FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold rose 0.9% to 4,830.66 per ounce by 0103GMT. U.S. gold futures for June delivery gained 0.6% to $4,852.40. * The U.S. dollar hovered near its lowest level in more than a month, making the greenback-denominated commodities, such as bullion, more affordable for holders of other currencies. * Global equities surged while oil prices edged lower on hopes for a cooling of U.S.-Iran tensions. * The Trump administration expressed optimism on Wednesday about reaching a deal to end the war with Iran, while warning of increasing economic pressure against Tehran if it remains defiant. * U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes the war with Iran is nearly over, even as a shipping blockade he announced came into effect and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained well below normal levels. * Traders now see a 29% chance of a 25-basis-point U.S. interest rate cut this year. Before the war, there were expectations of two rate cuts for this year. * SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.2% to 956.56 metric tons on Tuesday. * Meanwhile, the silver market is heading for a sixth year of structural deficit, with 762 million troy ounces drawn from stocks since 2021, raising the risk of a renewed liquidity squeeze despite weaker demand expectations, the Silver Institute and consultancy Metals Focus said on Wednesday. * Spot silver rose 1.4% to $80.17 per ounce, platinum gained 1.2% to $2,134.55, and palladium was up 1.1% at $1,590.14. DATA/EVENTS (GMT) 1230 US Initial Jobless Clm 11 Apr, 1230 US Philly Fed Business Indx Apr 1315 US Industrial Production MM Mar (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) (What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news, stock tips, Budget 2025, Share Market on Budget 2025 and expert advice, on ETMarkets. Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Subscribe to ET Prime and read the Economic Times ePaper Online.and Sensex Today. Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price, Axis Bank Share Price, HDFC Bank Share Price, Infosys Share Price, Wipro Share Price, NTPC Share Price (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel) (What's moving Sensex and Nifty Track latest market news, stock tips, Budget 2025, Share Market on Budget 2025 and expert advice, on ETMarkets. Also, ETMarkets.com is now on Telegram. For fastest news alerts on financial markets, investment strategies and stocks alerts, subscribe to our Telegram feeds .) Subscribe to ET Prime and read the Economic Times ePaper Online.and Sensex Today. Top Trending Stocks: SBI Share Price, Axis Bank Share Price, HDFC Bank Share Price, Infosys Share Price, Wipro Share Price, NTPC Share Price
FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold rose 0.9% to 4,830.66 per ounce by 0103GMT. U.S. gold futures for June delivery gained 0.6% to $4,852.40. * The U.S. dollar hovered near its lowest level in more than a month, making the greenback-denominated commodities, such as bullion, more affordable …
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During the U.S. maritime blockade from April to mid-June, authorities report that over 140 vessels were redirected and nine were disabled near the Strait. These figures, which appear to relate to a specific U.S. initiative, should be independently verified.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is structured into five main branches, including the Ground Forces, Aerospace Force, Navy, Quds Force, and Basij, under a command hierarchy that reports to the Supreme Leader. Reports indicate the organization maintains a substantial economic portfolio, estimated by some analyses to represent 20-40% of Iran’s economy, while also wielding significant political influence.
Recent developments since February 2026 suggest ongoing adjustments to its operational structure in response to heightened security threats.
UNHCR estimates the Afghan national population in Iran at 4.4 million as of January 2026, encompassing both registered and unregistered refugees. Reports indicate this group may face compounded risks due to factors such as pre-existing socioeconomic marginalization, insecure legal status, and limited access to services alongside exposure to displacement.
On June 17, 2026, analyst Sal Mercogliano addressed recent developments concerning shipping activities in the Strait of Hormuz. The analysis focused on the ongoing status of maritime transit in the region. Specific details regarding the nature of these developments were not provided in this summary segment.