Amid the sharp military escalation, odds of a full Iran blockade by July 13 jumped 50% since the last update 4 days ago
Source: zerohedge, Polymarket
China's gold purchases are ACCELERATING:
China's central bank acquired +15 tonnes of gold in June, the largest monthly purchase in at least 2.5 years. This also marks the 20th consecutive monthly addition. Year-to-date, the country has increased its gold reserves by a total of +40 tonnes. This lifts China's total gold reserves to a record 2,346 tonnes, or 9% of its total FX reserves, near an all-time high. China is extremely bullish on gold. Source: Global Markets Investor
France generates 67% of its electricity from nuclear power, the highest share of any major economy.
Extreme heat just forced 3 reactors offline and cut output at 8 more. That gap gets filled by gas. Right when European gas markets are already stretched. Source: Jack Prandelli on X
Argentina
Argentina's Peso has fallen to an all-time low against the U.S. Dollar and has now collapsed 99.8% since 2009 Source: Barchart
VAR intervention rate per 100 fools
Source: The Footy Feed
The Yen has weakened to above ¥162 to the dollar (Tradingview chart below) following a media report that local pension funds will not be pressured to purchase more domestic securities.
This is adding upward pressure on yields. Source: TradingView
This is how leverage turns a pullback into a wipeout.
The 2x leveraged SK Hynix ETF listed in Hong Kong has plunged 64% from its June peak after SK Hynix shares fell more than 35%, including a record 15% one-day drop on Monday. Many South Korean retail investors rushed into these leveraged ETFs after their launch, expecting to amplify AI-driven gains. Instead, extreme volatility and daily rebalancing accelerated losses, with reports of forced liquidations already emerging. The lesson is simple: leverage doesn't just amplify returns—it magnifies mistakes. In volatile markets, it can destroy capital far faster than most investors expect. Source: Global Markets Investor
EU Goods Trade Deficit with China Nears Record €376 Billion
The European Union's goods trade with China totaled €768 billion in the twelve months ending April 2026, with €572 billion in imports and €196 billion in exports. The resulting €376 billion trade deficit was the second largest on record, underscoring Europe's continued dependence on Chinese manufactured goods despite efforts to diversify supply chains and reduce strategic vulnerabilities. Source: Econovis
