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U.S. Seizure of Russian-Flagged Tanker Heightens Global Tensions

The ship, currently between Iceland and the British Isles, has been accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil. It has historically transported Venezuelan crude oil. The United States has seized a Russian‑flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a prolonged pursuit across the Atlantic, marking one of the most assertive enforcement actions under Washington’s sanctions program. The vessel, previously known as Bella‑1 and later renamed Marinera , was intercepted after evading an earlier boarding attempt near Venezuelan waters. U.S. military aircraft and naval units tracked the ship for weeks as it traveled across the Atlantic, at times shadowed by Russian naval vessels. Officials say the tanker was part of a network used to transport sanctioned Venezuelan and Russian oil. Its capture underscores Washington’s efforts to disrupt what it describes as illicit energy shipments that help sustain both governments. The operation comes at a delicate geopolitical moment, wit...

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US Futures Edge Up as Investors Await Earnings and Fed Meeting

 

US stock futures nudged higher today as investors brace for a busy week of corporate earnings and the kickoff of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting. Futures on the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq 100 all rose by approximately 0.2% in pre-market trading.

This week is pivotal for the markets, with major companies like Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta set to report their quarterly earnings. Investors are particularly keen to see if the substantial investments in artificial intelligence by these tech giants are beginning to yield returns.

In addition to earnings, the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, starting today, is in sharp focus. While no change in interest rates is expected, the meeting could lay the groundwork for a potential rate cut in September, following encouraging inflation data from June.

The market’s attention is also on the July jobs report, which will be released later this week. This report, along with the Fed’s decisions and corporate earnings, will be crucial in determining whether the recent stock pullback has ended.

Stay tuned as this week unfolds, bringing significant developments that could shape the market’s direction in the coming months.


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