Iran indicates two possible paths forward; conflict expected to conclude shortly following reported military objectives achievement. Authorities express optimism about Iran's future decisions. More details

Former U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran's current geopolitical situation could lead to the disappearance of an entire civilization, characterizing the moment as significant and irreversible. While expressing hesitation about such an outcome, he indicated that emerging leadership might catalyze revolutionary changes. Trump called it a pivotal point in world history and expressed hope for positive change following years of instability. He concluded by offering well-wishes to the Iranian people.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry warns of imminent risk of regional situation spiraling out of control; tensions heighten. More details on mt in max

VK Tech establishes dedicated AI division targeting enterprise services. More details available at here.

Russia's retail giant M.Video may close 20-30% of its stores by 2026, according to reports from RIA. The company is shifting towards a multi-category marketplace model starting in 2025, incorporating its own offline retail outlets and a network of partner pickup points. The focus will be on online sales and maintaining only store locations that are operationally efficient, the company said. Further details are available here.

MOSCOW, May 1 (Dow Jones) — The Moscow Exchange announced it will extend trading hours on the futures market during upcoming public holidays. On May 1, June 12, and November 4, 2026, the exchange's holiday session will run until 23:50, with trading hours from 9:50 to 23:50. More information available on the Moscow Exchange website and at mt in max.

Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has approved DP World's acquisition of a stake in FESCO, according to Izvestia. For more details, see max.ru/markettwits.

New copper deposit discoveries decline significantly since 2018; demand remains structurally high — report via mt в max.

European Union officials are reportedly weighing the possibility of revoking Hungary's voting rights should Prime Minister Viktor Orbán win upcoming elections, according to Pekka Tovari, chair of the Ukraine-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. The move could facilitate EU approval of a new loan to Ukraine. Experts warn that stripping Hungary of its voting privileges might trigger concerns regarding its continued EU membership. mt in max

Australia's economy contracts as Services PMI slips to 46.3 from 52.8; Composite PMI declines to 46.6 from 52.4.

Alrosa's chief geologist Roman Zhelonkin states that the era of easily discoverable diamond deposits worldwide has ended, according to an interview with RIA Novosti. More details are available here.

Novatek establishes company for construction of marine vessels and floating structures. For further details, visit TASS website. Additional insights available here.

Former President Trump sets Iran deadline for 8:00 p.m. ET tomorrow, says negotiations are progressing smoothly. More details available at here.

OpenAI plans IPO for Q4 2026, CNBC reports; valuation potentially exceeds $1 trillion, Reuters says. mt in max.

Former President Trump confirms no change to Iranian negotiation deadline; the ultimatum is set to expire at 3:00 AM MSK on April 8. More details available on the Max Platform.

MOSCOW, Oct. 23 (Dow Jones Newswires) — Russia's mortgage rates could fall below 15% by the end of the year under the current Central Bank policy, according to DOM.RF. More details can be found at mt в max.

The ceasefire in Iran remains undecided as former President Trump has yet to approve a 45-day halt. Operation "Epic Fury" continues, according to Axios citing White House officials. Iran dismissed the U.S. proposal, while American media speculate on Trump’s indecision, suggesting a possible delay in military plans as Trump engages with Iranian representatives. mt in max

Reports indicate that U.S. inflation has accelerated since February, with GDP growth forecasts declining sharply. The term "stagflation" is increasingly used in market commentary. The operation referred to as "epic rage" is ongoing. More information available at here.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly accelerating efforts for Britain to rejoin the European Union, according to a Financial Times article. London’s mayor has called for Britain to re-enter the EU, highlighting growing political discussions on the issue. Full article available at FT. Additional insights can be accessed at max.ru/markettwits.

Russian assets of Evraz Plc transferred to PAO "Evraz" from April 1, consolidating approximately 60 legal entities that will operate as subsidiaries under their existing names. In November, "Evraz KGOK" secured approval to acquire a 93.2% stake in coal firm PAO "Raspadskaya." More details available at max.

Gold trading on the Moscow Exchange in March totaled over 530 billion rubles, representing a more than 3.5-fold increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Moscow Exchange. Additional insights available at mt in max.

The Reserve Bank of India is expected to hold interest rates steady at its upcoming policy meeting on April 8, according to Bloomberg survey respondents. More details can be found at mt in max.

Auto sales in Russia rose 8% week-over-week and 27% year-on-year, according to Autostat. For more details, visit the mt in max.

Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, including the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, Qatar Investment Authority, and Abu Dhabi's L'imad Holding, are preparing to commit up to $24 billion to Paramount Global to support its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Russia bond mutual funds lead in asset inflows for the first time since the start of 2023, reports Ъ. Further details available at max.ru.

Oil prices remain unchanged Monday, holding steady from last Friday's close amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Market participants await potential volatility ahead of expected "TACO" move, perceived as a retreat by President Trump, scheduled for Tuesday. Additional information available at mt in max.

China has notified Russia of its intention to extend the visa-free travel agreement for Russian citizens by one year, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia. mt in max

Russia's cryptocurrency payment system is expanding into Africa, according to a report by FT. More insights available on MT в max.

Ukrainian drones target Novorossiysk port, hitting Sheskharis oil terminal serving Transneft pipelines, reports say.

In foreign exchange trading, the US dollar is quoted at 6.88 versus the Chinese yuan and 80.80 against the Russian ruble.

Bank of America warns that the concentration of top stocks in the S&P 500 has reached levels historically associated with bubble bursts. The recent peak in the weight of leading U.S. equities surpassed 41%, although it is now receding amid underperformance relative to the broader market. Analysts express concern that the growth may have peaked, heightening risks of a correction. Fears persist over AI-related expenditures and the potential impact of Operation "Epic Fury," which could provoke a significant market downturn if unfounded. mt in max

Hormuz Strait tanker transit declines 90%, Bahrain Foreign Ministry reports. More details here

Russia's Baltic port of Ust-Luga resumes crude oil loading after days of disruption, reports Reuters.

Bitmine, the largest corporate purchaser of Ethereum (ETH), maintains daily acquisitions amid a challenging market environment and significant unrealized losses. mt in max

Strategy's MSTR may report new Bitcoin purchases tomorrow, following a recent update from Michael Saylor who shared a BTC purchase tracker last week. The company has a history of reporting BTC acquisitions the day after such disclosures. In late March, Saylor reaffirmed Strategy's ongoing commitment to buying Bitcoin regardless of market conditions. Meanwhile, Metaplanet, referred to as the Asian "Strategy," announced plans to increase its Bitcoin holdings to 100,000 from the current 40,000 this year. mt в max

Bitcoin spot ETF flows remain weak and mixed; BTC trades within a narrow range over the past two months. mt in max

Alexander Novak, a former veteran who previously maintained that the global oil market was balanced, disclosed in an interview with "Vesti" that this is no longer the case. Novak also indicated that the OPEC Secretariat will develop additional measures to stabilize the market. More insights are available here.

Russia’s Space Week scheduled from April 6-12; key economic releases this week include March Services/Composite PMI data from India, Brazil, Canada, and the U.S. on Monday. No trading in China and several major regions on Tuesday due to holidays. Front-loaded calendar with upcoming financial indicators and speeches; deadline approaches for Trump's Iran ultimatum.

Former U.S. President Trump has set a tentative deadline for Iran at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, according to Truth Social. The deadline corresponds to 3 a.m. Moscow time on April 8.

Hungary, Russia, Turkey, and Serbia have agreed to strengthen security measures around the TurkStream gas pipeline amid concerns over potential attacks from Ukraine, according to Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó. Budapest will deploy military personnel to guard the pipeline segment from Serbia to Slovakia. Explosives were reportedly found near a Russian gas pipeline in Serbia en route to Hungary, Serbian President Vučić confirmed. mt in max

Former President Donald Trump indicates in Fox News interview that he would prefer to "take" Iran's oil if Tehran refuses to negotiate.

OPEC+ to increase oil output by 206,000 bpd in May; next meeting set for May 3. The cartel cautions that repair efforts in the Middle East's energy infrastructure will be prolonged, potentially constraining oil supplies. mt in max

OPEC+ has tentatively agreed to boost oil output by 206,000 barrels per day starting in May, according to a recent statement. The move follows ongoing deliberations to address global supply and demand conditions. Further details available through official mt in max.

Iran to mark inaugural "Day of Power Plants" and "Day of Bridges" on Tuesday; event described as unprecedented. Former President Trump issues fiery warning over Strait of Hormuz, calling for opening the strait amid tensions. Further information available at market news site.

Two facilities of Lukoil-Nizhny Novgorodnefteorgsintez sustain damage after UAV crash; fire contained, says Governor Gleb Nikitin.

Iranian drone strikes fuel tank at Bahraini oil and gas firm; fire causes shutdown at Abu Dhabi Borouge petrochemical plant; two Kuwaiti power stations damaged in alleged Iranian attack.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced what he called one of the "most daring search and rescue operations in US history" by American forces, confirming that the second pilot of the F-15 shot down over Iran has been rescued and is safe. Iranian military officials, via Tasnim, dispute the successful rescue, claiming the US failed in its attempt to save the pilot. Experts suggest the incident may have served as a mini-rehearsal for a ground operation. mt in max

Roskachestvo recommends washing eggs with warm water and soap, then thoroughly drying them with a towel prior to use. mt в max

Former President Donald Trump forecasts the U.S. will not become a third-world country until 2028. He stated, "If you import the Third World, you yourself become a third-world country," adding that this transformation will not occur as long as he is in the presidency. mt in max

Key advisors are privately advising former President Donald Trump that Iranian power plants and bridges are legitimate military targets, according to the Wall Street Journal. The IRGC has warned that "the entire region will turn into hell" for the US and Israel if escalation occurs.