Newsroom
Short, verified market news summaries; every item names its source and publication date.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister urges restraint and de-escalation in call with Araghchi
On Sunday, July 12, 2026, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a phone call with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss the evolving regional situation. According to Pakistan's foreign ministry, Dar urged all parties to exercise restraint and pursue de-escalation in line with the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding reached in June. Dar described dialogue and diplomacy as the only way to resolve disputes and achieve lasting peace and stability, and reaffirmed Islamabad's readiness to play a constructive role in the region. The two sides agreed to remain in close contact. The call came amid sharply rising tensions between Iran and the United States, after Iran again declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, a waterway whose developments feed directly into oil, currency and gold prices inside Iran.
Dawn · Jul 12, 2026
Tehran Stock Exchange main index falls over 100,000 points for a second straight day, to 5.076 million
The Tehran Stock Exchange's main index (TEDPIX) ended Sunday, 12 July 2026, down 100,787 points (about 1.95%) at 5,075,569, its second straight day of heavy losses. The equal-weighted index also fell about 1.5% to 1,317,000, with most symbols trading in negative territory during the session. Total turnover on the Tehran exchange exceeded 34,000 billion tomans. Market participants pointed to concern over regional tensions around the Strait of Hormuz as the main driver of investor caution.
خبرگزاری فارس · Jul 12, 2026
Gold and coin gain on Sunday: 18-karat gold nears 17.64 million tomans, Emami coin around 178 million
Iran's domestic gold and coin market rose on Sunday, 12 July 2026. Each gram of 18-karat gold gained about 0.9% to nearly 17.64 million tomans, while the Emami coin climbed about 1.4% (roughly 2.5 million tomans) to around 178.5 million tomans. The Emami coin's premium (hobab) jumped sharply on Sunday to about 4.4 million tomans, a sign that coin demand is outrunning the intrinsic value of its gold content. A global gold price near 4,100 dollars an ounce (Friday's close), alongside rising official remittance rates, was cited as a driver of the domestic move.
فرارو · Jul 12, 2026
Free-market dollar edges up about 0.6% to nearly 179,300 tomans on Sunday
The free-market US dollar in Tehran rose about 0.6% (roughly 1,100 tomans) on Sunday, 12 July 2026, to around 179,300 tomans, recovering part of the previous day's decline. On Saturday, 11 July, the dollar had fallen nearly 1.9% to about 178,300 tomans. In the remittance market, the UAE dirham also rose on Sunday to around 40,600 tomans. Market participants cited the climb in official Exchange Center remittance rates and regional tensions around the Strait of Hormuz as factors weighing on the currency market.
فرارو · Jul 12, 2026
Gulf flights disrupted as Dubai and Abu Dhabi services are diverted or turned back
On Sunday, July 12, as the UAE intercepted Iranian missiles and drones over airspace near the Strait of Hormuz, a number of inbound flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports were placed in holding patterns, and some were diverted or turned back to their origin. Airspace restrictions over Iran, Iraq and Lebanon have disrupted international routes, forcing major carriers including Emirates, flydubai, Etihad and Qatar Airways to reroute, temporarily suspend, or gradually restore flights. Qatar's airspace and Doha airport reopened to overflights after a brief pause. The wide disruption to regional air travel raises the cost and duration of West Asia's trade and passenger routes and weighs on economic activity in the Persian Gulf states.
The Nightly · Jul 12, 2026
UAE issues missile alert as Qatar reports intercepting Iranian fire after third round of US strikes
Early on Sunday, July 12, after the United States launched its third round of strikes this week against Iran, the United Arab Emirates issued a missile and drone alert for the first time in months, urging residents to seek shelter. A number of inbound flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi were briefly placed in holding patterns. Explosions were heard in Qatar, and its military said it had intercepted incoming Iranian fire. In Bahrain, an island in the Persian Gulf that hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, residents were also warned to take shelter. The escalation followed a Revolutionary Guard attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz and the US military response. Spreading the conflict to the Persian Gulf states raises the security risk along a route that carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas, and could intensify pressure on oil, gold and currency markets.
NPR · Jul 12, 2026
US Launches Third Round of Strikes on Iran This Week in Response to Hormuz Ship Attack
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces began a third round of strikes this week against targets in Iran in the early hours of Sunday, July 12, 2026 (7:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday). CENTCOM said the strikes were carried out in response to the IRGC's attack on the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Iran had "once again" failed to demonstrate adherence to the memorandum of understanding. Iran has rejected this account, saying it only fired a "warning shot" at a vessel on an unapproved route. The renewed tensions between Tehran and Washington in recent days have pushed Brent crude above 76 dollars and cast a shadow over regional markets and Iran's currency market.
ANI News · Jul 12, 2026
IRGC Declares Strait of Hormuz Closed Until Further Notice; US Says Cyprus-Flagged Container Ship Struck
The naval force of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday, July 11, 2026 that the Strait of Hormuz is closed until further notice, saying it had fired a "warning shot" at a commercial vessel transiting an "unapproved route" and halted it. US Central Command (CENTCOM) gave a different account, stating that the IRGC attacked the M/V GFS Galaxy, a Cyprus-flagged container ship, in the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM the attack sparked a fire and damaged the ship's engine room, one civilian crew member is missing, and the vessel can no longer continue its journey. The development came just after the expiry of a US deadline for Iran to publicly affirm that the Strait of Hormuz is open. Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait each day, and any disruption there directly affects oil and gold prices and Iran's currency market.
CNN · Jul 12, 2026
In first message, Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei calls revenge for his slain predecessor 'certain'; Trump threatens to strike Iran
Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said on Saturday, July 11, 2026, in his first written message since his father's funeral, that avenging the killing of the previous leader is "the demand of the nation" and that carrying it out is "certain." The message pledged that Iran would "take revenge for the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the killers." The remarks came amid sharply rising tensions between Tehran and Washington. In a message late Friday, US President Donald Trump warned that a thousand missiles are "locked and loaded" aimed at Iran and that he had issued military instructions to "destroy all areas of Iran" if any move were made against him. The exchange followed two nights of mutual strikes last week and coincided with Saturday's talks in Muscat on mechanisms for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Rising geopolitical tension typically keeps a risk premium in global oil prices and can add pressure on Iran's exchange rate while lifting safe-haven demand for gold in the domestic market.
Investing.com (Reuters) · Jul 12, 2026
Araghchi and Oman's foreign minister discuss safe passage mechanisms for the Strait of Hormuz; agree to continue talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat on Saturday, July 11, 2026, and the two sides discussed appropriate mechanisms to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, the two ministers agreed to continue technical and political talks over navigation in the strategic waterway. The meeting took place after the United States had demanded that Iran publicly declare the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping. The Strait of Hormuz carries about one fifth of the world's oil and gas, and tension there directly affects global oil prices and Iran's currency market.
MS NOW · Jul 11, 2026
Aluminum Falls Nearly 2 Percent on the London Metal Exchange on Friday
Aluminum on the London Metal Exchange fell about 1.95 percent on Friday, July 10, 2026, to near 3,146 dollars per ton. The decline extended the volatility in base metal markets, which have been moving between concern over global demand and geopolitical developments. Global base metal prices affect export focused aluminum producers listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange, since their product pricing is typically tied to global benchmarks and the exchange rate.
Trading Economics · Jul 11, 2026
Global Wheat Hits a Six Week High as Kerch Strait Closure and Lower US Stocks Drive Gains
Global wheat prices climbed past 6 dollars a bushel on Friday, July 10, 2026, reaching their highest level in about six weeks. Two main drivers lifted prices: the closure of the Kerch Strait, the narrow passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, amid Russia-Ukraine tensions, and US Department of Agriculture data showing lower wheat stocks. Roughly a third of the wheat exports of Russia, the world's largest exporter, flow through the Sea of Azov. The move matters for Iran, a major importer of wheat and animal feed: costlier global grain can feed through to import costs and domestic food inflation.
Trading Economics · Jul 11, 2026
Global Urea Price Jumps on Thursday to About 416 Dollars a Ton
The global urea price rose about 8 percent from the previous day on Thursday, July 9, 2026, to near 416.5 dollars per ton. The increase came amid concern over supply disruption and higher transport costs stemming from West Asia and Strait of Hormuz tensions, which have pressured the global fertilizer and petrochemical markets. The move matters directly for Iran, one of the world's largest exporters of urea and methanol: higher global prices can support the revenue of export focused petrochemical companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange, although shipping and export constraints remain a risk.
Trading Economics · Jul 11, 2026
European Natural Gas Falls on Friday After a Hormuz Driven Spike
European natural gas futures (Dutch TTF) fell about 2 percent on Friday, July 10, 2026, to around 49.2 euros per megawatt hour. The drop came after prices had jumped more than 12 percent over the previous three sessions, a surge triggered by fresh US strikes on Iranian targets and tension in the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz carries about one fifth of global oil and LNG trade, and any disruption there lifts global spot LNG prices and, in turn, European gas rates as the continent works to refill storage ahead of winter. The recent swings underline how sensitive the European gas market is to developments involving Iran and West Asia.
Trading Economics · Jul 11, 2026
US Bitcoin ETFs Return to Net Inflows With About 90 Million Dollars on Friday
US spot bitcoin exchange traded funds recorded about 90 million dollars of net inflows on Friday, July 10, 2026, with BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) the largest contributor at nearly 87 million dollars. US ether ETFs added roughly 18 million dollars the same day. The inflows followed a June in which US bitcoin ETFs saw close to 4 billion dollars of net outflows, the largest monthly withdrawal since the funds launched in January 2024. Bitcoin was trading near 64,200 dollars at the time. The return of institutional demand, even amid renewed US-Iran military tensions, was read as a sign of resilience in the crypto market, a trend that matters for Iran's own tether and crypto market, which tracks global sentiment.
Cryptobriefing · Jul 11, 2026
Iron ore climbs toward $99 as an Australian mine-port strike and Chinese curbs lift prices
Global iron ore rose a slight 0.15 percent to about $98.7 a tonne on Thursday, July 10. The commodity is down roughly 2.8 percent over the past month. Iron ore futures rebounded from near one-year lows to above 740 yuan after news that workers at BHP's Port Hedland iron ore terminal in Australia will stage an eight-hour strike on July 16, and as China broadened restrictions on miner Fortescue. The gains came despite Chinese port inventories reaching a record of about 160 million tonnes. Swings in iron ore prices affect the input costs and export competitiveness of Iranian steelmakers.
Trading Economics · Jul 11, 2026
Global silver ends the week below $60 an ounce, down about 4%
Silver fell below $60 an ounce at Friday's close on July 10 and ended the week down about 4 percent. The gold-to-silver ratio stood at roughly 68.9 that day. The pullback came even as oil rose about 5 percent over the same week amid escalating US-Iran tensions and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, while expectations of a higher-for-longer Federal Reserve policy weighed on precious metals. Even so, silver remains nearly 65 percent higher than it was a year ago.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 11, 2026
Vomahan trims the value of its purchase of a 5% Taban Petrochemical stake by 150 trillion rials
Mehr Ayandegan Financial Development Group (ticker: Vomahan) said in a disclosure on the Codal system that, under a contract amendment, the transaction value for buying a 5 percent stake in Taban Petrochemical has been reduced from 425 trillion rials to 275 trillion rials. That makes the total value of the deal 150 trillion rials (about 15,000 billion tomans) lower than the original contract. The filing was published on Saturday, July 11, 2026, alongside several other notable Codal disclosures.
نبض بورس · Jul 11, 2026
Iran Telecom overhauls fiber-optic internet tariffs from July 11; revenue impact seen below 10%
Iran Telecommunication Company (ticker: Akhabar) said it has restructured the tariffs for its high-speed fiber-optic internet services, with the new rates taking effect on Saturday, July 11, 2026. In a clarification issued after speculation about a fixed-internet price hike, the company stressed that the changes fall solely within a broadband tariff-restructuring framework. Based on an initial estimate, and given the current subscriber mix and the gradual rollout, average monthly revenue for this segment is expected to rise by less than 10 percent.
دیجیاتو · Jul 11, 2026
Brent crude ends the week up about 5% near $76.5 as Strait of Hormuz tensions drive gains
Brent crude ended the week to Friday, July 10, 2026 near $76.5 a barrel, up about 5% over the week, its biggest weekly gain in months. On Thursday Brent had risen roughly 0.7% to $76.56 a barrel. The main driver was renewed exchanges of strikes between Iran and the United States and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which lifted supply risk; about a quarter of the world's seaborne oil and LNG passes through the strait. Oil prices matter directly for Iran, whose crude exports are the main anchor of its foreign-currency earnings and state budget.
Fortune · Jul 11, 2026
Global gold ends the week down about 1.5% near $4,100
Spot gold ended the week to Friday, July 10, 2026 in the $4,100 to $4,120 an ounce range, down about 1.5% from the previous week. On Friday the metal traded near $4,104 an ounce, off roughly 0.4% on the session. The main drag was an almost 5% weekly surge in global crude prices after renewed Iran and US tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which revived inflation fears. Markets are now pricing a near 60% chance of a Federal Reserve rate hike at the September meeting, and higher rates weigh on non-yielding gold. Sahmino's latest tracked spot price is $4,121 an ounce (updated early Saturday, July 11). The global ounce is the primary anchor for gold and coin prices in Iran's domestic market.
Kitco News · Jul 11, 2026
Tehran Car Market Turns Up Again After a Brief Pause, With Weekly Gains of Up to 260 Million Tomans in Some Models
Iran's domestic car market resumed its climb on Saturday, 11 July 2026 (20 Tir 1405), reversing a pullback that had run since 8 July (17 Tir). According to the daily Ettelaat (Ettelaat Online), over the week ending that day the Arizo M5 rose 260 million tomans to 3.85 billion tomans and the Arizo 5 gained 250 million tomans to 3.70 billion. The Haima S7 Pro added 140 million tomans to reach 4.44 billion, while the Changan CS35 Plus rose 130 million to 4.25 billion. Among Iran Khodro models, the Tara Automatic V4 climbed 185 million tomans from a week earlier and the Peugeot 207 Automatic Panorama about 180 million, trading at 2.71 billion and 2.84 billion tomans respectively. The report says persistent uncertainty over the outlook and swings in the currency rate have pushed buyers and sellers to caution while trading volume stays low, with prices driven mainly by exchange-rate expectations and political developments.
اطلاعات آنلاین (Ettelaat Online) · Jul 11, 2026
Araghchi arrives in Muscat for Strait of Hormuz talks; Iran says it has kept its word
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Muscat on Saturday, 11 July 2026, and was welcomed by Omani officials for talks on mechanisms for the safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. He is due to meet his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi to discuss "establishing appropriate mechanisms for the safe transit of ships." The visit comes as Washington has demanded that Tehran formally declare the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping. In a post on X on Saturday, Araghchi said Iran "has so far kept its word" and accused the US Treasury Secretary of violating Paragraph 9 of the memorandum of understanding, under which the US is not to impose new sanctions or deploy additional forces to the region. His remarks followed a fresh round of US Treasury sanctions on Friday against a financier and 13 other individuals and entities. He stressed that "there can only be mutual compliance." Iran's domestic markets reflected signs of easing tension on Saturday: the free-market dollar fell 1.86 percent and 18-karat gold dropped about 2.3 percent.
The National · Jul 11, 2026
India's central bank faces a 100 billion dollar forward book challenge in its rupee defense
According to Bloomberg on July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405), India's central bank, the RBI, has built one of the world's largest bearish dollar bets over the past two years to support a persistently weak rupee, and now faces the challenge of unwinding that position without destabilizing the currency market. The RBI's forward book had swelled to a record 106.7 billion dollars in May. The dollar to rupee rate rose to 95.5240 on July 10, up 0.09 percent from the previous session; the rupee has weakened 0.39 percent over the past month and 11.29 percent over the past twelve months. Bloomberg reported that dollar sales by India's state run banks, together with a modest pullback in crude oil prices, have helped the rupee recover to around 95.2 per dollar. Lower oil prices matter strategically for India, one of the world's largest crude importers, which has been hit hard by the oil shock from the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
Gold and coin prices fall in Iran's domestic market Saturday; 18 karat gold down 2.33 percent, Emami coin down 2.82 percent
Gold and coin prices turned lower in Iran's domestic market on Saturday, July 11, 2026 (20 Tir 1405). One gram of 18 karat gold fell 4,082,000 tomans, or 2.33 percent, to 17,528,700 tomans as of 2:34 pm Tehran time. The full Bahar Azadi (Emami design) gold coin dropped 4,980,000 tomans, or 2.82 percent, to 176,505,000 tomans, and its premium over intrinsic gold value narrowed to about 3,525,000 tomans. Global spot gold traded around 4,121 dollars an ounce in the same window. According to Ecoiran, easing regional tensions and continued diplomatic consultations between Iran, the United States and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz have reduced safe haven demand for gold and coins, contributing to today's domestic price declines.
اکوایران (Ecoiran) · Jul 11, 2026
Free market dollar falls 1.86 percent to 178,295 tomans on Saturday
Iran's free market US dollar rate fell 3,325 tomans, or 1.86 percent, from the previous day, to 178,295 tomans as of 2:34 pm Tehran time on Saturday, July 11, 2026 (20 Tir 1405). The NIMA linked rate showed a similar pattern, down about 1.84 percent to around 178,320 tomans. According to Tejaratnews, recent moves in Iran's currency and gold markets have largely tracked political risk headlines around US Iran talks over the Strait of Hormuz. Saturday's meeting between Iran's and Oman's foreign ministers in Muscat, and the continuation of diplomatic consultations between Tehran, Washington and Muscat, were cited among the factors behind lower safe haven demand for currency in the domestic market.
فرارو (Fararu) · Jul 11, 2026
Tehran Stock Exchange index falls over 2 percent on Saturday to 5.18 million points
Tehran Stock Exchange's main index (TEDPIX) fell about 104,000 points, or 2.01 percent, on Saturday, July 11, 2026 (20 Tir 1405), closing near 5,182,622 points. The session opened under heavy selling pressure, with the index down 107,284 points to 5,179,571 as of 10:03 am Tehran time. The equal weighted index also slipped into the 1,365,000 point range. According to Fararu, capital market analysts attributed today's selling pressure mainly to profit taking, as shareholders increased supply following the index's recent gains in prior sessions, a move that coincided with volatility tied to diplomatic developments over the Strait of Hormuz.
فرارو (Fararu) · Jul 11, 2026
Wall Street Closes Higher for the Week as Meta Notches Its Best Week Since 2024
US stock indexes closed higher on Friday, July 10, 2026. The S&P 500 rose 0.42% to 7,575.39, gaining more than 1% for the week. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.29% to close at 26,281.61, also up more than 1% on the week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 149.60 points (0.29%) to 52,637.01 but fell 0.5% for the week overall. Nvidia gained about 4%, and Meta Platforms jumped roughly 6% on Friday, capping a nearly 15% weekly gain, its best weekly performance since early 2024. South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix also made its Nasdaq debut Friday, opening at $170 and closing the session up about 13%.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 11, 2026
Central Bank of Egypt Holds Rates for Third Straight Meeting as June Inflation Eases to 14.3%
Egypt's central bank Monetary Policy Committee left key interest rates unchanged on Thursday, July 9, 2026, for the third consecutive meeting this year. The overnight deposit rate was held at 19%, the overnight lending rate at 20%, the main operation rate at 19.50%, and the discount rate at 19.50%. The decision followed June inflation data showing annual urban consumer inflation eased to 14.3%, down from 14.6% in May; prices fell 0.4% month on month, driven mainly by a 3.2% monthly drop in food and beverage prices. The central bank noted that renewed risks from US Iran tensions could prompt caution in future rate decisions.
Egypt Today · Jul 11, 2026
Circle Wins Final OCC Approval to Establish a National Trust Bank
Circle Internet Group, issuer of the USDC stablecoin, announced on July 10, 2026 that it received final approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank called Circle National Trust. The company filed its application on June 30, 2025 and received conditional approval in December 2025. The new bank will provide fiduciary digital asset custody services for Circle and its affiliates, and may eventually extend custody services to a limited number of institutional clients such as banks and other financial institutions. The approval is one of the first federal charters granted specifically for a crypto trust bank in the United States and strengthens the regulatory infrastructure behind USDC, the world's largest regulated stablecoin.
Circle (اطلاعیه رسمی) · Jul 11, 2026
South African Rand Gains 0.6% Against Dollar as Gold Prices Climb Over 1%
The South African rand strengthened about 0.6% against the US dollar on Thursday, July 9, 2026, trading around 16.32 per dollar, as global gold prices rose more than 1% on the day. Gold is South Africa's most important export commodity, and a higher bullion price typically boosts the rand through improved foreign-currency inflows from mining exports. However, the Minerals Council of South Africa has forecast the country's gold output will stay roughly flat at about 90 metric tons this year despite record prices.
Finimize · Jul 11, 2026
Petrobras Jumps 1.8% as Oil Rallies and Brazilian Real Firms; Vale Sheds 4.6% on Weak Iron Ore
In Brazilian market trading reported by Rio Times Online on Thursday, July 9, 2026 (18 Tir 1405), Petrobras shares rose 1.8% as global oil prices jumped on renewed Iran-US tensions and heightened risk of a Strait of Hormuz shutdown. The United States had said around the same time that it was revoking Iran's oil-sales waiver following recent attacks on tankers in the strait. By contrast, shares in Vale, the world's largest iron ore exporter, fell 4.6% on $413 million in turnover, the most-traded stock on Brazil's B3 exchange, pressured by soft global iron ore prices. The dollar-real exchange rate eased on the day to 5.1157 reais. Brazil's annual inflation rose past 4.8% in the first half of June 2026, above the central bank's 4.5% upper target.
Rio Times Online · Jul 11, 2026
IMF Cuts Saudi Arabia's 2026 Growth Forecast to 1.7%, Third Downgrade in Six Months
The International Monetary Fund cut its 2026 growth forecast for Saudi Arabia to 1.7% in the July World Economic Outlook Update, published July 17 Tir 1405 (July 8, 2026). It is the IMF's third consecutive downgrade for Saudi Arabia in six months, down from 4.5% in January 2026 and 3.1% in April 2026. The Fund attributed the cut mainly to war-related disruption of oil exports and non-oil activity, including transport and tourism. At the same time, the IMF raised its 2027 growth forecast for Saudi Arabia to 5.5%, but conditioned that rebound on the Strait of Hormuz reopening fully by March 2027. The same report also cut the IMF's 2026 growth outlook for the wider West Asia region to 0.7%.
Economy Middle East · Jul 11, 2026
Dubai's Q1 GDP Grows 2.4%; IMF Cuts 2026 West Asia Growth Forecast to 0.7%
Dubai's gross domestic product reached AED 232 billion (about $63.2 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, up 2.4 percent year on year, driven mainly by growth in non oil sectors. According to The National, reporting July 8, 2026, the IMF simultaneously cut its 2026 growth forecast for West Asia to 0.7 percent, a 1.2 percentage point downgrade from its April estimate. The IMF attributed the cut to the fallout from the Strait of Hormuz closure on the region's energy exports.
The National · Jul 11, 2026
China's Factory Gate Prices Hit 4 Year High in June, Rising 4.1% Amid West Asia Tensions
China's producer price index (PPI) rose 4.1 percent year on year in June 2026, its highest reading since July 2022, according to South China Morning Post, reporting July 9, 2026 on official National Bureau of Statistics data. It marked the fourth straight monthly rise, up from 3.9 percent in May. Higher coal, metals and energy prices, linked to ongoing West Asia tensions and the Iran war, were cited as the main drivers. On a monthly basis, however, PPI fell 0.3 percent in June following a brief drop in global oil prices after an earlier US Iran ceasefire.
South China Morning Post · Jul 11, 2026
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Traffic Collapses; No Large Vessel Has Crossed the Southern Route Since July 7
According to Bloomberg, reporting July 9, 2026, shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed. Data from Lloyd's List Intelligence, also cited by Al Jazeera on July 10, shows no vessel above 10,000 dwt with its AIS transponder on has transited the so called Southern Highway route since July 7. Bloomberg reported only five vessels crossed the strait on Wednesday and early Thursday (July 8 and 9), down from 45 transits on Monday, July 6. Before the US and Israeli war on Iran began in late February 2026, roughly 130 vessels crossed the strait daily.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
Iran Privately Tells Trump Advisers "We Made a Mistake" in Shooting at Ships in Strait of Hormuz
Iranian officials privately told advisers to US President Donald Trump that they "made a mistake" in shooting at commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, attributing the attacks to an "errant" faction of hardliners trying to undermine negotiations, and said Tehran wants to keep talking, according to senior US officials cited by CBS News. The White House wants Iran to acknowledge the mistake publicly, viewing the attacks as a violation of the declared ceasefire. CBS News reported that Trump directed his negotiating team, led by Vice President JD Vance along with Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to continue talks in Muscat, Oman on Saturday, 11 July 2026. The US administration has said it believes the ships were targeted for a different underlying reason, and warned it will respond with military and economic leverage if Iran continues hostile acts.
CBS News · Jul 11, 2026
Fed Names Members of Warsh's Five Monetary Policy Task Forces, Including Marc Andreessen
The US Federal Reserve announced on Thursday, 9 July 2026, the leaders of five outside task forces that new Chair Kevin Warsh has formed to review the central bank's policymaking practices. The "Productivity, Jobs, and AI" task force is led by venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, Stanford economist Charles Jones, and Microsoft executive vice president Asha Sharma. Other task forces are led by former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon (economic data quality) and Nobel laureate economist Thomas Sargent along with former White House Council of Economic Advisers chair Greg Mankiw (inflation frameworks); two further task forces cover Fed communications and balance-sheet policy. According to CNBC, the task forces are expected to conclude their work by the end of 2026 and deliver a set of recommendations to the Federal Reserve for improving monetary policymaking.
CNBC · Jul 11, 2026
Ghalibaf: "We Have No Trust in You"; Iran Ready for "All-Out Defense" if US Breaks Agreement
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator in talks with the US, said on Friday, 10 July 2026, during a meeting with Indonesian parliament speaker Ahmad Muzani in Mashhad, that he told the US vice president directly during negotiations, "we have no trust in you." He added that "only those who are prepared for war can negotiate with the United States" and said Iran has never stopped being ready to defend the nation, warning that if the US ever betrays the recent understanding, Iran is prepared for an "all-out defense." According to IRNA, Ghalibaf said Iran has never sought war but is duty-bound to resist and avoid surrendering to pressure.
IRNA (خبرگزاری جمهوری اسلامی ایران) · Jul 11, 2026
Trump Says "1,000 Missiles Locked and Loaded" Against Iran Over Alleged Assassination Threats
US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday, 10 July 2026, that "1,000 missiles are locked and loaded" and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, adding that "thousands more" would immediately follow if Iranian officials acted on reported threats to assassinate him. He said the US military was prepared, for a one-year period subject to extension, to "completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran." According to IANS and The Business Standard, the remarks followed reports of assassination threats against Trump made during the funeral of Iran's former leader. US officials say they are reviewing intelligence shared by Israel about a possible plot to assassinate Trump.
The Business Standard · Jul 11, 2026
US Gives Iran Saturday Deadline to Declare Strait of Hormuz Open as Araghchi Meets Omani FM in Muscat
US officials gave Iran a deadline of Saturday, 11 July 2026, to publicly declare the Strait of Hormuz open to all shipping and pledge to stop firing on commercial vessels, Axios reported. A senior US official warned that if Iran does not accept the demand by Saturday, "it is not gonna be a great day for them." Washington says Iran violated the memorandum of understanding it signed with the US three weeks earlier by continuing to fire on commercial vessels. Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Omani counterpart Badr al-Busaidi in Muscat on Saturday to discuss shipping-safety arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, continuing consultations that have run for one to two months under Omani mediation. According to CNN, US officials expect Iran to issue a public statement on the Strait's status following the meeting.
Axios · Jul 11, 2026
Iran Mercantile Exchange Trades 398,000 Tons of Products
The Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME) hosted trading of 398,133 tons of products across its physical halls on Wednesday, Tir 17, 1405 (July 8, 2026), the last trading day before the weekend closure. The cement hall accounted for the largest volume at 140,000 tons, while the export hall moved 72,725 tons. In the industrial hall, 89,481 tons found buyers, including 51,061 tons of rebar, 25,350 tons of bloom billets, 5,654 tons of steel sheet, 4,331 tons of angle and channel iron, 2,140 tons of I beams, 545 tons of zinc ingots and 400 tons of bitumen. This is the most recent published data on IME physical hall activity ahead of Tehran's capital market reopening on Saturday, Tir 20.
IME Report · Jul 11, 2026
German Bund Yields Hit One Month High as French Borrowing Costs Reach Highest Since 2009 on Iran Oil Shock
German 10 year Bund yields rose 8 basis points to 3.07% on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, their highest in nearly a month and an eighth consecutive daily rise, the longest such streak since January. French borrowing costs hit their highest level since 2009 on the same day. The rise in European yields coincided with a 5.2% jump in Brent crude to 78.02 dollars a barrel after US President Donald Trump declared an end to the ceasefire with Iran. Bloomberg reported the next day, July 9, that German yields eased slightly as some of the immediate alarm faded. The episode illustrates that, unlike typical geopolitical shocks, European bond markets this time reacted mainly to inflation fears from the Iran linked oil price spike and Strait of Hormuz risk rather than acting as a safe haven.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
Georgia's Inflation Edges Up to 5.8% in June as TBC Capital Flags Intensifying West Asia Risk to Outlook
Georgia's National Statistics Office (Geostat) reported on July 3, 2026 that annual inflation rose to 5.8% in June, up slightly from 5.7% in May. Annual core inflation stood at 3.5%, with food and non alcoholic beverages, up 5.6%, the largest contributor to the increase. Investment bank TBC Capital said in an update published July 8, 2026 that renewed West Asia escalation following the collapse of the US Iran ceasefire in early July has increased uncertainty around Georgia's inflation outlook and monetary policy path. As a Caucasus transit and financial hub with trade and tourism links to Iran's near neighborhood, Georgia is directly exposed to the Iran crisis through global energy price volatility.
Georgia Today · Jul 11, 2026
Oman's OMIFCO Surges Up to 23% on Muscat Debut After Record IPO Demand
Shares of Oman India Fertiliser Company (OMIFCO) closed up as much as 23% on their trading debut on the Muscat Stock Exchange on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, rising from an offer price of 0.156 Omani rial to 0.185 Omani rial. The company raised 260.9 million Omani rial (678 million dollars) by floating 25% of its share capital. Demand for the offering reached around 4.7 billion Omani rial (12.2 billion dollars), making it 18 times oversubscribed and the highest ever recorded demand for any IPO in Oman's history. The strong reception came even as regional shipping continues to grapple with elevated war risk insurance costs for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting Persian Gulf capital market investors remain confident in regional assets despite the Iran crisis.
Muscat Daily · Jul 11, 2026
QNB Group Posts 3.2% Rise in H1 Net Profit as Qatar's Top Lender Cites Resilience Amid Regional Risk
QNB Group, the Persian Gulf's largest bank by assets, reported on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 that first half 2026 net profit rose 3.2% year on year to QR8.67 billion. Operating income climbed 11% to QR24.1 billion and total assets grew 6% to QR1.438 trillion. A follow up report published July 9, 2026 showed second quarter net profit alone reached QR4.3 billion (1.2 billion dollars), up 5% year on year. QNB's CEO attributed the results to strong risk management despite regional and global challenges, an implicit reference to the ongoing US Iran tensions that have kept Persian Gulf regional risk elevated for international investors.
Gulf Times · Jul 11, 2026
Kazakhstan Extends Fuel Export Ban to May 2027 as Hormuz Tensions Rattle Central Asian Energy Markets
Kazakhstan's government announced on July 10, 2026 that it will extend its ban on gasoline, diesel and other petroleum product exports, originally set to expire November 22, 2026, by six months to May 22, 2027. The ban applies even to fellow Eurasian Economic Union members such as Kyrgyzstan and aims to protect domestic fuel supplies amid a gasoline shortage in Russia and renewed US Iran tensions. Separately, Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 that buyers of Kazakh crude are pushing the OPEC+ producer to deliver maximum available volumes because of restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Kazakhstan is using spare capacity on the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan pipeline to export via the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan to meet the extra demand. The developments show how the Hormuz crisis, the main artery for Iran's own oil exports, is reshaping energy trade patterns across Central Asia and Russia as well.
Qazinform International News Agency · Jul 11, 2026
Qatar Pauses Plan to Ramp Up LNG Output After Tanker Attack in the Strait of Hormuz
Qatar's state energy company QatarEnergy paused its plan to ramp up production at the Ras Laffan complex, the world's largest LNG facility, after the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 (16 Tir 1405). According to a Bloomberg report dated July 9 (18 Tir), QatarEnergy CEO Saad al Kaabi decided to halt the output increase following meetings held after the attack, keeping operations at a minimum for safety and reducing the number of vessels scheduled to dock at the complex in the coming days. Business Standard (tbsnews.net) reported that Ras Laffan may not fully resume normal operations before August. Qatar is the world's second largest LNG exporter, and the pause could tighten global gas supply heading into the winter season.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
Iran's Foreign Minister Heads to Muscat for Consultations on the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Muscat on Saturday, July 11, 2026 (20 Tir 1405) for talks with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi on shipping safety in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Xinhua and Arab News, the visit continues technical consultations held between Tehran and Muscat over the past one to two months on managing transit through the strait. Under a memorandum of understanding Iran earlier signed with the United States, Iran and Oman are required to cooperate and consult on maritime issues concerning the strait. US officials have said they expect Iran to publicly confirm after the meeting that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to shipping. The strait carries the bulk of Persian Gulf oil and gas exports, and any tension there directly affects global oil prices, gold, and Iran's currency market.
Arab News · Jul 11, 2026
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to Give First Congressional Testimony Next Week
According to the US Federal Reserve Board's official calendar, Chair Kevin Warsh is scheduled to testify before the House Financial Services Committee next Tuesday and the Senate Banking Committee next Wednesday, marking his first congressional testimony since becoming Fed Chair. The appearances follow the Fed's semiannual Monetary Policy Report submitted to Congress on July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405), and are seen as a key market event for the dollar and gold in the coming week.
Federal Reserve Board · Jul 11, 2026
Justice Shares Dividend for Iranian Year 1404 Hits 91 Trillion Tomans, Up 68% Year on Year
The deputy for deposit and settlement operations at Iran's Central Securities Depository (CSDI) announced that total Justice Shares (Saham-e-Edalat) dividends distributed for Iranian fiscal year 1404 reached 91 trillion tomans, a 68% increase over year 1403. The amount was paid out via 131 million bank transactions across three installments (in the Iranian months of Mehr, Dey, and Esfand of 1404), based on the performance of investee companies in years 1402 and 1403.
دنیایاقتصاد (Donya-e-Eqtesad) · Jul 11, 2026
Azerbaijan Finalizes Gas Supply Agreement With Georgia by Presidential Decree
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree in July 2026 (Tir 1405) giving final approval to the Azerbaijan-Georgia natural gas supply agreement, originally signed in Baku on May 18, 2026 (28 Ordibehesht 1405). The decree instructs Azerbaijan's economy and foreign ministries to complete the procedures needed for the agreement to take effect. The deal is part of a broader 20-year gas agreement and energy/transit infrastructure push between the two countries, reinforcing the "Middle Corridor" that competes with traditional transit routes including those through Iran.
Report.az · Jul 11, 2026
Iran Rushes Out About 11 Million Barrels of Crude in 24 Hours Ahead of Threatened Port Blockade
According to Bloomberg (Thursday, July 9, 2026 / 18 Tir 1405), five supertankers plus one Suezmax tanker left Iranian ports within a 24-hour window, together carrying roughly 11 million barrels of crude, a volume close to a week's worth of Iran's pre-war oil exports. The rush came as President Trump threatened to reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports. The hurried exports come even as a portion of Iran's oil, including the previously reported 68-million-barrel floating stockpile, remains unsold amid falling demand from Chinese buyers.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
China's Iranian Oil Imports Plunge to 556,000 Barrels a Day in July, Lowest Since January 2023
Kpler data published this week (Tir 1405 / July 2026) show China's imports of Iranian crude have fallen to just 556,000 barrels per day this month, the lowest level since January 2023. Independent Chinese "teapot" refiners in Shandong province have pivoted to discounted Iraqi and Gulf crude instead: Chambroad Petrochemical bought 2 million barrels of Iraqi Basrah Heavy via Zhenhua Oil at roughly $5 a barrel below Brent, while Shenghong Petrochemical bought 12 million barrels of Iraqi, UAE, and Saudi crude. The drop follows the reimposition of US oil sanctions on Iran after Iran's recent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving a growing share of Iranian cargoes without buyers.
MarineLink (citing Kpler) · Jul 11, 2026
HSBC Cuts 2026 Gold Price Forecast to $4,560, Diverging From Bernstein's Upgrade
HSBC lowered its average 2026 gold price forecast from $4,864 to $4,560 an ounce on Thursday, July 9, 2026 (18 Tir 1405), and trimmed its 2027 forecast from $5,000 to $4,925. The bank cited a hawkish tilt from the Federal Reserve under new Chair Kevin Warsh and a stronger US dollar as the reasons for the cut. The revision contrasts with Bernstein, which raised its 2026 gold target to $4,533 last week. The diverging analyst calls highlight uncertainty in the gold market amid ongoing US-Iran tensions.
Kitco News (Reuters) · Jul 11, 2026
Fed's Semiannual Report to Congress: US Inflation Still Notably Above 2% Target
The US Federal Reserve submitted its first semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress under Chair Kevin Warsh on Friday, July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405). The report states that US inflation has remained notably above the Fed's 2% target over the past year, though trimmed-mean inflation gauges have eased somewhat. The Fed attributed part of the inflation rise to the Iran war and US trade tariffs. It described economic growth as "solid" and productivity as "strong," and assessed banking-system risk as low. The Fed pledged to "deliver price stability." The report sets the stage for Warsh's congressional testimony next week.
Federal Reserve Board · Jul 11, 2026
New Draft of US Digital Asset CLARITY Act Expected as Soon as Next Week
US lawmakers may release a new, combined draft of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, merging work from the Senate Banking and Agriculture committees, as soon as next week, CoinDesk reported July 9, 2026. The bill, which has not yet reached a Senate floor vote, remains stalled over three key disputes. The Senate returns from recess July 13, leaving roughly three working weeks before the August recess, described by sources as the last realistic window for passage in 2026.
CoinDesk · Jul 11, 2026
Gulf Bourses Fall as Iran Strikes US Bases in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain
Gulf stock markets closed lower on Thursday, July 9, 2026, after Iran launched drone and missile attacks on US military infrastructure in Kuwait (Patriot air defense systems), Qatar (an early warning site) and Bahrain (fuel storage), and fired 10 ballistic missiles at Jordan's Azraq base. Business Recorder reported Dubai's DFM index fell 1.5 percent (Salik down 2.7 percent, Emaar down 1 percent), Abu Dhabi's ADX fell 0.6 percent (Alpha Dhabi down 3.5 percent), Qatar's index fell 0.8 percent (QNB down 1 percent despite reporting higher quarterly profit), Saudi Arabia's TASI closed flat (Aramco up 2.6 percent), and Kuwait's market posted modest gains. Brent crude jumped $3.14, or 4.23 percent, to $77.30 a barrel at 12:31 GMT that day.
Business Recorder · Jul 11, 2026
Pakistan's KSE-100 Jumps Over 1,700 Points on Record Remittances
Pakistan's KSE-100 index closed up nearly 1,700 to 1,900 points, about 1.1 percent, on Friday, July 10, 2026, Business Recorder reported. The rally, spread across autos, cement, banking, fertilizer and energy stocks, was driven mainly by record overseas Pakistani remittances of $41.6 billion for fiscal year 2026, up 8.6 percent year on year and exceeding Pakistan's total exports. A roughly 8 percent weekly drop in Arab Light crude and lower yields at the latest Pakistan Investment Bond auction also supported the gains. The jump marks a shift from Thursday's (July 9) reported relative stabilization to an active rally.
Business Recorder · Jul 11, 2026
Micron Announces Up to $3 Billion New US Investment, Lifting Chip-Sector Stocks
Micron announced on Thursday, July 9, 2026, an additional investment of up to $3 billion to strengthen the US semiconductor supply chain, including $500 million in financing for GlobalWafers' 300mm wafer facility in Sherman, Texas, plus a 10 year raw silicon wafer supply agreement. The announcement brings Micron's total committed US investment through 2035 to more than $250 billion. Micron shares rose roughly 5 to 9 percent on the news, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOXX) jumped more than 3 percent, with Applied Materials up 9.66 percent. All four major US stock indices closed higher that day.
GlobeNewswire (Micron) · Jul 11, 2026
US Ethereum ETFs See $52.2 Million Outflow, Ending Five-Day Inflow Streak
US spot Ethereum ETFs recorded a net outflow of $52.2 million on Thursday, July 9, 2026, ending a five-day inflow streak that had begun July 2. According to Farside Investors data, BlackRock's ETHA led outflows at $12.7 million, followed by Fidelity's FETH at $34 million, Bitwise's ETHW at $2.8 million and BlackRock's ETHB at $2.7 million. Analysts attributed the reversal to profit-taking and macro caution after bitcoin failed to reclaim a key technical level.
Bitcoin World · Jul 11, 2026
US Regulators Face One-Week Deadline to Finalize Stablecoin Rules Under the GENIUS Act
Six US federal agencies, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the FDIC, the National Credit Union Administration, the Treasury Department, FinCEN and OFAC, must finalize rules governing stablecoin issuers by July 18, 2026, exactly one year after the GENIUS Act's enactment. The public comment period on the proposed rules closed June 9, 2026, leaving agencies less than a week to reconcile six separate frameworks covering capital, liquidity, reserves, anti-money-laundering compliance, redemption and a ban on yield payments. The final rules could affect global access to dollar stablecoins such as Tether, which is widely used in Iran's market.
CryptoSlate · Jul 11, 2026
Tether Moves to Relaunch USDT Natively on Bitcoin via RGB Protocol
Tether is preparing to relaunch USDT natively on the Bitcoin network using version 0.11.1 of the RGB protocol, which recently went live on Bitcoin's mainnet, Cryptobriefing reported July 7, 2026. The rollout is being led by UTEXO, a Bitcoin native settlement layer that raised $7.5 million in seed funding in March 2026, primarily from Tether, and is intended to compete with Tron, which currently handles the bulk of USDT settlement. According to the report, the new version is expected to go live within weeks.
Cryptobriefing · Jul 11, 2026
Michael Saylor's Strategy Sells Bitcoin for First Time in Years, Raises $216 Million
Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), led by Michael Saylor, sold a total of 3,588 bitcoin across two tranches between June 29 and July 5, 2026, raising $216 million in what CoinDesk, reporting July 6, 2026, described as the company's largest bitcoin sale to date. The sales comprised 1,363 BTC at an average price of $59,256 and 2,225 BTC at an average of $60,773, with proceeds used to fund dividends on the company's "Digital Credit" preferred shares. The sale reduced Strategy's bitcoin holdings to 843,775 coins, though it remains the largest corporate bitcoin treasury in the world. The move marks the first reversal of Saylor's long standing "never sell" stance on the company's bitcoin holdings.
CoinDesk · Jul 11, 2026
Russia's Urals Crude Falls to Pre-Iran-War Levels, Straining Kremlin Budget
Russia's Urals crude averaged $41.66 a barrel over the first three days of July 2026, a $27.35 discount to Dated Brent, according to Argus Media data cited in a Bloomberg report published July 6, 2026. The drop erases the windfall from the Iran war oil price spike that had helped push Russia to a June budget surplus. Russia's 2026 budget was built around an assumed Urals price of about $59 a barrel, so the latest slide threatens to widen the deficit. The move reverses the rising oil revenue trend reported for Russia earlier in July.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
Iran's Foreign Ministry Calls US Revocation of Oil Export License a Violation of Islamabad Understanding
Iran's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, July 7, 2026, that the US Treasury's revocation of Iran's temporary oil export license constitutes a "flagrant violation of Article 10" of the Islamabad Understanding ceasefire framework signed on June 28, 2026. The ministry said that less than 20 days after the deal was signed, revoking the license, which had been issued June 21 and permitted Iran to sell crude oil and petroleum products until August 21, was "another sign of the US government's bad faith, instability and unreliability." Iran's Foreign Ministry added that this move, combined with repeated military strikes and violations of Strait of Hormuz arrangements, has effectively rendered important parts of the war ending understanding ineffective. The license revocation took effect July 7 and affects Iran's oil revenue flows and export market.
شفقنا (Shafaqna) · Jul 11, 2026
US Strike Hits Tehran-Mashhad Railway Bridge, Suspending Passenger Service
Iran's national railway operator said Thursday, July 9, 2026, that passenger service between Tehran and Mashhad was suspended after a US and Israeli missile strike hit the Aq Tekeh Khan bridge in Golestan province. According to Mehr News Agency, the bridge was struck early Thursday and repair teams were dispatched immediately, while stranded passengers were being bused to Mashhad, a major pilgrimage destination. The line forms part of Iran's rail corridor to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and onward to China, a route that has gained added importance as an alternative trade channel amid restrictions at Iran's southern ports, and has also been used for Russian cargo shipments into Iran. This is the first reported strike on Iranian civilian rail infrastructure since the Islamabad Understanding ceasefire was signed.
Al Arabiya English · Jul 11, 2026
Sanctions on Ali Ansari Linked to Collapsed Ayandeh Bank's $5 Billion Debt
New details released alongside the US Treasury's July 10, 2026 sanctions action against Ali Ansari show the designation covers 14 individuals and entities in total and identifies Ansari as the former owner and director of Ayandeh Bank, which was dissolved in October 2025 owing roughly $5 billion. Treasury alleges Ansari fueled the bank's collapse by directing large loans to his own affiliated companies, chiefly Iran Mall International Development Co. Simultaneously, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License Y, authorizing the wind-down of transactions involving Smart Global Limited, a Saint Kitts and Nevis registered holding company through which part of Ansari's assets were held. The new detail widens the picture of Iran's shadow exchange-house network that Washington sanctioned days earlier.
Investing.com (Reuters) · Jul 11, 2026
US Demands Iran Publicly Declare the Strait of Hormuz Open to Shipping
Senior US administration officials said Friday, July 10, 2026, that Washington has demanded Iran publicly confirm that all channels of the Strait of Hormuz are open to shipping and that it will stop attacking transiting vessels. Officials, speaking anonymously, said technical talks between Washington and Tehran continue despite the latest flare-up. The demand follows two days of US and Iranian strikes that officials say have sharply curtailed commercial tanker traffic through Hormuz. Confirmation or denial of the strait's formal reopening would directly affect global oil prices and shipping insurance costs, which in turn feed through to Iran's rial exchange rate and gold prices.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
IMO Council Rejects Iran's Claim to Control the Strait of Hormuz
The International Maritime Organization's governing Council, a United Nations body, strongly condemned Iran on Friday, July 10, 2026, for creating a "Persian Gulf Strait Authority" that requires ships to obtain a "valid passage permit" before transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Council called on member states not to recognize Iran's claimed sovereignty or jurisdiction over the strait, or any Iranian action to restrict or obstruct the internationally recognized right of transit passage. Iran, which does not hold a Council seat, rejected the decision as "selective, politically motivated and legally unfounded" and said it is not bound by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This is the first formal multilateral rebuke of Iran's Hormuz control claim by an international body, and could reinforce the legal basis for global shippers to disregard Iran's permit regime, a dynamic that has already pushed war risk insurance premiums for the strait higher.
gCaptain · Jul 11, 2026
Iran Sets Nationwide Rent-Increase Cap at 25 Percent
The heads of Iran's three branches of government set a nationwide cap of 25 percent on rent increases for renewed residential leases, effective from June 22, 2026 (1 Tir 1405), replacing previous province-set caps that had reached as high as 30 percent in some provinces. Under the decision, residential leases expiring before the end of the Iranian year (March 2027) will be renewed for one year with a rent increase capped at 25 percent if the tenant requests renewal, with exceptions such as the owner's personal need for the property or planned renovation.
اکوایران · Jul 11, 2026
Qatari Delegation Travels to Tehran to Bolster Doha's Mediation Role
A delegation from Qatar traveled to Iran to bolster Doha's mediation role between Washington and Tehran, the Associated Press reported on Friday, July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405), citing Iran's Tasnim news agency. The visit came as the US president said talks with Iran would continue, even as military tensions between the two countries have escalated again since July 7. Progress in Qatari mediation could influence regional market sentiment and oil prices.
The Associated Press (via U.S. News) · Jul 11, 2026
Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Commission Meets in Ashgabat
The 9th Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation met in Ashgabat on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 (17 Tir 1405), with both sides discussing expanded cooperation in trade, energy, transport, logistics and investment. The meeting is part of the Ashgabat Agreement transit network, which links Central Asia through Turkmenistan to Iran's Persian Gulf ports, a corridor whose strategic importance for Iran has grown amid the current war.
News Central Asia · Jul 11, 2026
Overseas Pakistani Remittances Hit Record $41.6 Billion in FY26
Overseas Pakistanis sent a record $41.6 billion home in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, according to a report published Thursday, July 9, 2026 (18 Tir 1405), up 9 percent from $38.3 billion the prior fiscal year and surpassing Pakistan's total exports. Saudi Arabia remained the top source at $9.78 billion (up 4.7 percent), with the UAE second at $8.8 billion (up 12.5 percent), figures that show the Persian Gulf labor corridor has held up despite the Iran war.
Dawn.com · Jul 11, 2026
Central Bank of Iraq Sells $275 Million in Monday's Dollar Auction
The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) sold $275,296,889 in its Monday, July 6, 2026 (14 Tir 1405) dollar auction. Of that, the large majority, $265.25 million (about 96 percent), went to letters of credit and outward remittances, while only $10.05 million was cash sales. The remittance and letter-of-credit rate was set at 1,310 dinars per dollar and the cash-sale rate at 1,305 dinars per dollar. The dominance of the outward-remittance channel over cash liquidity is a marker of dollar liquidity flows between Iraq and its trading partners, including Iran.
Iraqi News · Jul 11, 2026
Turkish Central Bank Chief Ties Early Rate Cut to Clarity on Iran Conflict
Turkish central bank governor Fatih Karahan told investors at an Istanbul conference on Friday, July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405), that the bank wants to see the July inflation print and more clarity on the Iran conflict before resuming rate cuts, ruling out any move before the July 23 monetary policy meeting. Turkey's policy rate has held at 37 percent since June. Turkish monetary policy directly shapes the lira's path and the trade, tourism and gold flows between Turkey and Iran.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
Tether Burns $2.5 Billion in USDT on the Ethereum Network
Tether burned $2.5 billion worth of USDT on the Ethereum network on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 (16 Tir 1405), its largest single reduction in circulating supply since February 2026, cutting roughly 1.3 percent of USDT's circulating supply. The move brought total USDT supply to approximately $189.6 billion. Reports described the burn as routine cross-chain treasury rebalancing rather than a strategic move to shrink supply, and the stablecoin's peg to the dollar held steady.
Cryptonews.com · Jul 11, 2026
Dollar Index Nears 101 as Fed's Waller Reaffirms Commitment to 2% Inflation Target
The US Dollar Index (DXY) traded around the 101 level in the week to July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405), near its highest since May 2025. Fed Governor Christopher Waller described the central bank's commitment to its 2 percent inflation target as "credible," saying monetary policy risks have "flipped around" as the labor market stabilizes while inflation has risen. The dollar's strength has come alongside renewed Iran-US tensions and could weigh on gold and emerging-market currencies.
FXStreet · Jul 11, 2026
Bernstein Raises 2026 Gold Price Target to $4,533 an Ounce
Investment bank Bernstein raised its 2026 gold price target to $4,533 an ounce in a research note dated July 9, 2026 (18 Tir 1405), up from its prior call, and set an H2 2026 target of $4,375. The bank cited expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady or deliver at most one to two hikes over the next 12 months, along with continued central-bank gold buying, as the drivers behind the upgrade.
Investing.com · Jul 11, 2026
Free-Market Dollar Rate in Iran Rises Above 181,000 Tomans
The free-market US dollar rate in Iran rose to roughly 181,620 tomans on Friday, July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405), a marked increase from around 178,000 tomans on Monday, July 6 (14 Tir). The rise coincided with renewed escalation in the Iran-US conflict since July 7 and US President Trump's statement that the ceasefire was over. The euro also rose above 207,000 tomans the same day.
اقتصادآنلاین · Jul 11, 2026
Joint Maritime Information Center Raises Strait of Hormuz Threat Level to "Severe"
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) raised the Strait of Hormuz threat level from "substantial" to "severe" in an advisory dated July 7, 2026 (16 Tir 1405), stating that an attack on commercial vessels is now "highly likely." The assessment followed a single day in which three commercial tankers were attacked near the strait. The upgraded warning has pushed war-risk insurance costs higher and made international shipping lines more cautious about transiting the key energy waterway.
Seatrade Maritime · Jul 11, 2026
Trump Says Iran Ceasefire "Over" But Talks Continue; Tehran Denies Requesting New Negotiations
US President Donald Trump wrote on Friday, July 10, 2026, that the Islamic Republic of Iran had asked to continue "talks" and that Washington had agreed, while stating explicitly that the ceasefire between the two countries "is over." Hours later, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman denied the claim, saying Tehran had only agreed to a visit by a Qatari delegation and had not made a formal request to resume negotiations. The exchange comes as tensions between the two countries have escalated again since July 7, following an attack on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
Official Exchange Center Dollar Rate Rises to 148,980 Tomans
Iran's Exchange Center for Currency and Gold (Markaz-e Mobadele) raised its official transfer-rate dollar quote to 148,980 tomans on Thursday, July 9, 2026 (18 Tir 1405). The same session saw the euro trade at 207,560 tomans and the UAE dirham at 50,429 tomans. The official rate, used for part of Iran's commercial and administrative transactions, remains well below the free-market dollar rate, which stood at about 181,900 tomans the same day.
روزنا · Jul 11, 2026
Half and Quarter Gold Coins Slip to 94.4 Million and 53.5 Million Tomans as Iran's Week Closes
The half Bahar Azadi gold coin fell to 94.4 million tomans and the quarter coin to 53.5 million tomans in Tehran's free market on Friday, July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405). The declines came alongside a drop in the full Emami coin to 180 million tomans and a pullback in 18-karat gold, extending the week-closing downturn in Iran's gold and coin market. Domestic coin prices continue to track both the free-market dollar rate and the global gold price.
تابناک · Jul 11, 2026
Iran's Floating Oil Stockpile Swells to 68 Million Barrels as Discount to China Widens to $5
Following Washington's revocation of its 10-day window for Iranian oil sales on July 7, 2026 (16 Tir 1405), the volume of Iranian crude idling or without a confirmed buyer in Asian waters has climbed to between 58 and 68 million barrels, according to tracking firms Kpler and Vortexa. Bloomberg reported that more than 20 million barrels of that crude have been idling for at least seven days, up nearly 18 percent from the prior week. At the same time, discounts on Iranian Light crude cargoes for July delivery to Chinese buyers widened to 2.50 to 5 dollars a barrel below Brent, compared with about a 1 dollar discount before the short-lived US-Iran arrangement.
Bloomberg · Jul 11, 2026
WGC Survey: Record 45% of Central Banks Plan to Boost Gold Reserves Over Next Year
The World Gold Council's annual Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey, conducted between February 5 and May 19, 2026, with a record 76 central banks participating, found that 45 percent of respondents plan to increase their own gold reserves over the next 12 months, up from 43 percent in 2025 and a record in the survey's nine-year history. Separately, 89 percent of respondents said they expect global central bank gold holdings overall to rise over the coming year. The report, published on June 16, 2026, noted that central banks have bought an average of 1,000 tonnes of gold annually over the past four years, double the pace of the prior decade, while 74 percent of respondents expect a moderate or significant decline in the US dollar's share of global reserves over the next five years.
World Gold Council · Jul 11, 2026
IMF Warns Iran War Threatens Georgia's 5% 2026 Growth as Iranian Tourist Arrivals Fall 49%
The International Monetary Fund said in its Article IV concluding statement that Georgia's economy remains on track for 5 percent growth in 2026, but warned the Iran war could weigh on that outlook through damage to tourism and energy. First-quarter 2026 data showed Iranian visitor arrivals to Georgia fell 49 percent year on year to 13,757, while revenue from Iranian tourists dropped 64 percent to 10 million dollars. Arrivals from Israel also declined 17.5 percent. Galt & Taggart, the investment arm of the Bank of Georgia, cut its 2026 tourism revenue forecast for the country from 5 billion to 4.9 billion dollars.
Business Media Georgia (BM.ge) · Jul 11, 2026
Iran, Turkmenistan and Iraq Sign 10 Billion Cubic Meter Gas Swap Deal
Iran and Turkmenistan signed a contract on Thursday, July 3, 2026 (12 Tir 1405), for the annual transfer of 10 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas to Iraq via Iranian territory. Under the swap arrangement, Iranian companies will build a new 125-kilometer pipeline between Iran and Turkmenistan to expand transfer capacity. Turkmenistan also announced a longer-term plan to raise gas supplies to Iran to 40 billion cubic meters a year, though no timeline was given. The deal allows Iran to meet gas export commitments to Iraq, which had previously relied on Iranian gas for roughly 40 percent of its imports.
Tehran Times · Jul 11, 2026
Yen Strengthens 0.6% After Japan's Finance Minister Signals Pension Fund Push Into Domestic Assets
The Japanese yen strengthened 0.6% against the dollar to 161.44 per dollar on Friday, July 10, 2026, after Japan's Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama signaled a policy shift. Speaking at a routine post cabinet meeting press conference, Katayama said the government wants to find ways to encourage the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), which holds 293.6 trillion yen (1.81 trillion dollars) in assets, to substantially increase its investment in domestic assets. Alongside the yen's gain, the yield on Japan's benchmark 10 year government bond fell 10 basis points to 2.775%, its steepest monthly drop. The move came just days after the yen had traded near a four decade low against the dollar amid renewed U.S. strikes on Iran earlier this week.
اینوستینگلایو (InvestingLive) · Jul 10, 2026
US Sanctions Ali Ansari, Financier for Mojtaba Khamenei, and Iran's Shadow Exchange House Network
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Iranian financial facilitator Ali Ansari and a network of Iranian shadow exchange houses on Friday, July 10, 2026, following Iran's resumption of attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Treasury said Ansari oversees a sprawling network of assets benefiting Iran's leader Mojtaba Khamenei and other regime elites, diverting publicly funded wealth into real estate and commercial holdings in countries including Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and the United Arab Emirates. Treasury also said Ayandeh Bank had racked up billions of dollars in debt by issuing loans backed by the Central Bank of Iran to Ansari's companies. The sanctions were imposed under Executive Orders 13902, 13876, and 13224, building on previous OFAC actions targeting Iran's shadow banking and currency exchange networks.
وزارت خزانهداری آمریکا (U.S. Department of the Treasury) · Jul 10, 2026
Asian Stocks Rise Despite Strait of Hormuz Risk, Led by Chip Shares
Asian stock markets rose on Friday, July 10, 2026, led by chip and AI-related shares, brushing aside concerns over energy supply disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz. The MSCI Asia Pacific equities index rose 1.7%, trimming its weekly decline to less than 1%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index climbed 1.9%, putting it on track for its strongest week in more than a year. South Korea's Kospi jumped 5%, helped by SK Hynix's 26.5 billion dollar American depositary share offering. The rally coincided with Micron Technology's announcement of plans to invest more than 250 billion dollars in the U.S. through 2035, which lifted the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index by 3%.
اینوستینگلایو (InvestingLive) · Jul 10, 2026
CENTCOM: Iran Does Not Control the Strait of Hormuz; Over 800 Vessels, 380 Million Barrels Facilitated Since May
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Thursday, July 9, 2026, that "Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz," rebutting Iranian state media claims that transit through the strait is only permitted via routes designated by Tehran. CENTCOM said U.S. forces have helped facilitate the successful transit of more than 800 commercial vessels carrying approximately 380 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway since early May 2026. The statement came amid heightened tensions following Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the strait and a sharp drop in shipping traffic through the waterway in recent days.
خبرگزاری آسیایی ایانآی (ANI) · Jul 10, 2026
CNN Satellite Images Show Signs Iran May Be Rebuilding Some Nuclear Facilities
CNN reported on Friday, July 10, 2026, that exclusive satellite imagery obtained by the network, captured by Vantor and analyzed by experts, shows signs of construction activity at a site known as Taleghan 2 within the Parchin military complex, as well as near the Natanz nuclear facility, dated to late June and early July. Experts say Taleghan 2 is a site where explosive material linked to nuclear weapons development may be stored. The report raises questions about a possible violation of the Iran-US memorandum of understanding, known as the Islamabad MOU, under which Tehran committed to maintaining the status quo of its nuclear program during negotiations. The Times of Israel separately reported satellite imagery showing construction near the Fordow nuclear site.
سیانان (CNN) · Jul 10, 2026
Iranian Rebar Prices Rise 1,700 to 2,000 Tomans in Three Days as Market Exits Wait and See Mode
According to ILNA, Iranian rebar prices were flat and in wait and see mode on July 7, 2026 (16 Tir 1405): 16mm A3 rebar from the Neyshabur mill traded at 60,092 tomans and 12mm A3 Qaem Razi rebar at 59,633 tomans. By July 9 (18 Tir), according to Ta'adol newspaper, the market turned upward: 14mm A3 Anahita Gilan rebar rose 1,800 tomans to 62,844 tomans, 12mm A3 Qaem Razi rose 1,700 tomans, about 2.6 percent over two days, to 61,193 tomans, and 10mm A3 Arian Foulad rebar rose 2,000 tomans to 65,963 tomans.
روزنامه تعادل · Jul 10, 2026
BitMine's Ethereum Treasury Reaches 4.8% of Total ETH Supply
BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) said in an official release on Monday, July 6, 2026, that it had bought 42,197 ETH for about 74 million dollars over the prior week, lifting its total Ethereum holdings to 5,742,237 tokens, about 4.8 percent of Ethereum's roughly 120.7 million circulating supply. The release put the company's total crypto and cash holdings at 11.1 billion dollars. BitMine chairman Tom Lee has dubbed the accumulation campaign the Alchemy of 5%, targeting ownership of 5 percent of Ethereum's total supply. According to CoinDesk and The Block, on-chain trackers identified two further transfers worth about 71.6 million dollars combined to the company's wallets on July 7 and 8, which had not yet been confirmed in a new official disclosure as of publication.
PR Newswire (BitMine Immersion Technologies) · Jul 10, 2026
Energy Ministry Warns of Record Summer Power Shortfall, Announces Provincial Peak Load Dates
Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi, deputy energy minister for power and energy affairs, said on July 10, 2026 (19 Tir 1405), according to ecoiran.com, that Iran's power grid faces a shortfall of between 10,000 and 18,000 megawatts during the critical period running from the last ten days of Tir through mid Mordad (roughly late July to early August). The report listed provincial peak load dates: Sistan and Baluchestan on July 8, Kerman on July 12, Isfahan and Hormozgan on July 19, and Tehran on July 20. The ministry asked the public to conserve electricity, especially between 11:00 and 17:00 and between 20:00 and 23:00, from July 11 through August 6. Khabar Online corroborated the warning.
اکوایران · Jul 10, 2026
Revolut to Delist Tether's USDT for EU, EEA and Swiss Users by End of August 2026
Fintech app Revolut stopped new purchases of Tether's USDT for users in the EU, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland on Monday, July 6, 2026, and said, according to Yahoo Finance, that it would fully phase out support for the token by August 31, 2026. The decision follows Tether's failure so far to obtain stablecoin authorization under the EU's MiCA regulation. Per the report, balances of users who have not converted or moved their holdings by the deadline will be automatically converted to fiat currency, a shift that strengthens the position of MiCA licensed rival USDC in the European market.
Yahoo Finance · Jul 10, 2026
Russia Posts June Budget Surplus as Iran War Oil Rally Lifts Revenue
Russia's Finance Ministry said on Thursday, July 9, 2026, that the federal budget posted a surplus of 279 billion rubles, about 3.7 billion dollars, for June 2026. According to Bloomberg, Russia's oil and gas revenue rose 38 percent year on year in the month, as the Urals crude benchmark averaged 86.52 dollars a barrel in June, up 66 percent from a year earlier, a jump largely driven by the Hormuz related risk premium from the Iran-US war. The Russian government paid out 210.6 billion rubles in refiner subsidies during the same month.
Bloomberg · Jul 10, 2026
Central Bank of Iraq Cuts Travelers Cash Dollar Allowance From $3,000 to $2,000
Iraq's central bank cut the cash foreign currency allowance available to outbound travelers, for tourism, medical, study, and business trips, from 3,000 dollars to 2,000 dollars per trip, in the week ending July 8, 2026, according to Shafaq News. The move is part of a wider central bank reform push to steer travelers toward prepaid and credit cards and curb arbitrage in the parallel currency market. The lower Iraqi travel allowance could affect the Iran-Iraq border currency channel that partly feeds dollar demand in Iran's informal market.
Shafaq News · Jul 10, 2026
Dubai Gold Eases as Higher US Yields Blunt Safe Haven Demand
24-karat gold in Dubai fell to 495.75 dirhams per gram on Friday, July 10, 2026, down from 497.25 dirhams on Thursday, while 22-karat gold slipped to 459 dirhams from 460.50 dirhams, according to Gulf News. Elevated US Treasury yields and a firmer dollar, amid uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's rate path, offset some of the safe haven demand generated by the Iran-US war. Global gold prices nonetheless remained above 4,100 dollars an ounce.
Gulf News · Jul 10, 2026