IIR's February 17 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
On first Mideast tour, Rubio warns Iran, praises Trump's Gaza plan		Marco Rubio on Sunday kicked off his first Middle East tour as secretary of state with strong support for Israel and stern warnings to Iran as the region bristles from President Donald Trump's proposal to "own" Gaza and evict its Palestinian population. Rubio and Netanyahu spoke to reporters after closed-door meetings. They discussed several subjects in those meetings, Netanyahu said, but "none more important than Iran."	The Washington Post	Commonwealth LNG, Invenergy: Your Daily Energy News
European leaders to host Ukraine summit as Trump pushes peace talks with Russia		European leaders will hold an emergency summit on Ukraine and their continent's security today as concern grows that US President Donald Trump's push to work with Russia to end the war has left Kyiv and Europe isolated. The summit comes before US and Russian officials meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on ending the war, which are expected to begin on Tuesday. A Ukrainian official said Kyiv was not told about the talks, but Trump said Ukraine would be part of the peace negotiations.	CNN	Permit Blocked for U.K.'s Largest Oil & Gas Project
Oil prices steady as Russia-Ukraine peace talks loom		Oil prices were broadly steady on Monday, as investors monitored developments over a possible Russia-Ukraine peace deal that could ease the sanctions that have disrupted energy flows, while a weaker dollar and reduced Caspian supply curbed any selling. "Should sanctions relief allow it, we believe Brent crude oil prices could drop between $5 and $10/bbl if Russian barrels suddenly do not need to make a long journey to India or China, and more supply is suddenly made available," BofA analysts said in a note.	Reuters	Mexican Refineries Disrupted by High Water, Salt Content in Crude
European defense stocks lift markets higher Asia-Pacific markets mixed as investors assess Trump reciprocal tariffs plan Major currencies steady as markets size up PPI optimism, tariffs		European stocks moved higher on Monday as a number of defense stocks soared. Over the weekend, global officials met in Germany for the Munich Security Conference, where European defense spending was in focus. Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Europe are likely to remain in focus for European markets this week. Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Friday, after Wall Street rose overnight as President Donald Trump signed a reciprocal tariffs plan, but did not enact the levies immediately. The U.S. dollar and major currencies steadied on Friday, as traders assessed the potential impact of Washington's reciprocal tariffs which will not be immediately implemented, while a U.S. producer price report eased inflation concerns. U.S. President Donald Trump directed his economic team on Thursday to formulate plans for reciprocal tariffs on every country that imposes taxes on U.S. imports.	CNBC	Canada's Enbridge Resilient Against Tariff Threats
Natural Gas News: Market Faces Volatility as Prices Slip After Five-Day Rally		Natural gas futures slip 3% as traders take profits after a five-day rally, with weather shifts and key levels in focus. Cold weather from February 19-23 could drive demand higher, keeping natural gas prices supported despite Monday's pullback. Natural gas demand surges 14.2% year-over-year to 110.0 Bcf/day, while production growth remains sluggish at just 0.5%. LNG exports hit 15.4 Bcf/day, up 3.8% week-over-week, as U.S. shipments remain crucial amid Europe's below-average storage. Key support sits at $3.505-if broken, a decline to $3.192 is likely. Resistance at $3.801 must be cleared for a move toward $4.020.	FX Empire	TC Energy Says Mexican Gas Pipeline to Start in May
Metals Crucial to Clean Energy Are Getting Caught Up in the US-China Trade War		..Several companies operating in the US and Canada are considering expanding production of the rare metals to help meet US demand. While Canadian critical minerals producers may get swept up in a new geopolitical tit-for-tat should Trump go through with his threat to impose tariffs, US metal producers could see support from the new administration, which called for prioritizing federal funding for critical minerals projects in a Day 1 executive order. Beyond the US and Canada, industry observers say China's export ban is fueling global interest in making critical mineral supply chains more diverse so that no single country has a chokehold over materials vital for a high-tech, clean energy future.	WIRED	Honda and Nissan Cancel Merger Agreement
Ukraine Rejects Trump's Proposal for Mineral Rights		Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declined a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to acquire approximately 50% of Ukraine's rare earth mineral rights. Valued at several trillion dollars, Ukraine's mineral reserves include lithium, titanium, and graphite which are essential for high-tech industries. The proposal was delivered by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as part of a bid to compensate Washington for assistance to Kyiv. Trump had suggested that Ukraine owed the United States $500 billion worth of resources for its past military support. However, Zelenskyy is seeking better terms, including U.S. and European security guarantees. Trump's proposal did not include provisions for future assistance, which Zelenskyy deems necessary. Zelenskyy's team has developed an offer for a mineral partnership in exchange for security guarantees, which was announced earlier this month.	OilPrice	IEA: Global Electric Use to Rise Sharply Over Next Three Years
Week 02/10/25 - 02/17/25		Will there be peace in Eastern Europe, or are those the drumbeats which portend yet more war on the horizon as Ukraine prepares for the fourth year of war this Spring after the Russian incursion in 2022. European leaders - following this weekend's Munich Security Conference - will be holding an emergency summit in regard to support for Ukraine; meanwhile, U.S. and Russian officials prepare to meet in Saudi Arabia to hammer out terms of a ceasefire. Commodity and economic markets are on "pins and needles" awaiting more intelligence on what will lie in store for Eastern Europe. In the Middle East many breathed a sigh of relief as the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire continues after a hostage exchange this weekend. Though Israel is considering more direct action on Iran this Spring. All of this "will there be peace or war" is driving volatility in Mr. Oil and Gas' Marketplace as the only thing which remains certain early in 2025 is Uncertainty...
*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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