IIR's December 15 Market Scorecard Brings You Breaking Geopolitical News

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Stay current with the latest geopolitical events, and more importantly, instantly connect to how these events may impact you and your business strategies.

Event	MarCon*	IIR Comment	Outlet	IIR News
Zelensky Offers Compromise for New Round of Ukraine Peace Talks		AI Summary: President Zelensky met Trump's negotiators, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, in Germany for critical talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. While Zelensky indicated willingness to forgo NATO membership in exchange for robust American security guarantees, he firmly rejected ceding currently controlled territory or creating a "free economic zone." Talks continue Monday as deep disagreements persist over land concessions despite US pressure to settle.	The New York Times	U.S. Steelmakers Prep for $1.6 Billion in 1Q Project Starts
Israel targets senior Hamas official in deadly Gaza strike		AI Summary: Israel has announced the killing of Raed Saad, a top Hamas commander responsible for weapons production, in a Gaza City airstrike. Saad, a long-sought target who survived previous assassination attempts, was a key figure in the October 7 attacks. His death occurs amidst a tense US-brokered ceasefire, as diplomatic efforts shift toward President Trump's controversial plan for Gaza's disarmament and future governance.	BBC	ExxonMobil to Close Steam Cracker in Singapore by June
Oil prices stable as Venezuelan supply disruptions balance surplus concerns		Oil prices held steady on Monday as investors balanced supply disruptions linked to escalating U.S.-Venezuelan tensions with oversupply concerns and the impact of a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal. Both contracts slid more than 4% last week, weighed down by expectations of a global oil surplus in 2026.	Reuters	IEA Lowers Oil Glut Expectations
European markets trade higher but defense, pharma stocks falter Gold gains 1% on safe-haven demand, softer dollar ahead of U.S. jobs data		AI Summary: European markets advanced ahead of a pivotal central bank week, with the ECB expected to hold rates and the Bank of England potentially cutting. Defense stocks declined after Zelenskyy signaled a policy shift on NATO, while EU leaders address funding Kyiv via frozen Russian assets. Corporate movers saw Magnum surge, while pharmaceutical firms Argenx and Sanofi tumbled on trial setbacks. AI Summary: Gold rose 1% to near seven-week highs, driven by a weaker dollar, geopolitical tensions involving Russia, and expectations of 2026 interest rate cuts following the Fed's recent reduction. Meanwhile, silver climbed 2.8%, consolidating near record highs after gaining 120% this year. Both metals are buoyed by safe-haven demand, tightening supplies, and fiscal stimulus boosting industrial needs.	CNBC	Billions of Euro for Europe's Critical Raw Materials Plan ESG-Related Projects Advance Despite Trump's Agenda
Natural Gas News: Will Warm Weather Keep Pressure on Futures This Week?		AI Summary: Natural gas futures plummeted over 22% to settle at $4.113, obliterating November's gains as warmer forecasts for late December dismantled the weather-driven rally. Despite a solid inventory draw, record production and ample storage negated bullish sentiment. With key technical supports broken, bears have seized control, targeting the $3.913 floor unless a sudden cold shift reignites demand.	FX Empire	Proposed U.S. LNG Bunkering Hub Gets Offtake Arrangement
China faces 2026 marked by economic strains and uneasy rivalry with US: Asia Society		AI Summary: The Asia Society forecasts a 2026 defined by "transitions, trade-offs, and tensions" rather than triumph. While US-China relations may stabilize tactically, mutual suspicion endures as both nations weaponize economic chokepoints. Domestically, Xi Jinping confronts a "golden goose" dilemma: tightening political control risks stifling the innovation needed to combat mounting local debt and demographic headwinds.	SCMP	China's New Energy Vehicle Production Soars for Year Through October
The AI Boom Is Pushing Data Centers Past the Thermal Wall		AI Summary: Propelled by AI's intense thermal demands, the data center cooling market is projected to reach $34.12 billion by 2033. As server densities outstrip air-cooling capabilities, the industry is pivoting toward liquid and hybrid architectures like direct-to-chip. This technical evolution is a strategic imperative to manage energy costs, meet environmental regulations, and support next-generation digital infrastructure.	OilPrice	Dallas-Fort Worth Area is Key U.S. Data Center Destination Next Year
Week 12/08/25 - 12/15/25		With the Fed decision in the rear view, what else awaits these markets here in the Holidaze Season? From an economic perspective, it seems the European Central Bank might hold rates, while the Bank of England could cut; what about other Central Banks? In geopolitics, Ukraine is striving for compromises, but will one actually be reached anytime soon? And in the Middle East, Israel still targets terrorist leaders as the world waits to see how the Gaza peace could either unfold or unravel. Meanwhile, the commodity markets wrestle with making sense out of snarled supply chains, escalating geopolitics across the world, and whether fundamentals are truly all about oversupply...or if there is misunderstood demand due to accelerating global electrification brought about mainly by Data Centers and the rise of AI. What we know is that we do not know what we thought we knew and await other indicators and factors for a clearer outlook for the markets into the New Year.
*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.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).