IIR's November 24 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
Rubio Sees Ukraine Deadline Easing After 'Productive' Talks		US-Ukraine talks over the weekend were described as productive by both sides, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying a proposed Nov. 27 deadline to secure Ukraine's support for a US-backed peace deal isn't set in stone. The controversial 28-point plan, presented last week as more of an ultimatum, was the result of secret US-Russia discussions, but a top Ukrainian aide sees progress on an accord.	Bloomberg	IEA Connects Energy Security with National Security
Israel kills top Hezbollah official in first attack on Beirut in months		Summary: Israel's lethal airstrike in Beirut killed Hezbollah's chief of staff, a senior militant, despite a ceasefire. This first strike in southern Beirut in months is deemed a "red line" crossing by Hezbollah and raises escalation fears. Israel cites Hezbollah's alleged rearmament as justification, while Lebanon demands Israeli withdrawal and adherence to the fragile truce, highlighting the cycle of regional instability.	BBC	Aramco Inks 17 MOUs with United States
Oil steady as investors weigh hopes for Ukraine peace talks, Fed rate cut		Oil prices stabilised on Monday after last week's decline of about 3%, as investors weighed the chances for a U.S. rate cut against the prospect of a Ukraine peace deal that could lead to an easing of sanctions on major producer Russia. The United States and Ukraine were set to resume work on a revised peace plan ahead of a Thursday deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, after agreeing to adjust an earlier version that critics said was too favourable to Moscow.	Reuters	Trump Administration Announces Another Offshore Lease Sale
European markets edge higher on U.S. rate cut optimism Gold holds steady as Fed rate cut bets offset dollar strength		Summary: European stocks, tracking global gains, opened higher on renewed optimism for a potential Federal Reserve rate cut in December. The Stoxx 600 climbed 0.1%. Bayer surged nearly 10% on positive drug trial data, while defense stocks retreated amid U.S.-Ukraine peace plan discussions. Investors are also anticipating the U.K.'s Autumn Budget for potential tax policy changes. Summary: Gold prices held steady around $4,065 per ounce, balanced by conflicting signals. Hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut next month, spurred by dovish comments from a New York Fed official, generally support gold as a non-yielding asset. However, the firm U.S. dollar, near a six-month high, exerted downward pressure by making the metal more expensive for international buyers.	CNBC	U.S. Electric Prices Up 6% on Average Amid Hefty Planned Capital Outlays Massive Gas Turbine Demand Powers Up Siemens, Other Providers
Natural Gas News: Weather Forecast Offers Bulls a Lifeline as Market Straddles Key 52-Week Pivot		Summary: Natural gas futures saw a small weekly loss, settling at $4.743, yet held key technical support above the 52-week moving average. Record U.S. dry gas production (111.1 Bcf/day) and near-term mild weather offset the first seasonal storage draw. While forecasts show colder weather approaching, the market remains stuck in a range, with strong supply currently suppressing aggressive upside momentum.	FX Empire	Colder-Than-Normal Winter Start Expected Across Western Canada, Northern U.S.
China spat with Japan on Taiwan deepens, reaches UN: What's it all about?		Summary: Japan-China tensions have plummeted over Japanese PM Taikachi's remarks suggesting a military response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. China views this as an "act of aggression," escalating the dispute by raising it at the UN and imposing tourism and trade restrictions. The refusal by Taikachi to retract her statement has deepened the rift, rekindling historical animosity and raising fears about security in the Taiwan Strait.	Aljazeera	Thailand's AGC Vinythai Completes Chlor-Alkali and Vinyl Expansions
A Price War Is Looming for Electric Vehicles		Summary: The global EV sector faces massive uncertainty, marked by expiring US incentives and shifting policy, which has caused major automakers to cut back on production plans. However, this volatility promises an EV price war for consumers. A surge of expiring leases--up to 330,000 in 2026--will flood the used market, potentially making EVs significantly more affordable than gas cars despite consumers' current reluctance.	OilPrice	Shell Drops Two Major U.K. Offshore Wind Projects
Week 11/17/25 - 11/24/25		What will lie in store this Stateside week of Thanks-Be-Giving?...Will there be progress on the Ukraine-Russia peace accord? Will tensions boil over once again in the Middle East? What about the raised rhetoric in APAC leading to security concerns in the Taiwan Strait?...Will these commodity and economic markets begin to provide a little more clarity to direction in these oh-so-murky times? Will we be thankful for the U.S. Fed decision upcoming in December which might direct the hands of other Central Banks in regard to fighting and taming inflation?...Unfortunately, there are few clear and straightforward answers forthcoming; however, we will be thankful for a little more clarity, as more will be known as to what lies ahead for these markets as we prepare to step into the last month of this 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.

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