IIR's April 7 Market Scorecard Brings You Breaking Geopolitical News

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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
Netanyahu and Trump to meet amid concerns over Gaza, Iran and tariffs		Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, in a last-minute visit that seeks to showcase their tight alliance but will also involve thorny negotiations as Israel continues its war in Gaza, watches the White House's moves on Iran and faces economic threats from Trump's tariffs. In Israel, Trump's planned 17 percent levy on imports from the country has the potential to send its already war-battered economy - including its critical tech sector - into a tailspin.	The Washington Post	How President Trump's Initiatives are Affecting the Energy Sector So Far
US says Putin will make decision on ceasefire in 'weeks, not months'		The US's top diplomat has said he will know "in a matter of weeks, not months" whether Vladimir Putin is serious about peace and a ceasefire in Ukraine. Speaking after a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said ending the war is a decision that will "ultimately" have to be made by the Russian President. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes overnight in Kharkiv killed at least five, and a ballistic missile attack later on Kryvyi Rih killed 12.	BBC	U.S. Home to $5.5 Billion Worth of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Projects
Oil tumbles further as US-China trade conflict fuels recession fears		Oil prices extended losses on Monday, falling more than 2% as escalating trade tensions between the United States and China stoked fears of a recession that would reduce demand for crude while OPEC+ readies a supply increase. Oil plunged by 7% on Friday as China ramped up tariffs on U.S. goods, escalating a trade war that has led investors to price in a higher probability of recession. Last week, Brent and WTI lost 10.9% and 10.6%, respectively.	Reuters	Oil at 2021 Lows Amid Pending Global Trade War
Trump's tariff chaos puts White House on defense as global markets tumble Hong Kong stocks lead sell-off in Asia-Pacific markets as trade war worries fuel risk-off sentiment		U.S. markets are set to open sharply lower Monday for a third trading session, as President Donald Trump's tariffs paralyze global trade and investment. Asian markets plunged overnight. Asia-Pacific markets extended their sell-off Monday with stock indexes in Singapore, Australia, Japan, South Korea and India all suffering losses as fears over a global trade war sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs fueled a risk-off mood. Asian markets are the worst hit. They estimate that China and Vietnam will experience losses exceeding 0.5% of GDP, while the European Union and Japan face a hit of around 0.3% to 0.4% of GDP. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick insists that tariffs will not be postponed, and will "stay in place for days and weeks."	CNBC	Canada's Manufacturers Plot New Projects for Tech, Other Goods
Natural Gas News: Weather and Inventory Build Set Bearish Tone		U.S. natural gas futures retreated over the past week as bearish supply-demand fundamentals overshadowed structural support from LNG exports and long-term inventory tightness. Forecasts have turned notably warmer for mid-April, reducing expectations for late-season heating demand. While parts of the Midwest and Northeast may still experience brief cold spells, the broader outlook calls for mild to warm conditions across much of the country.	FX Empire	Amid Tariff Turmoil, Canada Preps for More Natural Gas Output
Beijing's strong counter tariffs raise the specter of an intense trade war with Washington		Risks of an intense U.S.-China trade war are rising rapidly, according to analysts, after Beijing responded more forcefully than many had expected to U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariffs. In a shift in tone, China also dropped its call for negotiations on trade in a weekend statement that condemned U.S. levies, raising the prospects of an extended period of tariff escalation. As part of the broad retaliatory measures, Beijing also placed export curbs on key rare earth elements, prohibited exports of dual-use items to a dozen of U.S. entities, mostly in defense and aerospace industries, and put 11 more U.S. firms to its "unreliable entities list," subjecting them to broader restrictions while operating in China.	CNBC	Powering Digital Infrastructure Requires Planning, Flexibility and Humans
Myanmar Earthquake and Tariffs Shake Rare Earths Industry		The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways, edging up by a slight 1.82%. The global rare earth market has taken a significant hit lately, thanks to a combination of natural disasters and big geopolitical moves. A strong earthquake in Myanmar and the recent wave of U.S. tariffs have thrown this somewhat delicate industry into even more uncertainty. Myanmar isn't just another name on the rare earth map. The Southeast Asian country is a major supplier, which means it plays a key role in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles to rechargeable batteries. The combination of the ongoing conflict and the recent natural disaster highlights just how risky it is to rely on politically unstable nations for such critical materials.	OilPrice	Europe Fast-Tracking 47 Critical Minerals Projects
Week 03/31/25 - 04/07/25		Extremely strong seismic shocks from levied U.S. Tariffs rattle exchanges and bourses all over the world - from London to Hong Kong...from Sydney to Germany. China already has retaliated forcefully and the EuroZone is poised to do so as well. An intense global trade war is brewing which will greatly affect supply chains for multiple commodities. The "R" word is being readily bandied about - and if a recession were to occur it would further erode demand in energy markets. Doubts abound as many experts struggle in these unprecedented times to forecast what lies ahead as the global order is seemingly shaken up like a snow globe...
*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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