Global TradFi & Macroeconomics

Congo has established a strategic reserve for cobalt and critical minerals, mandating that 10% of cobalt exports be set aside for state purposes. This move allows the government to better manage the global cobalt market and complements existing export quotas.

Federal Reserve official John Williams affirmed a steady monetary policy outlook, projecting 2% to 2.5% economic growth and stable unemployment around 4.25% to 4.5%. Inflation is expected to decrease from 2.75% to 3% in 2026 to 2% in 2027.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced "Economic Fury," a Treasury Department initiative to apply maximum economic pressure on Iran, during a Pentagon briefing on April 16.

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's Manufacturing Index rose to 26.7 in April, far exceeding the expected 10 and surpassing the forecast range, signaling robust manufacturing activity in the Mid-Atlantic region.

PepsiCo's Q1 revenue reached $19.44 billion, up 8.5% year-over-year, driven by robust sales in snacks and beverages. With successful pricing strategies and new health-focused products, the company maintains its growth projections and plans significant shareholder returns.

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) opened the week with heavy outflows, reversing last week’s momentum. Ether ETFs posted modest gains, while XRP declined, and solana activity stalled. Key Takeaways: Bitcoin ETFs saw $291.11 million outflows led by Fidelity FBTC, signaling renewed caution. Et

Eddie Yue from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority states that Hong Kong's banking sector faces limited risk from Middle East tensions, though rising oil prices may impact energy-sensitive sectors. There's no increase in SME assistance requests, and the authority continues to monitor the situation. The anticipated 19.3% default rate for a special loan scheme is being managed through standard collection procedures.

SpaceX and other Musk-led firms significantly bought Tesla's Cybertruck, raising concerns about actual market demand. These purchases represent 18% of U.S. registrations, amid Tesla's declining sales and competition from other EV brands.

Russian President Putin reported a 1.8% GDP decline in early 2026 and called for economic stimulus proposals. In response to U.S. sanctions, Kremlin spokesperson Peskov stated that Russia has adapted to these challenges.

A dormant whale address became active after 2.5 months, initiating a 20x leveraged long position in precious metals by acquiring 1,663 GOLD and 43,870 SILVER tokens, totaling about $11.5 million.

On April 16, Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.3% to 5,007.83 despite regional gains and optimism over US-Iran ceasefire talks. Mapletree Logistics Trust rose 1.6%, while major banks declined. Regional markets were stronger, with significant gains in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia.

Iran has lifted some restrictions on international internet services, signaling a change in its internet access policies, as announced by Iranian authorities on April 16.

Gate News message, April 16 — IEA Director Fatih Birol said Europe's aviation fuel supply may last only about six weeks, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

The Trump administration will not renew sanctions waivers for Iranian and Russian oil, prompting threats of secondary sanctions against countries, particularly China, buying Iranian oil. This decision ends efforts to stabilize global oil prices amidst ongoing Middle East tensions.

HIVE Digital Technologies plans to raise $75 million via private placement of convertible senior notes. Proceeds will fund GPU purchases, data center construction, and corporate needs. The company anticipates transitioning to the main TSX board by April 30, 2026.

Austan Goolsbee warns that high oil prices from the Iran war may prevent the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates until 2027, prolonging inflation above the 2% target and leading to a "higher for longer" interest rate scenario.

U.S. equities, led by a 1.96% rise in the Nasdaq Composite, closed significantly higher, driven by a rebound in tech stocks like Nvidia and Amazon. Chinese tech stocks also surged, reflecting renewed investor interest.

After Taishin Securities merged with Yuanfu Securities, a system malfunction caused misposted transaction amounts to grow to 1.76 billion yuan within three days, exceeding market expectations. The number of transactions reached 9,000, setting a record. The company has apologized and pledged to fully absorb the losses, and will also fully cooperate with the investigation and audit. The system issue stemmed from unstable merger integration, which in turn led to duplicate order placements.