China's chip exports rose 77% YoY in Q1 2026, driven by robust global AI demand, Bank of America reports. mt в max

Sber to unify non-financial IT products under new Sber2B brand; aims to boost market share. More details available at Vedomosti and Market Twits.

CryptoQuant reports that Bitcoin supply is moving toward long-term holders. Since January, long-term investors have accumulated 303,000 BTC, including 53,000 via Strategy, as short-term traders reduced their holdings by 290,000 BTC over the past 30 days. Further information available at mt in max.

Europe's underground gas storage levels remain subdued amid ongoing supply challenges linked to the Hormuz crisis. The EU's storage facilities are currently at 30.6% capacity, approximately 34 billion cubic meters, representing a decrease from levels seen over the past three years but aligning more closely with 2021-2022 figures, RBC reports. Further details available on MarketTwits.

Former President Trump says he is not rushing Iran into a deal, Fox News reports. No definitive timeline has been set for a ceasefire or new negotiations with Iran. More details available here.

Russia has been invited to participate at the highest level in the G20 summit in the USA. mt в max

Australia's April economic data indicates improvement; Manufacturing PMI increased to 51 from 49.8, Services PMI rose to 50.3 from 46.3, and Composite PMI advanced to 50.1 from 46.6.

Key global economic indicators, including Manufacturing, Services, and Composite PMIs from Australia, Japan, India, Germany, Eurozone, UK, and the US, are scheduled for release today. Canada will publish March's PPI data. In the US, initial jobless claims and EIA gas inventories will be reported. The European Union plans to implement its 20th sanctions package against Russia. Notable earnings reports include Sanofi, Nokia, Honeywell, American Airlines, American Express, Blackstone, Comcast, Lockheed Martin, Union Pacific, and Intel.

Israeli media outlets N12 and Ynet report former President Trump has extended the Iran truce until April 26; White House officials deny any deadlines have been established. For more information, visit mt at max.

India's diamond imports fell 46% year-on-year to $710 million in March, with synthetic diamond imports rising 27% to $76 million, according to GJEPC data. More details available.

Russia's T-Bank has increased its stake in MKB from 2% to 5.46%, according to a regulatory disclosure.

Shares of major telecoms decline following reports that Deutsche Telekom is considering a merger with its U.S. subsidiary, T-Mobile US, which could become the largest M&A deal in history. More details at mt in max.

Kazakhstan's oil volumes, previously transported to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline, will be redirected to alternative logistical routes beginning May 1, 2026, according to Novak.

EU ambassadors move forward with negotiations for €90 billion Ukraine loan and 20th Russia sanctions package; Hungary has lifted its objections. mt in max

Iran's army chief, Lieutenant General Amir Hatami, states that the nation is prepared to fight "to the last drop of blood." More insights available at mt in max.

AKRA upgraded the credit rating of SPB Exchange’s subsidiary NKO-TC "SPB Clearing" to A-(RU). mt in max

Iraq to resume oil shipments via Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline through Fish Khabur node, authorities say; pipeline capacity approximately 1.6 million bpd. Iraqi exports declined roughly 80% in March, Sky News Arabia reports.

Japan, a major LNG importer, has reduced its LNG imports from the Middle East by 27% since the onset of the conflict, according to Ministry of Finance data via TASS. mt in max

Former President Donald Trump issues a few days' deadline to Iran to resume negotiations, warns of potential escalation to military actions if not. More details here

MOSCOW—Russia has extended its fertilizer export quotas until Nov. 30, 2026, with a volume cap of 20 million tons for shipments from June to November, according to government decree. For more information, visit mt in max.

Cryptorank reports significant declines in Total Value Locked across various blockchains over the past 30 days. More details available in the full report at mt in max.

Lufthansa to cancel 20,000 summer flights to offset rising fuel costs, BBG reports. Read more here.

Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, says BTC is a reality and a valuable tool in computer science for projecting power, Senate hears. mt in max

Hungary's MOL received official notification from Ukrtransnafta of readiness to resume oil deliveries via the "Druzhba" pipeline.

Ferrari has announced a preliminary price of around €550,000 ($650,000) for its first all-electric supercar, Luce, with the unveiling scheduled for May in Rome. mt in max

U.S. Pending Home Sales for March scheduled at 17:00 MSK.

Russia's Ministry of Finance scheduled to conduct auctions on April 22 for OFZ issues 26245 and 26254. Further information available at mt in max.

U.S. stocks are reaching new highs, former President Donald Trump says. More details available at mt in max.

JPMorgan raises S&P 500 forecast to 7,600 by end of 2026 from previous 7,200, citing AI as primary driver. Bullish scenario suggests potential to reach 8,000 if US-Iran deal is reached. More details available at here.

Europan reports Q1 2026 operating results; purchased and leased over 5,000 vehicles and machinery, down 9% YoY, totaling 19.1 billion rubles including VAT, a 12% decline YoY. Total leasing deals exceed 719,000 since inception. Read more at mt in max.

Hedge funds and other asset managers are increasing their wagers on a declining dollar. Market data indicates that euro-dollar option trading rose nearly 60% last Friday, with demand for euro call options exceeding that for put options by roughly 30%. Source.Join more insights at mt at max.

Former President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Iran would participate in talks in Islamabad; Iranian officials have not definitively confirmed their attendance. Negotiations are scheduled to commence either today or tomorrow, with Iran's involvement still uncertain. mt в max

Astana — An ecological summit scheduled for April 22-24 in Astana will be attended by presidents of all five Central Asian nations, with the primary focus on regional water issues. The region is experiencing increasing water scarcity linked to river depletion and rising consumption fueled by economic growth and population increases. Experts forecast potential conflicts and migration patterns as a result. In September 2025, Kazakh President Tokayev highlighted the rapid decline of the Caspian Sea, approaching a critical threshold. Previously, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Kasymaliev warned of a 30% water deficit in Central Asia by 2050, while Tokayev projected global water demand could outpace supply by 40% by 2040. The European Union has proposed a plan to reduce water consumption by 10% among member states by 2030.

Iran's parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf warns that Iran will halt negotiations if threatened by the U.S., according to China Daily. The report suggests increased U.S. pressure could lead Iran to adopt a tougher stance.

Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve chair, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Banking Committee at 10:00 AM ET today regarding confirmation. Market consensus indicates that if confirmed, Warsh is expected to pursue a rate-cutting cycle prior to the midterm elections. mt в max

Users worldwide report outages affecting ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude AI platforms. Further details available at mt in max.

UK fintech firm Revolut delays IPO to 2028, according to company statement. Further information available at mt in max.

Iran reaffirms its stance to abstain from talks, reports Tasnim. Details at mt in max

Big tech companies remain the primary drivers of profit growth within the S&P 500, according to Bank of America. Further information available here.

Bank Saint Petersburg acquires Gambit Agency, specializing in property, life, and business insurance services.

Chiliz rises 10% as company announces plans to expand into U.S. market via mt в max.

Israel has never convinced me of the necessity of war with Iran. The results in Iran will be remarkable if the country's new leaders implement smart regime change, according to former President Trump, who is reportedly awake and remains opposed to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. mt in max

China expected to import record levels of silver beginning in 2026, marking an unprecedented pace in historical data. More details available at mt in max.

Canada to release March CPI data at 15:30 Moscow time.

Brazil, Mexico, and Spain commit to increased aid to Cuba, call for the establishment of conditions enabling the Cuban people to shape their future free from U.S. interference. More details

Former U.S. President Donald Trump held a meeting this morning to discuss the escalating situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported citing an unidentified U.S. official. The official warned that conflict could potentially reignite within days if diplomatic efforts do not yield progress. The U.S. has increased its military presence across the Middle East, according to FlightRadar data, as Iran prepares for potential renewed hostilities, Channel 12 reported. More details are available here.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf warns Strait of Hormuz may close amid ongoing blockade; accuses U.S. President of issuing seven false statements in an hour, claiming misinformation has not secured a war victory or facilitated negotiations; asserts passage through the Strait remains via an established route with Iran's permission; emphasizes media manipulation is central to war efforts but notes Iranian public resistance. mt в max

Iran bans military ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz; commercial vessels, including U.S. ships, remain permitted. For details, visit mt in max.

SP500, Bitcoin, and gold prices are advancing, while oil prices are declining, according to recent market data. More insights can be found here.

The Strait of Hormuz has been confirmed open by Trump. More details here.