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.

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.