Market News

· The number of initial jobless claims in the United States last week recorded the largest weekly increase since the pandemic. This news is negative for the U.S. economy, the U.S. dollar, and U.S. stocks. · Vietnam's Congress amends law to ban export of raw rare earth ores, effective January next year. This news is bullish for rare earth prices. · The U.S. Treasury Department has increased sanctions on Venezuela. There are reports that the United States is preparing to seize more ships transporting Venezuelan oil, with 6 million barrels of oil shipments being held up. This news is bullish for crude oil.