IIR Weekly Market Scorecard - Breaking Geopolitical News

Stay current with the latest geopolitical events, and more importantly, instantly connect to how these events may impact you and your business strategies.

IIR's Market Scorecard gives you the breaking news headlines from around the world, along with the directional impact to commodities, with expert indicators, and live links to IIR key research so you instantly have the details you need and make the right decisions.

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Monday, August 11, 2025:

Event	MarCon*	IIR Comment	Outlet	IIR News
Netanyahu defends Gaza City takeover as UN warns of 'calamity' and international condemnation grows		In a rare news conference with international media, Netanyahu said the controversial operation to take over what was once Gaza's largest city, which faces tremendous internal and international opposition, is the fastest way to end the war. Israel faced condemnation at the UN on Sunday, with the United Kingdom, Russia, China and France among others expressing their strong opposition to Netanyahu's military plan for Gaza that would constitute "further violations of international law."	CNN	EOG Resources, U.S. Rig Count: Your Daily Energy News
After Almost Losing Trump, Putin Gets His Ideal Summit		"It has been a very good week for Putin," said Sam Greene, a professor of Russian politics at Kings College London. "He has taken himself out of a position of significant vulnerability. He has maneuvered this entire process into something that is more or less exactly what he needed it to be." Mr. Zelensky said on Saturday that the Ukrainian Constitution does not allow Kyiv to negotiate away the country's land. Mr. Trump initially told European officials that the meeting with Mr. Putin would be followed by a three-way summit with both Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelensky. But the Kremlin quickly said no such promise had been made. The White House proceeded anyway.	The New York Times	Mexico's Pemex Presents 2025-2035 Strategic Plan
Oil edges up ahead of US-Russia talks		Oil prices edged higher on Monday, after falling more than 4% last week, as investors looked ahead to talks this week between the U.S. and Russia over the war in Ukraine. Oil prices fell in recent days as market participants reduced supply disruption estimates, probably because the U.S. only imposed an extra tariff on India rather than all buyers of Russian oil, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.	Reuters	Onshore Federal Lands Oil Production Rose in Recent Years
European markets set to start the week positively as trade landscape remains in focus Asia-Pacific markets subdued as U.S.-China tariff truce deadline looms		Futures data from IG suggests a generally positive open for European indexes, with London's FTSE 100 seen opening slightly higher, France's CAC 40 up 0.2% and Germany's DAX up 0.3%, and Italy's FTSE MIB 0.5% higher. Global investors will continue to keep an eye on the tariff landscape this week..as Asia-Pacific markets were trading subdued Monday as investors awaited official announcement on whether the Aug. 12 deadline for U.S.-China tariff truce would be extended. Economists surveyed by Reuters expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to lower its cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.60% on Aug. 12, after surprising that market by holding rates in July.	CNBC	The Good, the Bad and the Ugly -- Industries React to Sweeping U.S. Tariffs Earnings Slide at Three Big Oil Companies, With Shell an Exception
Natural Gas News: Bearish Forecast on Milder Weather and Robust Storage Levels		Natural gas futures ended last week under pressure, with the front-month contract settling at $2.990, down 3.02% on the week. Early buying tied to scorching weather in parts of the U.S. faded quickly as traders turned their attention to strong production, robust storage levels, and forecasts for milder conditions ahead. The technical picture remains firmly bearish, with price holding well below the 52-week simple moving average at 3.730.	FX Empire	Targa Eyes Record Gathering, Transport Volumes for Natural Gas
U.S.-China high-stakes tariff truce extension hangs in the balance as deadline looms		The U.S. and China have yet to announce an extension to their tariff deadline, with tensions over several thorny issues flaring up again just as a fragile truce nears its expiry. China's U.S.-bound shipments currently face a 20% tariff related to the country's alleged role in the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and a 10% baseline tariff, stacked on top of a 25% duty on certain goods imposed during Trump's first term. American goods to China are subject to over 32.6% tariffs, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.	CNBC	Trump Signals 100% Tariff on Semiconductors, With Exemptions
EV Batteries Get Second Life in Energy Storage Revolution		Used electric vehicle batteries are being repurposed for energy storage systems, providing a second life for lithium-ion batteries and contributing to domestic energy capacity. This repurposing helps conserve critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, reducing reliance on new mining and mitigating environmental impacts. The growing market for energy storage offers a crucial safety net for EV battery manufacturers amidst a cooling EV market and increasing strain on power grids from AI and electrification. "The market for grid-scale batteries and backup power isn't just expanding, it's becoming essential infrastructure," said Kurt Kelty, General Motors' vice president of batteries, propulsion, and sustainability, in a recent statement. "Electricity demand is climbing, and it's only going to accelerate. To meet that challenge, the U.S. needs energy storage solutions that can be deployed quickly, economically, and made right here at home..."	OilPrice	More Than 1 GW of New Data Centers Commissioned in the U.S. in Q2 Piedmont Lithium Reports Record Production Volumes
Week 08/04/25 - 08/11/25		Most all world eyes shift to The Last Frontier (Alaska), which was sold to the U.S. by Russia in 1867. Now it is where "talks" will be held late this week between the U.S. and Russia to determine if "land" will be "traded" for peace in Ukraine. Kyiv says "nyet - not happening." So we shall but see what this "Art of the Peace Deal" might be. Meanwhile, other world eyes are on Israel in the Middle East who is adamant about the necessity of a Gaza City takeover to end the war with Hamas. Though Israel faced much condemnation at the UN over enacting such an operation. Who is going to blink first? Much like another deadline - which itself draws nigh - in regard to the Eagle and the Dragon reaching a tariff/trade agreement. For the moment, the Economic markets remain unsettled on all the news, while Mr. Oil Market is up slightly. One shall but see what this week holds in store for world markets - which at the moment is anybody's best guess. And, anybody is mostly muttering to themselves trying to formulate an expert opinion in an unprecedented, uncertain, chaotic time.
*MarCon (Market Condition 1-5, with 5 being the highest impact) indicates directional bias or price effect for the relevant commodity (Oil, Natural Gas, Chemicals, etc.) and is graded by our team of experts here at IIR.