News

According to Israel’s Channel 12: Israel is paying close attention to the draft agreement between the United States and Iran, fearing that Tehran may receive sanctions relief without resolving the nuclear issue.

UK Maritime Trade Action Office: The captain of a product tanker reported that a small vessel with five people on board was approaching him. The ship's armed security team was dispatched and the small vessel changed course away from the reporting vessel.

UK Maritime Trade Operations Office: Received a report of an incident within 200 nautical miles west of Socotra Island in Yemen.

US Secretary of State Rubio: The United States and NATO allies are discussing a "Plan B" to deal with Iran's refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz; some NATO countries may support countermeasures.

Federal Reserve Statement: The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) unanimously elected Kevin Warsh as FOMC Chairman.

The Dow Jones Index closed up 294.04 points, or 0.58%, at 50579.70 points on May 22 (Friday);The S&P 500 Index closed up 27.0 points on May 22 (Friday). 73 points, an increase of 0.37%, to 7473.45 points;The Nasdaq Composite Index closed up 50.87 points, or 0.19%, to 26343.97 points on May 22 (Friday).

The S&P 500 posted its eighth consecutive weekly gain, its longest streak since a nine-week streak that ended in December 2023.

According to the Wall Street Journal: The United States has suspended the issuance of visas to people who have visited Ebola-affected areas, sources said. The policy applies to people planning to travel to the United States in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda within 21 days.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): In the week ended May 19, speculators reduced the net short position in CBOT U.S. 2-year Treasury bond futures by 41,775 contracts to 1,560,837 contracts; they increased the net short position in CBOT U.S. 10-year Treasury bond futures. Added 66,885 contracts to reach 848,052; increased the net short position in CBOT U.S. ultra-long Treasury futures by 15,470 contracts to 254,464; decreased the net short position in CBOT U.S. 5-year Treasury futures by 11,629 contracts, down to 1,350,516 copies.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): Speculators’ net short position on CBOT U.S. Treasury futures increased by 5,820 contracts to 178,674 in the week ended May 19.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): In the week ended May 19, the net short position of natural gas speculators in the four major New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) markets decreased by 20,228 contracts to 2,026 contracts.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): In the week ending May 19, the net long position of COMEX silver speculators decreased by 4,434 contracts to 11,761 contracts; the net long position of COMEX copper futures speculators increased by 1,476 contracts to 74,999 contracts; the net long position of COMEX gold speculators decreased by 6,239 contracts to 94,388 contracts.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): Crude oil speculators increased their net long position in WTI by 15,017 contracts to 110,348 contracts in the week ended May 19.

U.S. Treasury Department: Foreign investors purchased $5.629 billion in 3-year Treasury bonds during the latest biweekly reporting period, a decrease from $6.834 billion last month; purchased $6.230 billion in 10-year Treasury bonds, an increase from $5.789 billion last month; and purchased $2.767 billion in 30-year bonds, an increase from $2.313 billion last month.

U.S. Treasury Department: Investment funds purchased $29.332 billion in 10-year Treasury bonds during the latest biweekly reporting period, an increase from $28.103 billion last month; purchased $18.340 billion in 30-year bonds, an increase from $16.415 billion last month; and purchased $41.636 billion in 3-year Treasury bonds, a decrease from $42.810 billion last month.

US President Trump: Tulsi Gabbard will leave the government on June 30; Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lucas will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence.

U.S. Trade Representative Greer: There will be no immediate tariffs on the semiconductor sector, but protecting investment in U.S. chip production is crucial.

U.S. Trade Representative Greer: The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations to be held in Mexico City next week will focus on rules of origin and economic security.

The Fed accepted a total of $965 million from five counterparties in fixed-rate reverse repurchase operations.

The White House: The purpose of the US-Switzerland agreement is to promote cooperation in strategic science and technology.