The Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing during the week of April 16 to review Kevin Warsh’s nomination for Federal Reserve chair, according to sources familiar with the matter. President Donald Trump has indicated confidence that Warsh will facilitate the lowering of interest rates. Market participants are pricing in the likelihood of significant rate cuts following Trump’s potential influence over the Fed’s policy decisions. More details available at here.

Europe faces fuel shortages as Italy's airports restrict refueling for flights; gasoline and diesel prices hit record highs. mt in max

U.S. officials have informed Israel that talks with Iran have failed, Western media reports say. White House sources quoted by journalist Andrew Nile indicate the president remains uncertain about Iran's situation and hesitant to authorize a ground assault on the IRGC. Further details are available here.

Israel preparing to attack Iranian energy facilities, awaiting U.S. approval, according to Ministry of Defense representative. IRGC has previously threatened retaliation by targeting regional energy infrastructure associated with the United States.

Former President Trump warns Iran has 48 hours to negotiate with the U.S. or risk opening the Strait of Hormuz, citing potential consequences. more details available here.

Crypto spot trading volume on centralized exchanges declines to two-year low in March; Bitcoin remains in narrow sideways trading channel for two months. More details

MARA, the largest U.S. publicly traded crypto miner, has begun liquidating its bitcoin holdings amid challenging market conditions, according to sources. The company also initiated layoffs last week. More details.

Charles Schwab to Launch Spot Cryptocurrency Trading This Summer, Source Says

Russia's real estate market is experiencing a deferred demand effect following a rate cut by the Bank of Russia, according to experts, TASS reports. MT в max

The ratio of bullish to bearish comments on Bitcoin across social media has fallen to a five-week low, according to data from Santiment. Experts suggest conditions may be forming for a potential rebound. mt in max

U.S. Special Forces Arrive in Iran to Attempt Pilot Rescue, Reports The Telegraph A U.S. rescue operation in Iran reportedly failed after special forces arrived to retrieve a pilot, according to The Telegraph. Over the past 24 hours, the Pentagon suffered the loss of two F-15E and F-16 fighters, two A-10 Warthog aircraft, and two helicopters over Iran, sources said. The unsuccessful mission has drawn criticism from congressional Republicans regarding former President Trump’s Iran policy, experts noted. mt in max

Iran's Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf indicated the possibility of blocking the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, questioning the volume of global oil, LNG, wheat, rice, and fertilizer supplies passing through the strategic chokepoint. He also highlighted key transit countries and companies, according to remarks reported by local sources. Further information available on the MarketTwits website.

Iran has established a new shipping regulation system in the Strait of Hormuz, classifying countries as “hostile,” “neutral,” or “friendly.” Under the measures, “hostile” nations are barred from passage, “neutral” countries will face higher fees, and “friendly” states can continue to use the strait unrestricted, Al Jazeera reports. More information is available here.

Germany imposes travel restrictions for men aged 17 to 45, requiring official approval for trips exceeding three months as of early 2026, Berliner Zeitung reports. Further details available at max in max.

NASA remains committed to uncovering evidence of extraterrestrial life, according to Administrator Jared Isaacman in an interview with Politico. Meanwhile, former Israeli space security chief Chaim Eshed claimed that aliens exist within our Solar System and cooperate with certain countries, asserting that this secret was allegedly known to former President Trump, as reported by media.

The Wall Street Journal reports that peace talks between the U.S. and Iran have stalled, as Tehran refused to meet with American officials in Islamabad, citing Washington's demands as unacceptable. mt in max

Dated Brent crude spot price surpasses $140, highest since recent years, according to Bloomberg. Middle East oil product exports decline by 4.8 million bpd relative to pre-war levels, Bloomberg reports. Russian seaborne oil shipments reach three-year highs despite Ukrainian attack disruptions, S&P Global says. More details available at mt in max.

Severstal affirms steel production forecast at 11.3 million tons for 2026.

Emirates Global Aluminium, the Middle East's largest aluminum producer, may take up to a year to restore metal production at its Abu Dhabi facility, BBG reports.

U.S. senators are intensifying scrutiny of Binance amid allegations that the exchange may have misrepresented transactions linked to Iran. The development follows previous concerns regarding Binance’s potential complicity in bypassing U.S. sanctions. In a related context, former President Trump pardoned Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, after which the company reportedly supported Trump’s cryptocurrency initiatives, including the promotion of the USD1 stablecoin. Experts suggest that without Trump’s support, Binance could encounter increased regulatory pressures in the U.S. Read more mt in max

Western oil reserves remain within acceptable levels, as indicated by the red line, while oil in transit has significantly decreased, represented by the blue line. If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, countries may need to rapidly draw down reserves. Goldman Sachs has issued a warning of a potential historic oil supply shock. Earlier this week, the last tanker bringing oil from the Strait of Hormuz arrived in Europe.

Russia states that Ukraine must withdraw forces from Donbass to end active hostilities; no specific deadlines have been set, according to Dmitry Peskov. President Zelensky is urged to act swiftly, ideally immediately, to withdraw Ukrainian forces. Russia plans to continue its special military operation until objectives are met. Further details available here.

Tucker Carlson suggests the end of the American empire, expresses desire to spend time in jail, according to Max MarketTwits.

Russia's Ministry of Digital Development is contemplating lifting the moratorium on routine inspections of telecom operators, RBC reports. The move aims to ensure timely installation of systems for storing call records and correspondence. More details are available on RBC and mt in max.

Ryanair considers canceling up to 10% of flights amid aviation fuel shortage, CEO Michael O'Leary says. Ukraine conflict and Strait of Hormuz closure could prolong supply disruptions. European jet fuel prices hit record $1,900 per ton. Details here.

Japan's services PMI fell to 53 in March from 53.9 in February, while the composite PMI declined to 53.4 from 53.8, indicating slight contractions in economic activity.

Warren Buffett said he is monitoring the banking sector for signs of crisis spread from the private equity industry, where many large credit funds are restricting withdrawals amid record outflows. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, however, said he does not perceive a systemic risk. Read more here. More details here.

Lab-grown diamond prices have declined 80% since 2020, while natural diamond prices have fallen 7%. For more details, visit mt in max.

Russia's Ministry of Digital Development has called on major online platforms to assist in blocking VPNs, with restrictions expected to take effect from April 15 to target users employing VPNs and to develop new methods to circumvent these blocks, according to RBC. VimpelCom CEO Sergey Anokhin cited challenges in isolating international VPN traffic, as reported by Kommersant.

BlackRock reportedly transferring BTC to exchanges, based on monitoring services, suggesting client sell-off of BTC ETF. For more details, visit mt in max.

South Korea’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, Bithumb, has delayed its IPO plans until after 2028 amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny, reports mt в max.

Starting July 1, Russian residents, including individuals and companies, are required to notify tax authorities of the opening or closing of cryptocurrency wallets in foreign systems not managed by Russian depositories. For further details, refer to the bill. Additional insights available at mt в max.

Astra reports stable net profit of 6 billion rubles for 2025; shipments rise 9% y-o-y, revenue up 18%. Management to recommend dividend payouts aligned with policy, potentially at least 25% of adjusted net profit minus CAPEX; funding allocated in financial plan. Details available in the company's report.

Trump reviews U.S. participation in NATO, says alliance representative Matthew Whitaker. mt at max

Iran indicates unpreparedness for US-led talks on halting hostilities, reports New York Times. mt in max

Europe sets new record for LNG imports in March, marking highest level observed, according to TASS.

Gulf states are assessing plans to build new pipelines bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, Financial Times reports.

NASA launches crewed Artemis II spacecraft bound for the Moon; marks key milestone in space exploration. Read more.

Iran’s military advisor to the Supreme Leader Rezai asserts the country is committed to defending its rights and intends to make adversaries regret their actions. Rezai criticizes the US, claiming it underestimates potential consequences of its actions. He emphasizes that the resolution of the conflict depends on the Supreme Leader and the Iranian populace. Rezai also questions the viability of negotiations or a ceasefire under present circumstances. Read more.

Venezuelan oil exports rise to six-year high, reaching 890,000 bpd amid easing of U.S. sanctions on President Delcy Rodríguez, Kpler reports.

WASHINGTON, [Date] — Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a nationally televised address at 9 p.m. ET, where he is expected to outline strategies to overcome Iran, according to Western media sources. Trump reportedly indicated that success could be achieved within two to three weeks. Some analysts have speculated that the address may include an announcement of a ground operation, though most experts do not anticipate such a declaration at this time, monitoring reports show. Full details

Trump warns Europe to stop weapons supplies to Ukraine unless it joins Hormuz coalition; former U.S. President stresses European participation in strategic alliances, FT reports.

The BTC Lightning Network, known as "та самая," is highlighted for its substantially lower costs and faster transaction speeds compared to the Mastercard system.

Russia's consumer inflation CPI report scheduled for release at 19:00 Moscow time.

Bank of Russia's minutes indicate that maintaining the key rate at 15% could pose risks of excessive economic slowdown and a subsequent significant deviation of inflation below the target. mt in max

In March, public companies purchased over 47,000 BTC, with Strategy representing 94% of the total, according to BitcoinTreasuries data.

Mobarakeh Steel plant in Iran sustains significant damage after attacks, Bloomberg reports.

Selectel reports 2025 revenue of ₽18.3 billion, up 39% year-over-year; adjusted EBITDA of ₽9.7 billion, margin at 53%; net profit of ₽3.0 billion, profit margin at 16%. Company added 5,000 clients in 2025, totaling 33,000 across various sectors; 99% of revenue is recurrent. Focuses on AI infrastructure development. More details available in the report.

Global stocks extend rally as Trump claims conflict with Iran to conclude within 2-3 weeks; markets aligned with positive sentiment. For more details, visit here.

Australia's manufacturing sector contraction persisted in March, with the PMI coming in at 49.8, down from 51 in the previous month.