square feet nearby in Lincolnshire.” -Crain’s Illinois proposal would give unemployment benefits to striking workers https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_1d443254-9c6d-4856-86ff-92eb5b5e96cd.html Thatcher’s adage: “The problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money,” is inaccurate. ‘The problem with socialism’ does NOT appear until the state cannot borrow anymore. NYT: Iran offers to pause nuclear activity for up to 5 years Today – Stocks rallied sharply on Monday while ESMs and NQMs exploded higher from Sunday night lows. Short covering and momentum buying could continue. However, the S&P 500 Index has soared back to where heavy resistance appeared from late December through February. We noted last week that that despite the ugly news, there was a force in the market that kept stocks buoyant. That force, natural or unnatural, did its job. Now, major indices are with 2% of all-time highs. And the reason for those all-time highs, rate cuts, is gone with the wind. Stocks now need to rest and base. Eventually the usual suspects will try to force equity indices to new all-time highs. But traders and investors face a dangerous game: position for new highs on momentum trading but risk a tumble to test the late March lows on Iran or other negative news. ESMs are +2.00 NGMs are +6.00; USMs are +7/32; and gas & oil are down smartly at 20:17 ET. Expected Economic Data: March PPI 1.1% m/m & 4.6% y/y, Core PPI 0.4% m/m & 4.1% y/y; March NFIB Small Business Optimism 97.9; Chicago Fed Pres Goolsbee 12:15 ET, Fed Gov Barr 8:30 ET, Fed’s Residents Paulson (Phil), Collins (Bos), Barkin (Rich), and Barr (Gov) hold Fireside Chat 13:00 ET S&P Index 50-day MA: 6760; 100-day MA: 6806; 150-day MA: 67702 200-day MA: 6667 DJIA 50-day MA: 47,982;100-day MA: 48,111; 150-day MA: 47,611; 200-day MA: 46,868 (Green is positive slope; Red is negative slope S&P 500 Index (6886.24 close) – BBG trading model Trender and MACD for key time frames Monthly: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 6035.78 triggers a sell signal Weekly: Trender and MACD are negative – a close above 7137.44 triggers a buy signal Daily: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 6651.75 triggers a sell signal Hourly: Trender and MACD are positive – a close below 6838.46 triggers a sell signal Impeachment Bombshell: Secret memos expose Ukraine accuser’s bias, hearsay, and false claim The new memos declassified by Tulsi Gabbard were not available to the public during the 2019 impeachment trial. The U.S. intelligence watchdog developed derogatory evidence about the CIA analyst who prompted the 2019 Ukraine-focused impeachment against Donald Trump, including that he submitted false information in his whistleblower complaint, offered hearsay to support his allegations and had the “potential for bias,” according to newly declassified memos that were kept from Americans during the failed bid by Democrats to remove the president from office six years ago… “I do not have direct knowledge of private comments or communications by the President,” the alleged whistleblower, who claimed Trump improperly tried to pressure Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Hunter Biden, admitted in his initial August 2019 intake form. That stunning line on the limitations of the whistleblower’s knowledge was not included in the nine-page letter then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., released in late summer 2019 that touched off a months-long political maelstrom and led to Trump’s impeachment by a Democrat-led House and his eventual acquittal in the Senate… https://justthenews.com/accountability/whistleblowers/ukraine-bombshell-long-secret-memos-expose-whistleblower-bias-hearsay @C__Herridge: WHISTLEBLOWER 2019 TRUMP IMPEACHMENT – Registered Democrat – “had a prior professional relationship with one of the Democratic Presidential candidates,” according to newly released transcripts from the Intelligence Community watchdog Michael Atkinson. In a 2019 briefing to the house intelligence committee, Atkinson added, “I did not find the complainant (whistleblower) was biased.” After seven years, the Atkinson records have been finally released https://x.com/C__Herridge/status/2043682295333241258 Until people from the Deep State and Deep Left are prosecuted and imprisoned for their crimes… @Newsforce: BARRON TRUMP REVEALS BEVERAGE BRAND HE FOUNDED (The grift never ends!) Trump’s youngest son is the director of an energy drink startup, set to launch in May. SOLLOS, which calls Mar-a-Lago its HQ, will sell 12-packs of yerba matte in two flavors, including pineapple-coconut. The coffee alternative venture raised $1 million pre-launch and listed 5 partners. The long-simmering conflict between leftist Catholic Church officials and DJT, as well as traditional US Catholics, exploded on Monday. It was long overdue to expose the alliance between Catholic leftists in the US and elsewhere to promote their agendas. Though the Pope et al now cite the Iran War, the real flashpoint is illegal immigration – and DJT halting funds to Catholic Charities for using the money to facilitate illegal immigration. Sequere pecuniam (follow the money)! Trump post on Sunday: “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart… I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected… Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican. Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!… (Did Pope Leo criticize the Iran regime for their terrorism & murders?) @toddstarnes: Last week David Axelrod, Obama’s former senior advisor and a longtime Democrat strategist met with Pope Leo XIV. Days later, Pope Leo is attacking Trump and three cardinals (Cupich from Chicago, an uber-leftist and virulently anti-DJT) appeared on 60 Minutes to attack the president. I don’t believe in coincidences. This is nothing more than a coordinated attack on the president of the United States by the Vatican. And quite frankly, it is both distasteful and unChristian. @CynicalPublius: The reason Obama henchman David Axelrod met with Pope Leo last week was to coordinate a media propaganda blitz and quasi-color revolution designed to separate faithful American Roman Catholics from support for the MAGA agenda. @cspan: Q: “[Bishop Robert Barron] now says you owe Pope Leo an apology. Will you apologize?” President Trump: “No, I don’t. Because Pope Leo said things that are wrong. He was very much against what I’m doing with regard to Iran.” https://x.com/cspan/status/2043736361627164801 Pope Leo, tell us what “Render unto to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God, the things that are God” means. If the Pope delves into politics, he is being political, and there will be a political backlash. When he supports liberal causes and ignores leftist ‘crimes against God,’ he is a leftist. @MrPool_QQ: The Pope just told Trump to stop…. The leader of 1.4 billion Catholics — the first American-born Pope in history — went on global television and told the President of the United States to make peace with Iran. Trump’s response? “Terrible for foreign policy. A very liberal person. Weak on crime. Not doing a very good job.” He didn’t whisper it. He didn’t send a diplomat. He said it to the world. On the record. About the Pope. Why would a President risk the Catholic vote — 70 million Americans — to attack the Vatican? Because he knows something you don’t. The Vatican Bank has processed over **$6 billion in unaudited transfers** since 2019. Funds routed through shell accounts in Malta, Luxembourg, and the Cayman Islands. Destinations unknown. Recipients classified. The same Vatican that hosted Epstein’s financial advisor three times between 2011 and 2014. The same Vatican that fought harder to keep its bank records sealed than any government on Earth. The same Vatican that suddenly — right now, in the middle of a naval blockade — wants “peace.” They don’t want peace. **They want the blockade lifted before the audits begin. Because when the Strait closes, the oil stops. When the oil stops, the petrodollar bleeds. When the petrodollar bleeds, every institution that laundered money through it gets exposed. Including the one in Rome… He attacked the Pope because **the Pope attacked first** — not with words, but with a financial protection play disguised as a peace appeal. The cardinals went on 60 Minutes. Coordinated. Scripted. Timed to the hour. That’s not faith. That’s an operation. And the man in the Oval Office just told 1.4 billion people: **your institution is compromised, and I’m not stopping.** Vatican’s Great Replacement: How Pope Leo XIV and UN Migration Chief Amy Pope Are Erasing Christian Civilization — How Trump Can Stop It October 5, 2025 The Vatican’s throne has become a pulpit for globalism… Days before publicly rebuking President Donald Trump’s border policies, Pope Leo XV… met privately with Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations’ migration arm long accused of operating under the influence of powerful Islamic-supremacist networks… In 2023, the Biden State Department had formally installed Amy Pope — a loyal Obama-Biden insider — as head of the IOM… https://rairfoundation.com/vaticans-great-replacement-how-pope-leo-xiv-un/ Shock Stubble 13: Soros Master Of Popes? Tapa blanda – 4 Mayo 2019 The Catholic quintet began their missive to President Trump with the famous quote attributed to French historian Alexis de Tocqueville: “America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”… They continue: With all of this in mind, and wishing the best for our country as well as for Catholics worldwide we believe it to be the responsibility of loyal and informed United States Catholics to petition you to authorize an investigation into the following questions: To what end was the National Security Agency monitoring the conclave that elected Pope Francis? What other covert operations were carried out by US government operatives concerning the resignation of Pope Benedict or the conclave that elected Pope Francis? Did US government operatives have contact with the Cardinal Danneels Mafia? International monetary transactions with the Vatican were suspended during the last few days prior to the resignation of Pope Benedict. Were any U.S. Government agencies involved in this? Why were international monetary transactions resumed on February 12 2013 the day after Benedict XVI announced his resignation? Was this pure coincidence? What actions if any were actually taken by John Podesta Hillary Clinton and others tied to the Obama administration who were involved in the discussion proposing the fomenting of a Catholic Spring? What was the purpose and nature of the secret meeting between Vice President Joseph Biden and Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican on or about June 3, 2011? What roles were played by George Soros and other international financiers who may be currently residing in United States territory?… According to the Catholic blogspot Rorate Caeli The election of Jorge Bergoglio was the fruit of secret meetings that cardinals and bishops, organized by Carlo Maria Martini held for years at St. Gall in Switzerland. That is the claim of Jürgen Mettepenningen and Karim Schelkens the authors of a recently published authorized biography of the Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels who refer to the group of cardinals and bishops as the Mafia-club Cardinal. Danneels himself in a video recorded for the book admits to taking part in the secret club of cardinals that were in opposition to Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict. He refers to it as a Mafia club whose name was St. Gall. In addition to Danneels this Mafia club reportedly included Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, Dutch bishop Adriaan Van Luyn, German cardinals Walter Kasper and Karl Lehman, the Italian cardinal Achille Silvestrini Britain’s Cardinal Basil Hume, and other liberal-left churchmen. Cardinal Danneels, a Belgian, has long been viewed as a key, subversive in the Church prelature for undermining traditional Catholic teaching against abortion, homosexuality, and gay marriage as well as for his efforts to protect pedophiles in the clergy… https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Shock-Stubble-13-Soros-Master/dp/1096815141 Francis was the 1st Jesuit and South American Pope. Jesuits are the most leftist Catholic faction. @CWeillRaynal: The pope denounces Trump’s war then heads off to Algiers to pose alongside military men of far shadier repute https://x.com/CWeillRaynal/status/2043630535616897233 @Obyruptin: While Christians are slaughtered daily in Nigeria, burned alive in Pakistan, and erased in the Middle East, the Pope flies to 99% Muslim Algeria to hug it out with imams and call it ‘unity’. @peterschweizer: Remarkable Pope Leo would name Algeria as an example of “shared aspiration for dignity, love, justice, and peace” when it is illegal according to Algerian law for Christians to proselytize to non-Christians. The Pope has been touring Islamic countries and lavishing them and Islam with praise. After much outrage, the insufferably narcissistic Trump deleted the image he posted of himself as a Christ-like figure. Pic at: https://x.com/AFP/status/2043785051989569615/photo/1 @AlexGangitano: “I thought it was me as a doctor,” Trump said of the social media post he deleted- depicting himself as Jesus. “Only the fake news could come up with that.” “I make people better,”… Catholic VP Vance on Monday night: The Vatican should “stick to matters of morality.” “The president has to look out for the interests of the United States of America. In some cases it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of what’s going on in the Catholic Church and let the president stick to dictating American public policy.” Father V @father_rmv: Hard to imagine Church-going Catholics flocking to any political party committed to creating an alternate reality wherein folks can change their gender at will, where men supposedly get pregnant, babies aborted, children mutilated, and marriage/family gutted of its natural divinely-ordained meaning. This country is getting wacky, but there are still sizable pockets of sanity. The question is: will the sane turn out to vote? @KevinRobertsTX: Talk to the young people who are converting to Catholicism, and you’ll quickly learn they’re converting despite Cardinals like these. Their influence among the laity exists only insofar as outlets like CBS are willing to prop them up. These three Cardinals often pursue anti-Catholic agendas by masquerading their aims with religious language, though it’s not hard to see through it. All three use human dignity as cover for supporting an open-borders agenda, ignoring the Americans whose human dignity is violated by mass migration. Cardinal Tobin welcomed the lawless and destructive immigration policies of the Biden administration, but now describes ICE as lawless for trying to return home those who entered our country illegally and has called for Congress to block ICE funding. Cardinal Cupich sought to award pro-abortion Senator Dick Durbin with a Lifetime Achievement Award, primarily for the Senator’s work in flooding America with illegal aliens. Cardinal McElroy is one of the most vocal Catholic clergy who all but rejects the Church’s teachings on human sexuality and encourages the “radical inclusion” of those living openly in sexual sin, rather than calling Catholics to repentance and ordering their lives in accord with God’s will. Fortunately, the liberal Catholicism they often espouse will be short lived. Numerous studies, including one from Catholic University in 2025, show that liberal priests are a dying breed. (‘Tis why they are livid now) The clergy are becoming conservative again, which is to say, they’re becoming Catholic again. https://x.com/KevinRobertsTX/status/2043671051616309466/photo/1 @johnddavidson: Most faithful Catholics don’t give a rip what these liberal Cardinals and bishops say. Many of us are suffering under their doomed efforts to prevent a revival of traditional Catholicism. The future of the Church is a wholesale rejection of their liberal revolution, which will die with them. The late Pope Francis as well as Chicago Cardinal Cupich prohibited Latin Masses. It was a blatant attack on traditional Catholics and their values. PS – Some pastors ignored the directives. Bishops, Cardinals, and other Catholic officials that posted support for Leo and antipathy to Trump were savaged with facts about their silence for Dem officials’ sins and policies as well as Catholic officials venality over the past several decades. “People in glass churches shouldn’t throw stones” especially when those living in the glass churches are NOT without sin and are casting stones at others. Traditional Catholics have been itching to inveigh against leftist Catholic high officials for decades! The DJT-Pope Leo spat and the intrusion of leftist Church officials lit an inextinguishable fire. This stuff is NOT going to disappear anytime soon! | |
SWAMP STORIES FOR YOU TONIGHT
California is out of control!!
California Lawmakers Introduce The “Stop Nick Shirley Act”
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 – 09:20 PM
It would appear that independent journalist Nick Shirley’s expose on medical subsidies fraud in California, largely perpetrated by immigrants, was more devastating to Democrats than anyone could have guessed.
After making waves in Minneapolis by revealing rampant daycare fraud run by Somali migrants feeding on millions in government subsidies (and likely funneling some of that cash to Democrat politicians), Nick Shirley traveled to the Golden State only to find more fraud, including voting scams and medical care scams.
The investigation has apparently led to at least 21 arrests associated with medical fraud just after Shirley published his report, though no official sources have confirmed a direct connection.
This brand of taxpayer theft is an ever present problem within blue states where Democrats and migrants seem to work hand-in-hand. But the real giveaway is the fact that Democrats, NGOs and leftist activist groups respond with such hostility to any efforts to expose migrant fraud.
In Minnesota, the state government and NGOs enabled violent leftist mobs in order to distract from the Somali fraud issue and prevent ICE agents from making arrests. This is how important these scam networks are to the political left.
In California we find similar behavior, but this time lawmakers are actually pushing legislation that would help to prevent future journalists like Nick Shirley from identifying the locations tied to taxpayer theft schemes.
Shirley Responds
“California is trying to pass a bill that would criminalize investigative journalism with misdemeanors, $10,000 fines, imprisonment, and content takedown,” Shirley posted on X. “Under AB 2624, government-funded entities like the Somali “Learing” Daycare centers would be protected from being exposed if they operated inside California.”
Is the Bill Real and Current?
Yes – AB 2624 (2025-2026 session) is an active, real piece of legislation titled “Privacy for immigration support services providers.” It was introduced on February 20, 2026, by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D), and it was amended on April 9, 2026. As of April 13, 2026, it has advanced through committee (read second time and amended) and remains in progress in the Assembly.
What the Bill Actually Does
The bill extends an existing address confidentiality program (modeled after protections for reproductive health care and gender-affirming care providers) to “designated immigration support services providers,” their employees, volunteers, and household members.
Key provisions include:
- Prohibiting anyone from knowingly posting, displaying, disclosing, or distributing on the internet or social media the personal information or images of these individuals with the specific intent to incite violence, threaten harm, or enable a crime involving violence against them.
- Banning soliciting, selling, or trading such information/images with the same harmful intent.
- Penalties: Misdemeanor violations carry fines up to $10,000 per violation, imprisonment (typically up to 1 year), or both. It also creates civil remedies, including potential damages.
- Confidentiality: It shields home addresses in public records and allows affected individuals to seek removal of threatening content.
Officially, the bill aims to protect workers at nonprofits and service providers (potentially including daycares serving immigrants) from doxxing and harassment amid rising threats of violence. It creates new crimes and state-mandated local programs but does not explicitly mention “journalism” or ban filming in public.
DeMaio Punches Back
Critics, led by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R), argue the bill is a direct response to Shirley’s viral investigations. Shirley has documented alleged widespread fraud in taxpayer-funded programs run by certain immigrant groups, including empty or minimally staffed daycares and hospices claiming millions in government reimbursements (one series alleged over $170 million in California fraud). His on-the-ground videos – often filmed publicly – have gone massively viral and prompted scrutiny.
During a recent Assembly committee hearing, DeMaio directly confronted the bill’s author, Mia Bonta, over language that would allow individuals affiliated with certain organizations to demand the removal of video recordings – even if taken in public – and even impose costly financial penalties against those who publish the videos online.
“California Democrats are trying to intimidate citizen watchdog journalists and protect waste and fraud happening in far-left-wing NGOs. AB 2624 can only be described as the ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ — a bill designed to silence citizen journalists exposing fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars…”
DeMaio’s calls AB 2624 the “Stop Nick Shirley Act”:
“AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the removal of video evidence — even if it captures misconduct in plain view — and threatens journalists with massive financial penalties… If this bill becomes law, the message is clear to every journalist in California: expose corruption and you will be punished. AB 2624 is an unconstitutional direct attack on transparency and the First Amendment.”
The law would be a direct violation of the 1st Amendment, which is why Democrats included language of “violence and threats”, giving them a legal loophole which they hope will help them to circumvent freedom of speech protections. If passed, it would allow any organization or fraud group involved in taxpayer theft to simply declare that they “feel threatened” or “have been threatened” and ostensibly force a citizen journalist to censor videos and articles that discuss the group’s criminal activities.
In other words, Democrats are creating laws designed to protect criminals and criminalize free speech, but what else is new. They didn’t seem to have a problem with CNN harassing MAGA grannies.
end
New York Versus The Nuns: The Dominican Sisters Face Penalties For Refusing To Yield On Religious Values
Monday, Apr 13, 2026 – 08:55 PM
Authored by Jonathan Turley via jonathanturley.org,
New York has been a godsend for gun rights in passing a series of unconstitutional limits on Second Amendment rights only to result in major adverse rulings. It may soon do the same for the free exercise of religion. New York is now going head-to-head with a group of Dominican nuns over a law challenged as unconstitutional. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state are being sued over a law that forces religious organizations to adhere to LGBTQ policies.
Mother Marie Edward, O.P., explained to Fox News Digital that they will not set their faith aside under the threat of fines, loss of licensing and even jail time. She noted that they ask nothing from the state and ask to be allowed to offer charity without abandoning their religious principles:
“We are consecrated religious Sisters and have one mission. It is to provide comfort and skilled care to persons dying of cancer who cannot afford nursing care. We do not take insurance or government funds or money from our patients or families. The care is totally free…
We are supported by the goodness of our benefactors. We do this without discriminating on the basis of race, religion, or sex. We do it because Jesus taught us that, when the least among us are sick, we should care for them, as if they were Christ himself.”
The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who run Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, objected that the law requires them to assign rooms by gender identity, not biological sex; allow access to opposite-sex bathrooms and coerce speech recognizing identities and relationships that violate Catholic values. It would also require staff training on gender ideology and the posting a public notice stating compliance with these demands.
According to a press release from the Catholic Benefits Association, the New York State Department of Health sent the first in a series of “Dear Administrator” letters to the Hawthorne Dominicans’ Rosary Hill Home demanding compliance despite their religious objections. The nuns note that they have never had a single complaint filed over the treatment of its residents.
If they do not comply, the nuns face fines up to $2,000 per violation that increase up to $10,000 as well as the loss of licensing and up to one year in prison.
Hochul remains committed to compelling the nuns to comply — a position that may prove costly with Catholic voters in the upcoming election.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly struck down anti-discrimination laws compelling speech or conduct in violation of religious values.
For example, in Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania (2020), the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor, allowing the Catholic nuns to refuse to provide contraceptive coverage in their health plans.
END
THIS WILL GO DOWN IN FAILURE AND ALSO KNOCK OUT OTHER SMALL GROCERY STORES
La Marxista: Mamdani Pledges To Open First City-Run Store With Projected $30 Million Initial Cost
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 12:20 PM
Mayor Zohran Mamdani used his “First 100 Days” speech this week to announce that he has kept his promise to create a chain of city-run stores . . . by pledging to open one store sometime “next year.” According to the New York Post, the city is planning to make an East Harlem location the first store at a cost of $30 million. It will be located in La Marqueta near Park Avenue.
It is not clear if La Marqueta will be renamed La Marxista, but it will follow a long line of failed state-operated and city-operated stores.
Chicago’s mayor, Brandon Johnson, also pledged such city-run stores.
It is notable that the stores received such emphasis by Mamdani.
It is not difficult to set up a grocery store, particularly when you run the city that approves permits and compliance conditions.
It is not even difficult to set up a money-losing store as long as you have a city budget to pay for it.
It is far more difficult to set up an independently sustainable store.
In my book, “Rage and the Republic,” I discuss the rise of support for socialism and communism among young citizens who have no experience or memory with the failures of such systems in the 20th Century. I specifically discuss Mamdani and his policies. These are calls that are likely to increase with the emerging new economy:
With the rise of American socialism, there are new calls for state subsidies and even the establishment of state-run grocery stores in places like Chicago. Past efforts have been colossal failures, including the still-ongoing effort in Kansas City. Over seven years, KC Sun Fresh is gushing money with losses in 2024 at $885,000. The millions lost on this store are on top of the $17 million that the city paid to buy the entire strip mall. By 2025, many of the shelves were entirely bare, while private grocery stores were successfully operating in the area. Despite these failures, there are new calls in other states to create their own state-owned stores. In New York City, socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was heralded for his campaign to open up “government-owned, government-operated grocery stores” in 2025. There are also calls to subsidize key industries that are becoming less competitive in the global market—an effort that is unlikely to succeed as jobs are lost to cheap labor markets or automation.
Since the city already owns La Marqueta, it can avoid paying rent.
However, it will lose any rent that could be earned by renting the property to a business.
Mamdani pledged that these will be “stores where prices are fair, where workers are treated with dignity, and where New Yorkers can actually afford to shop at our stores…Eggs will be cheaper, bread will be cheaper, grocery shopping will no longer be an unsolvable equation.”
Of course, that has not worked out that way in other cities.
Governments are not known to be either efficient or competitive. The start-up costs of this first store will consume almost half of the budget for the original cost estimate for all five stores.
Soon, New Yorkers will be subsidizing grocery stores to artificially support the myth of socialism.
In the Soviet Union, state-run grocery stores were the subject of gallows humor. The “reimagining” of grocery stores left shelves bare with only imagined essential products. The most widely told joke spread just before the fall of the Soviet Union:
A man walks into a shop. He asks the clerk, “You don’t have any meat?” The clerk says, “No, here we don’t have any fish. The shop that doesn’t have any meat is across the street.”
As Mamdani demands a 10% property tax to fund his promises of free buses and other socialist programs, he is returning to the same socialist script. Of course, as the University of Chicago’s Milton Friedman noted, “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there’d be a shortage of sand.”
END
ABOUT TIME:
Appeals Court Terminates Criminal Contempt Proceedings Against Trump Admin
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026 – 01:40 PM
Authored by Stacy Robinson via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
An appeals court has put a stop to criminal contempt proceedings initiated by a district judge against the Trump administration.
An appeals court has put a stop to criminal contempt proceedings initiated by a district judge against the Trump administration.
In a brief, unsigned order on April 14, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated a previous order by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, and ordered him to terminate the contempt investigation he launched in December.
“Today’s decision by the DC Circuit should finally end Judge Boasberg’s year-long campaign against the hardworking Department attorneys doing their jobs fighting illegal immigration,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on X.
The contempt proceedings stemmed from the deportation of illegal immigrants—suspected gang members—to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, last year. Boasberg had ordered planes carrying those detainees halted and turned around, but the men were sent to El Salvador anyway.
The Trump administration had appealed Boasberg’s order all the way to the Supreme Court, which overturned his ruling. Despite that, Boasberg tried to hold members of the administration in contempt of his order unless they returned the suspected gang members to the United States.
Boasberg reasoned that, though the Supreme Court ruled his previous order was in error, that didn’t excuse the federal government from violating it ahead of time.
The appeals court blocked that move by vacating Boasberg’s contempt order, but he decided to move ahead with a contempt investigation in November. He ordered a hearing, where he informed both parties that he would launch an inquiry to learn who was responsible for the violation of his order.
“I certainly intend to find out what happened on that day,” Boasberg told attorneys for the Department of Justice (DOJ) at the Nov. 19, 2025, proceedings. He asked the government to identify who made the decision to go ahead with the deportations.
Then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the decision, the Trump administration later informed the court.
But Boasberg was unsatisfied and “the district court again moved the goalposts,” Circuit Judge Neomi Rao wrote. On Dec. 8, 2025, Boasberg ordered a further investigation to find out whether Noem’s decision was a “willful violation” of his order.
“Undeterred, the district court is proceeding with criminal contempt for the government’s decision to transfer the plaintiffs to the custody of El Salvador,” Rao wrote.
She added that the Appeals Court needed to intervene again “to prevent the district court from assuming an antagonistic jurisdiction that encroaches on the autonomy of the Executive Branch.”
In a 2–1 decision, the appeals court ruled that Boasberg, by ordering an inquiry into why his order was defied, was trying “to probe high-level Executive Branch deliberations about matters of national security and diplomacy.”
Apart from that, Rao wrote, the government did not violate Boasberg’s written order by turning the deportees over to the El Salvadoran government.
“These proceedings are a clear abuse of discretion, as the district court’s order said nothing about transferring custody of the plaintiffs and therefore lacks the clarity to support criminal contempt based on the transfer of custody,” she wrote.
In a dissenting opinion, Circuit Judge J. Michelle Childs said the question wasn’t quite so simple and that Boasberg was right to order further investigation. She cited a transcript of Boasberg’s oral order—given a little while before his written order was issued—in which he plainly told the government to bring the detainees back to the United States.
“However that’s accomplished, whether turning around a plane or not embarking anyone on the plane or those people covered by this on the plane, I leave to you,” Boasberg had told DOJ attorney Drew Ensign during an emergency hearing last March.
Childs also wrote that the April 14 ruling sets a dangerous precedent.
“Now, any litigant can argue, based on their preferred interpretation of a court’s order, that they did not commit contempt before contempt findings are even made,” she wrote.
END
GREG HUNTER….
harveyorganblog.com 
