Poland seeks greater autonomy regarding nuclear weapons, Tusk says. More details can be found here.

China signals willingness to strengthen cooperation with U.S., emphasizes sovereignty; tensions rise following U.S. strikes on Iran. President Trump’s April visit to China remains on track. Analysts suggest focus may shift to China and Russia after Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba, possibly Greenland. mt в max

Miroshnik warns US, Israel-Iran conflict could obstruct Ukraine negotiations; further details at mt in max.

Authorities have indicated they will consider implementing an excise tax on imported steel in summer 2026, industry source tells TASS. For more details, visit mt in max.

South Korean stocks decline sharply, with the KOSDAQ index down 13%, prompting a trading halt. Asian markets see accelerating declines amid concerns over energy supply through the Strait of Hormuz. mt in max

Europe's economy faces a critical month as ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions threaten to jeopardize the eurozone's recovery and stoke inflation, with prolonged conflict risking further damage. While a short-term spike in energy prices may have limited impact, sustained high oil and gas costs could pose significant risks, analysts warn. The coming weeks will be pivotal in assessing the potential economic fallout. — BBG

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps claims full control over Strait of Hormuz, a key energy route accounting for approximately 20% of global oil and up to 30% of LNG supplies. URL:

max.ru

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a criminal indictment against Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, should she fail to comply with U.S. demands, according to RTRS.

In recent foreign exchange market activity, the US dollar to Chinese yuan (USDCNY) stands at 6.91, while the US dollar to Russian ruble (USDTRUB) is at 78.30.

The International Energy Agency signals readiness to deploy oil reserves to stabilize markets; U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent and Energy Secretary Wright to propose measures aimed at reducing oil prices; Trump administration evaluating potential deployment of U.S. military forces to escort tankers through Strait of Hormuz. more details

French President Emmanuel Macron scheduled to address nation on Middle East situation at 1800 MSK; further details available at here.

Israel's Netanyahu says U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran would not be prolonged, Fox News reports; Vance emphasizes U.S. does not intend to engage in a new, long-term conflict "without an apparent end and clear objective" — Fox News

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated to Fox News that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, despite Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims of a complete blockade. The IRGC asserts the strait will remain closed until U.S. military actions against Iran cease. Since yesterday, shipping through the strait has significantly diminished as vessels avoid passage amid heightened risk of Iranian attacks. More details here.

Bitcoin surges amid vigourous rally.

Uzbekistan suspends gold exports indefinitely; no timeline provided for resumption. More details available at mt in max.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz declines sharply following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran; insurers raising war premiums and reassessing coverage amid escalating security threats, reports Maritime News. mt in max

U.S. to deploy additional forces to the region today, says General Keane. For more details, visit mt in max.

American General Kane warns of prolonged conflict with Iran, stating that it will not be a quick operation. He emphasizes that achieving results will require time and characterizes the effort as a large-scale combat operation. mt в max

Europeans to hold emergency gas supply meeting amid Iran conflict impact, RTRS reports. mt in max

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is currently briefing, citing multiple reasons for potential military action against Iran. Hegseth characterizes the situation as not an endless war and differentiates it from Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, emphasizing that the resolution will be on U.S. terms. For more details, click here.

Israel and the U.S. are reportedly escalating bombings in central Iran, according to monitoring sources. Details at mt in max.

Riyadh considers potential military response following coordinated Iranian attack on Saudi oil facilities, source close to Saudi government says. Details available at here.

Iran launches new missile attack on Israel; Israel resumes airstrikes on Tehran. Details on mt in max

MOSCOW, March 7 (Dow Jones) — Trading on the Moscow Exchange’s currency, stock, derivatives, commodities markets, and the SPFI segment will be suspended March 7-8, 2026, due to ongoing technical maintenance on the industrial circuit, the exchange announced. Further information is available at the exchange’s website and through MarketTwits.

Citi raises short-term Brent crude forecast by $15 to $85, anticipating prices to fluctuate between $80 and $90 next week. The bank also warns that escalation of conflicts could push Brent above $120. mt in max

Analysts warn that a U.S. attack on Iran could disrupt logistics chains, impacting China, India, Europe, and Gulf countries. For more details, visit mt in max.

The Kremlin has not commented on the content of negotiations regarding Ukraine, but security guarantees and territorial issues remain on the agenda, according to the Kremlin, as reported by mt in max.

Russia ruble stabilizes after morning decline in CNYRUB; rebound observed despite ongoing oil rally, reports MT in Max.

Signs of crisis are emerging in Russia's coal sector, particularly in Raspadskaya.

Iran reportedly launched an attack on Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura oil facility operated by Aramco, a major oil export hub.

Aluminum prices climb 3% following reports of attack on Aluminium Bahrain plant in Bahrain. More details available here.

Raspadskaya reports 2025 IFRS net loss of 53 billion rubles, up from 11.7 billion rubles a year earlier.

Oil shipments in Persian Gulf declining; analysts predict crude prices may surpass $80-$100 per barrel amid shrinking supply, according to Vedomosti. For further updates, visit mt in max.

Sberbank aims to meet all its stated objectives by 2026, but expects increased challenges compared to 2025 amid macroeconomic conditions and corporate situations, Gref says. More details at mt in max.

Derbit's weekly options expiration for Bitcoin and Ethereum, totaling $8.4 billion, scheduled for February 27. The key strike for Bitcoin is $75,000; for Ethereum, $2,200. Deribit, recently acquired by Coinbase, is the leading crypto options platform, representing over 85% of global trading volume. For more information, visit mt in max.

President Zelensky said Ukraine was advised to repair the "Druzhba" oil pipeline, emphasizing that the process will not be swift. mt in max

Integrated Systems launches voluntary tender offer for Element shares at 0.1460 rubles per share. Additional details available in the announcement.

Russia’s Ministry of Finance announced it placed OFZ 26253 bonds totaling 27.18 billion rubles in a auction that received bids totaling 104.83 billion rubles. The bonds’ average yield was 14.75% annually. More details available here.

Greenland mistakenly identified as part of the EU by German Foreign Minister Baerbock. More details available at mt in max.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that testing of the digital ruble will commence soon. Further details can be found here.

Corporate America delivers robust earnings season; stock market remains muted, market analysts say — BBG

Russia's Sberbank expects total dividends paid to the Russian budget by the Sber group to exceed 1.3 trillion rubles by the end of 2025, Gref says.

Russia's Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) reported Q4 EBITDA declining 3% quarter-on-quarter and 18% year-on-year. The report is scheduled for release on February 26. Read more

NATO’s naval group commander, Vice Admiral Joaquín Ruiz Escagedo, calls for swift enhancement of alliance’s capabilities to sustain prolonged conflict with Russia. mt в max

Russia's Central Bank report to the State Duma scheduled for one month from now, according to Volodin. mt в max

February 26 – Umerov to hold bilateral meetings with Witkoff and Bessent, Zelensky announces. mt in max

Russia's Prime Minister Mishustin emphasized in a State Duma address that the country’s economy has continued to grow despite external pressures, including Western sanctions. Over the past three years, Russia’s GDP has expanded by more than 10%, with positive economic trends persisting. mt в max

Kazakhstan-based Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) has resumed iron ore supplies to MMK, which is under U.S. sanctions, ending a four-year hiatus.

JPMorgan forecasts gold to reach $6,300 by end of 2026, according to a report by mt в max.

Basis expects 37% revenue growth by end-2025; plans to distribute 50% of NIC from 2025; dividend forecast for 2026 at 7.2 rubles per share. The group projects 30-40% revenue growth in 2026. More details in the report.