IIR's January 12 Market Scorecard Brings You Breaking Geopolitical News

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Researched by IIR News (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
Putin Just Sent a Reminder He's a Threat to NATO		AI Summary: Putin's hypersonic strike near NATO's border warns the West to judge Russia by capability, not assumed intent. Despite massive attrition, Moscow's military has expanded, hardened by a war economy and combat experience. Banking on Putin's "rationality" to limit conflict remains dangerous; his reorganized forces pose a lasting, evolved threat to European stability beyond Ukraine.	Bloomberg	TotalEnergies' Lebanon Permit, Norway's Declining Production, Shell's Revenue Declines: Your Daily Energy News
Iranian mourners heard chanting 'death to Khamenei' at funeral as hundreds killed in protests		AI Summary: Iran faces a profound legitimacy crisis as "Death to Khamenei" chants replace funeral prayers and the death toll nears 500. While President Trump threatens intervention--sparking fears of regional conflict--the theocracy relies on a ruthless information blackout and security apparatus to survive. Without military defections, the defiant populace remains trapped between violent internal repression and high-stakes geopolitical brinkmanship.	BBC	North America's Near-Term Weather Outlook and its Implications for Energy Markets
Oil dips as investors assess Iran supply, Venezuelan export resumption		Oil prices dipped on Monday after Iran said it had total control following the biggest anti-government demonstrations in years, easing some concerns over supply from the OPEC producer, while investors also weighed efforts to resume oil exports from Venezuela. "Lower European equity markets and lack of additional supply disruptions is moderately weighing on oil prices, following a strong rally at the end of last week," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.	Reuters	California Working to Thwart Offshore Drilling
South Korea's Kospi closes at a record high as Asia-Pacific markets rise Gold vaults to record $4,600/oz as Trump-Powell clash unnerves investors		AI Summary: South Korea's Kospi and spot gold hit record highs, driven by AI optimism and geopolitical hedging against escalating Iran tensions. However, global markets face a new systemic risk: U.S. futures dipped after the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, signaling a dangerous escalation in institutional warfare. AI Summary: South Korea's Kospi and spot gold hit record highs, driven by AI optimism and geopolitical hedging against escalating Iran tensions. However, global markets face a new systemic risk: U.S. futures dipped after the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, signaling a dangerous escalation in institutional warfare.	CNBC	Holtec Pushes Palisades Nuclear Restart to February Lithium Argentina Eyes Two Major Project Kickoffs in 2026
Natural Gas Price Forecast: Bears Press Toward Long-Term Support		AI Summary: Natural gas capitulated to $3.13, shattering key supports and confirming the 200-day average as formidable resistance. While immediate momentum targets a critical confluence zone between $2.86 and $2.95, the broader quarterly structure remains constructive. This suggests the current decline is a necessary, volatile correction following October's breakout, likely preceding a resumption of the long-term uptrend.	FX Empire	Glenfarne Seeks Financing for Texas LNG Plant
US and China Flip the Global Script as Capital Flows Reverse		AI Summary: Global capital flows are undergoing a dramatic realignment as U.S. protectionism and aggressive re-shoring clash with China's accelerating outbound expansion. While American firms retreat from Europe and the Trump administration prioritizes domestic manufacturing, China is filling the vacuum with "Greenfield" investments in EVs and data centers across the Global South and Europe. This shift forces nations to choose between traditional U.S. security alliances and Chinese economic integration, reshaping supply chains and geopolitical loyalties worldwide.	Bloomberg	Back on the Radar: U.S. Acquisition of Greenland for Strategic Reasons
China's Metals Markets Surge on Bullish Outlooks		AI Summary: Traders are pouring record capital into China's metal markets, driving unprecedented open interest in Shanghai and Guangzhou as copper surpasses $13,000 per ton. This speculative frenzy is fueled by a perfect storm of tightening global supply, electrification demand from AI and energy transitions, and defensive hoarding triggered by looming U.S. tariffs, signaling a sustained commodity supercycle.	OilPrice	What Does the Possible Rio Tinto-Glencore Merger Mean for the Mining Sector?
Week 01/05/26 - 01/12/26		It seems like here in this New Year the world is subtly shifting on its geopolitical axis as the U.S. looks West with a focus on the Americas; although still active in affairs in Eastern Europe, by working to wrangle a truce of sorts between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the Middle East, where another targeted attack was led in Syria along with saber rattling posturing toward Iran as protests continue. Meanwhile, China is working relationships from Asia to Europe focused on electrification in all its guises. As this geopolitical brinksmanship plays out, geoeconomics are facing a crisis of confidence and systemic risks as the global order and its supply chains and financing are not what it has been presumed to be since WWII. And of course, this drives uncertainty and some volatility to energy commodity markets. What tomorrow will bring is a big unknown, but pundits still have their thoughts and forecasts.
*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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About Industrial Info Resources
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 over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).

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