The Iran war is refocusing global attention on the critical supply chains that power modern military arsenals. Rare earths are essential components in advanced weaponry, from fighter jets to interceptor missiles such as THAAD and Patriot. However, with Chinese export restrictions increasingly targeting equipment with military end-uses, Western nations are facing a critical shortage of the material...
The Iran war is refocusing global attention on the critical supply chains that power modern military arsenals. Rare earths are essential components in advanced weaponry, from fighter jets to interceptor missiles such as THAAD and Patriot. However, with Chinese export restrictions increasingly targeting equipment with military end-uses, Western nations are facing a critical shortage of the materials needed to rearm.
Tankers Seized By US Carried 20 Million Barrels Of Iranian Crude To China Nine tankers seized by the US since it began taking direct action against the so-called shadow fleet that transport illicit oil around the world have delivered more than 20 million barrels of Iranian crude to China since 2013, according to the WSJ. The figures form part of a new report that provides an insight into the level...
Tankers Seized By US Carried 20 Million Barrels Of Iranian Crude To China Nine tankers seized by the US since it began taking direct action against the so-called shadow fleet that transport illicit oil around the world have delivered more than 20 million barrels of Iranian crude to China since 2013, according to the WSJ. The figures form part of a new report that provides an insight into the level of support China has given Iran by buying its sanctioned oil. Between 2013 and 2025, these nine vessels delivered 20.3 million barrels of Iranian crude to Chinese ports , the report said, citing data from Kpler. The vessels also carried 37.9 million barrels of Venezuelan crude and 11.1 million barrels of Russian crude to Chinese ports. U.S. forces taking control of an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean Altogether, that crude is worth at least $4 billion, according to the report, which is set to be released soon by Republicans on the House Select Committee on China, and seen by The Wall Street Journal. To be sure, the amount from the seized vessels represents just a small fraction of the oil China has imported from Iran, a process which has accelerated since the Iran was started, lifting Iran's output to the highest in years. Still, it underscores how China has been a major user of the shadow fleet, bankrolling Iran, as well as Venezuela and Russia. In 2025, China received a third of the crude oil carried by shadow and sanctioned tankers and 10% of heavy refined products such as fuel oil and crude residuals, the report said, citing Kpler data. Shadow fleet vessels carrying sanctioned cargo have also used China’s BeiDou satellite navigation in an effort to operate outside Western oversight , the report said. BeiDou is Beijing’s answer to the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and offers positioning, navigation and timing data globally. China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t respond to a request for comment. Tyler Durden Wed, 04/01/2026 - 17:00
Toltek/iStock via Getty Images Wheat led U.S. grain futures lower Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade, as reports indicated that President Trump is poised to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran. The potential winding down of the Middle East war is most relevant to wheat, given that a large amount of wheat exports move through the region, but if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, U.S....
Toltek/iStock via Getty Images Wheat led U.S. grain futures lower Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade, as reports indicated that President Trump is poised to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran. The potential winding down of the Middle East war is most relevant to wheat, given that a large amount of wheat exports move through the region, but if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, U.S. agriculture likely would feel the continued effects. Analysts said reports that Trump could start to pull back from the war made the risk premium on grains and energy flow back into precious metals and equities in Wednesday's trading. Even if Trump signals a U.S. de-escalation, a speedy recovery in markets is not necessarily at hand, Thomas Mathews of Capital Economics said in a note, as "for a start, energy prices would probably remain high." CBOT w heat ( W_1:COM ) for July delivery fell 2.8% to $6.09 3/4 per bushel, corn ( C_1:COM ) for July delivery slipped 1% to $4.63 3/4 per bushel, and soybeans ( S_1:COM ) for July delivery fell 0.3% to $11.83 per bushel. Wheat futures were supported in the previous session after the Prospective Plantings report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed the latest forecast for how much wheat farmers will plant this year totaling 43.8M acres, a larger-than-expected 3% Y/Y decline. The report also said farmers intend to plant 95.3M acres of corn this year, down 3.5%, and 84.7M acres of soybeans, up 4.3%. ETFs: ( WEAT ), ( CORN ), ( SOYB ), ( DBA ), ( MOO ) More on U.S. grain futures Commodities: Oil Falls Below $100 On Optimism Over Iran War Commodities: Oil Eases As Report Suggests War Could End Without Hormuz Reopening Commodities: Iran Hits UAE And Bahrain Aluminum Plants
May WTI crude oil (CLK26 ) on Wednesday closed down -1.26 (-1.24%), and May RBOB gasoline (RBK26 ) closed down -0.1125 (-3.51%). Crude oil and gasoline prices settled sharply lower on Wednesday amid mounting optimism that the war in the Middle East is nearing an end. Crude prices remained lower...
May WTI crude oil (CLK26 ) on Wednesday closed down -1.26 (-1.24%), and May RBOB gasoline (RBK26 ) closed down -0.1125 (-3.51%). Crude oil and gasoline prices settled sharply lower on Wednesday amid mounting optimism that the war in the Middle East is nearing an end. Crude prices remained lower...
May Nymex natural gas (NGK26 ) on Wednesday closed down -0.065 (-2.25%). Nat-gas prices fell to a 5-week nearest-futures low on Wednesday as recent above-normal spring temperatures have reduced nat-gas heating demand and allowed storage levels to build. The consensus is that Thursday's weekly EIA nat-gas inventories rose +38 bcf...
May Nymex natural gas (NGK26 ) on Wednesday closed down -0.065 (-2.25%). Nat-gas prices fell to a 5-week nearest-futures low on Wednesday as recent above-normal spring temperatures have reduced nat-gas heating demand and allowed storage levels to build. The consensus is that Thursday's weekly EIA nat-gas inventories rose +38 bcf...
Dougal Waters Wall Street’s major indexes ended on top on Wednesday, extending recent gains amid optimism over a potential resolution to the Iran conflict. Out in front was the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite ( COMP:IND ) as it advanced +1.1%. At the same time, the benchmark S&P 500 ( SP500 ) closed up +0.7%, and the blue-chip Dow ( DJI ) added +0.4%. Here are the three stocks to watch on the day: E...
Dougal Waters Wall Street’s major indexes ended on top on Wednesday, extending recent gains amid optimism over a potential resolution to the Iran conflict. Out in front was the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite ( COMP:IND ) as it advanced +1.1%. At the same time, the benchmark S&P 500 ( SP500 ) closed up +0.7%, and the blue-chip Dow ( DJI ) added +0.4%. Here are the three stocks to watch on the day: Estée Lauder Cos. ( EL ) shares fell 1.5% as the cosmetics giant advances talks with Spanish beauty group Puig Brands SA ( PUIGF ) on a potential combination. The deal, expected to consist mostly of stock, could be announced within weeks, according to Bloomberg. Under a potential agreement, Puig Executive Chairman Marc Puig would join the board and play a key role in integrating the two companies. Shake Shack ( SHAK ) closed 2.4% higher Thursday after announcing Project Catalyst, a comprehensive technology initiative designed to modernize restaurant systems, launch its first loyalty program, and deploy AI capabilities to improve operational efficiencies. “Shake Shack is entering a significant phase of growth, and building the right foundation to support that scale is a top priority,” said CEO Rob Lynch. Chevron ( CVX ) confirmed it entered into an exclusivity agreement with Microsoft ( MSFT ) and investment fund Engine No. 1 for a proposed power generation and electricity offtake arrangement in West Texas. The project carries a projected cost of approximately $7B and would initially generate 2,500 MW of electricity to power a large data center campus. More on related stocks Microsoft: A Gift At 22x P/E (Rating Upgrade) Microsoft: Value Investor's Dream Microsoft: Back To Pre-COVID Multiples - But The Business Has Moved On Shake Shack launches technology initiative to improve efficiencies, facilitate restaurant growth Estée Lauder, Puig advance talks for a mainly stock deal - report