Real-time News

June 20th - Market analysts predict gold will remain volatile next week as investors await the release of the US core personal consumption expenditures (core PCE) price index for clues about the Federal Reserve's interest rate path. Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, stated, "With the Fed now appearing more accustomed to changing circumstances and increasingly sensitive to upcoming inflation data, every major economic data release will have an impact, but the core PCE will be a key event for both gold and interest rate markets, and next week will be highly data-dependent." Innes also noted that stronger-than-expected inflation readings could boost the dollar, push up yields, and increase the risk of gold prices testing the $4,000 per ounce level. Gold investors should prepare for increased volatility and be wary of potential further sell-offs.

June 20th - According to the China Railway Shanghai Group Co., Ltd., during the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the group transported 4.031 million passengers, setting a new record for single-day passenger volume during the holiday. Today, the group expects to transport 2.49 million passengers and plans to add 93 passenger trains. Since the start of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday transport on June 18th, the group has transported a total of 7.584 million passengers, averaging approximately 3.792 million passengers per day, indicating strong holiday travel demand.

According to Al Arabiya satellite television, Pakistan's Interior Minister will travel to Tehran to meet with Iranian officials.

Conflict Status: 1. Ukraine claims Russian military attacks on civilian boats and buses resulted in 1 death and 9 injuries. 2. The Ukrainian military claims to have attacked railway bridges in Russian-controlled Crimea. 3. The Kremlin: Russian airstrikes against Ukraine will continue; Ukraine's policy is not aimed at negotiations. 4. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister: A Russian drone strike resulted in the death of a Panamanian crew member in the Black Sea. 5. Moscow Mayor Sobyanin reports that air defense forces shot down three drones heading towards Moscow. 6. Kyiv Electric Power Company DTEK: Russian attacks over the past two days have severely damaged DTEK energy facilities in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region. Peace Negotiations: 1. Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian-Russian negotiations may resume, allowing Russia to finalize specific forms. 2. The Kremlin stated that Russia is willing to engage in dialogue with Europe but will not accept ultimatums. 3. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: When Russia comes to the negotiating table, we need a united European message. 4. European Council President Costa: We need to support Ukraine through diplomatic means, including establishing direct communication channels with Russia. Other developments: 1. The Central Bank of Russia cut interest rates by 25 basis points, compared to market expectations of a 50 basis point cut. 2. The International Atomic Energy Agency: Repairs have begun on the main transmission lines of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. 3. According to sources, Russia's daily gasoline production this week has decreased by a quarter compared to the average daily level in June last year.

US President Trump: US Secretary of Defense Hergsay is a born fighter. He has never known what it means to admit defeat. He has an extremely tough personality and is a person who loves the military from the bottom of his heart.

US President Trump: (Regarding Venezuela and Cuba) Venezuela has oil. Cuba doesn't. Cuba has decent real estate and a beautiful coastline.

John Jumper, a senior research scientist at Google's DeepMind, has decided to leave the company and join Anthropic.

US President Trump: (Regarding the G7) They should have kept the G8. If they had, there probably wouldn't have been a war between Russia and Ukraine, but Obama didn't want Putin there. It used to be the G8. It would have been much better if it had been kept.

On June 20th, it was reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on June 19th local time that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia might resume, with the specific format of the talks yet to be finalized. He emphasized that third-party partners must be involved in the negotiations. Zelenskyy also clarified Ukraine's core demands, covering post-war security guarantees and EU accession, and stated that Ukraine would allow Russia to finalize the specific format of the negotiations. Currently, Russia has not responded to this.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Poland's decision to revoke Ukrainian President Zelensky's Order of Honor is a "strategic mistake".

Polish President: Decides to revoke the Order of the White Eagle, the highest honor awarded to Ukrainian President Zelensky.

According to Axios: US President Trump said that such a thing (about war with Iran) could trigger a global depression, and the agreement reached has averted that fate.

On June 20th, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman for Supervision Bowman attended a private dinner hosted by Bank of America for its clients in New York on Wednesday evening. According to sources, the dinner was by invitation only. This came just hours after the Federal Reserve announced its latest policy decision. The dinner took place during the Fed's communication blackout period, which prohibits Fed officials from publicly commenting on the economic situation or monetary policy in the days before and after a meeting, and lasts until the day after the meeting (Thursday). While the Fed's rules do not explicitly prohibit closed-door meetings, they require officials to avoid sharing personal policy views with anyone who might financially benefit from them, unless those views are publicly available. The rules also state that officials should not allow any company to gain a prestige advantage relative to its competitors. Under the Fed's communication policy, policymakers should carefully and rigorously consider this principle when arranging meetings with those who might benefit from exclusive access to Fed officials, and when considering accepting invitations to meetings hosted by for-profit organizations or not open to the public and media. It is unclear whether Bowman's attendance at the dinner violated these rules.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE): As of the week ending June 16, speculative net long positions in gasoline futures increased by 7,006 contracts to 60,810 contracts.

Iraq's Ministry of Oil: Southern oil fields are expected to recover to production levels of more than 3 million barrels per day within one to two months.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Pulte: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac currently have strong liquidity.

Iran's Deputy Energy Minister: Russia is ready to send experts to Iran to expedite the construction of nuclear power plant units 2 and 3.

Market news: Trump's stance on the Iran deal is intended to refute the narrative of American failure.

On June 19, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that Moscow was again subjected to a large-scale drone attack by the Ukrainian military, with 76 drones shot down by evening. No casualties or property damage were reported. Ukraine has not yet responded.