Express News | Trump announces extension of ceasefire with Iran
Trump stated that he would not extend the ceasefire and threatened to resume bombing Iran. Reports indicate that Iran will not participate in the negotiations scheduled for the 22nd, and Vance has postponed his attendance.
After Trump's threat of bombing, the three major U.S. stock indices turned to losses. After news spread that Vance postponed his trip, the three major indices hit new daily lows. A member of Iran's parliamentary presidium stated that there would be no second round of negotiations until the maritime blockade is resolved; an Iranian parliamentary official mentioned that if diplomatic language proves ineffective, they will choose to continue hostilities. Pakistani sources claimed that relevant U.S. negotiators have arrived in Pakistan one after another; American media reported that Vance is still in Washington and will attend a White House meeting, while his delay in traveling to Islamabad is due to internal Iranian disagreements over whether to participate in a new round of peace talks.
Rex Asia (00274.HK) is expected to announce its 2024/25 fiscal year results by the end of May.
Revival Asia (00274.HK) announced that the company is actively in contact with its auditors to finalize the annual results for the 2024/25 fiscal year. As disclosed in the quarterly update, the company completed the restructuring of the finance departments and the change of legal representatives for its subsidiaries (excluding the Westralian Resources Group and Xin Ya Mining) in September 2025. Based on the current progress, the 2024/25 annual results are expected to be announced by the end of May 2026. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, the group's gold mining operations accounted for the group’s revenue and total assets.
Renaissance Asia Silk Road Updates Progress on Financials and Trading Resumption
RA SILK ROAD: QUARTER UPDATE ON RESUMPTION AND CONTINUED SUSPENSION OF TRADING
Silver breaks through the key resistance level of 80 USD; is a catch-up rally underway?
Boosted by the news of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, silver prices accelerated upward, breaking through the key resistance level of 80 USD and reclaiming the 50-day moving average. Analysts noted that silver is showing early signs of recovery in terms of positioning, capital flows, and volatility.
Iran has set conditions for passage through the Strait of Hormuz and is currently working with the U.S. on a framework for a peace agreement, warning that it will close the strait if the U.S. continues its maritime blockade.
The conditions include: civilian vessels passing through designated Iranian routes; military vessels remain prohibited; all ships must obtain permission from the Iranian navy. Iranian officials stated that Iran and the U.S. are drafting a memorandum of understanding to establish an overarching framework for a final, permanent peace agreement, with the memorandum setting a 60-day window for follow-up negotiations. They expressed optimism about signing the memorandum during talks in the coming days. The Iranian Foreign Ministry noted that the U.S. maritime blockade violates the ceasefire agreement and warned of necessary countermeasures if the blockade continues. Iran also rejected transporting enriched uranium abroad. The U.S. military reiterated its close monitoring of 'every Iranian port' and, for the first time, disclosed the location of the maritime blockade line, which covers all of Iran's southern coastline and ports.
Has the Middle East crisis temporarily come to an end? Expectations of a Fed rate cut rekindled, with gold approaching $4,900 per ounce.
Has Iran given a 'divine assist' to gold bulls? Analysts predict that, amid renewed expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, gold prices could surge toward the $5,000 mark in the short term.
Silver prices may enter a prolonged consolidation phase as analysts warn of a fundamental shift in the supply and demand dynamics of silver!
Analysts believe that despite a sixth consecutive year of supply shortages for silver, prices are unlikely to revisit the dramatic surge to $120 seen earlier this year. In the coming years, prices may remain range-bound between $50 and $100, entering a prolonged period of stagnation.
The US launched the 'Economic Fury' campaign against Iran to pressure it into an agreement, while Iran condemned it as economic terrorism and stated that the adversaries misjudged the situation.
The U.S. Defense Secretary stated that the new operation would 'maximize economic pressure on Iran' and that combat operations could be resumed at any time if Iran refuses to reach an agreement. The U.S. military has expanded its blockade of shipping materials to Iran, claiming that tens of thousands of troops are involved in the blockade of Iranian ports, with 13 vessels already forced to turn back.
In-depth analysis by the World Gold Council: The gold market will eventually return to calm from high volatility.
Analysis from the Gold Association shows that gold volatility exhibits mean reversion characteristics. The current high volatility represents a temporary shock rather than a structural shift. Gold remains a strategic safe-haven asset in investment portfolios.
Silver may face a severe supply shortage again, with the World Silver Association warning of liquidity issues.
A recent report indicates that a new physical shortage is brewing in the global silver market, which may prompt another surge in silver prices.
Monitoring agencies reported that two vessels departing from Iran passed through the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. military stated that tens of thousands of personnel were enforcing a 'blockade order' at Iranian ports, resulting in six ships turning ba
According to Kpler, two vessels successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz after departing from Iran despite U.S. blockades. The U.S. military stated that no ships breached the blockade during the first 24 hours of the operation to seal off Iranian ports; the U.S. is committed to ensuring smooth passage for non-Iranian vessels traveling to and from the strait. U.S. media reported that five out of six returning ships were carrying oil, and no shots were fired during the U.S. naval blockade. Iranian media claimed that Trump’s remarks on Monday regarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz did not align with reality. Analysts noted that the U.S. naval blockade appeared to comply with the rules of naval warfare.
Gold Dropped 10% Amid US-Iran Tensions? Experts Reverse Stance: Safe-Haven Status Undermined, More Like a 'High Beta Asset'!
Gold was once a good hedge against market pullbacks, but that is no longer the case. Robin Brooks, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, former chief economist of the Institute of International Finance, and former chief foreign exchange strategist at Goldman Sachs, warned that gold now behaves more like a 'high-beta asset,' which actually amplifies rather than mitigates market sell-offs.
The US blockade order on Iranian ports took effect, Trump stated that Iran called the US expressing a desire to reach an agreement, and threatened to destroy Iranian fast attack vessels.
Trump stated that fast Iranian attack boats approaching the blockade zone will be immediately neutralized, akin to how drug-running vessels are handled; Iran will not be permitted to possess nuclear weapons, and without their agreement, there will never be a deal. Once the Iran issue is resolved, action against Cuba might follow. Iran warned that if the U.S. blockades the Strait of Hormuz, it would lose access to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait; any attempt by the U.S. to militarily intervene in the Strait of Hormuz will fail; should the conflict persist, new combat methods will be deployed. Reports indicate that U.S. officials confirmed continued engagement with Iran following weekend talks in Islamabad; over 15 U.S. warships are positioned to support the blockade. According to maritime analysis firms, at least two oil tankers turned back after the blockade order took effect. The door for negotiations between the U.S. and Iran remains open as both sides engage in bargaining, with mediators Pakistan, Egypt, and Turk
Top-tier banks have reversed their positions to go long on gold, with a year-end price target of up to $6,000 per ounce!
A top Swiss private bank believes that, as the reshuffling of long positions completes, the long-term bullish drivers such as central bank gold purchases and fiscal deficits remain solid. The current volatility and pullback present an excellent opportunity for phased accumulation of gold positions.
Gold and U.S. Treasury bonds plummeted simultaneously! Amid fears over the situation in the Middle East, markets once again witnessed a phenomenon where 'safe-haven assets no longer serve as safe havens.'
Following the unsuccessful US-Iran peace talks over the weekend, combined with the heightened global energy supply shock due to the US plan to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, concerns about inflation rapidly escalated. Shortly after the market opened on Monday, both gold and US Treasury bonds declined, presenting another unusual scenario in a panic-stricken environment where 'safe-haven assets fail to serve as safe havens.'
Bashir stated that US-Iran talks will be held on the 11th. Trump is prepared to impose stronger measures if no agreement is reached, stating that the outcome of the talks will become clear within 24 hours. Iran proposed a ceasefire in Lebanon and outlined
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 11th that an Iranian delegation had arrived in Islamabad. Trump stated that Iran has no leverage, and U.S. warships have been loaded with the most advanced weaponry; if negotiations fail, they will be effectively deployed. Following Trump’s threat to escalate military strikes on Iran should peace talks fail, the S&P turned negative. U.S. media reported that the U.S. military continues to deploy additional troops to the Middle East, with up to 2,000 soldiers from an elite Army unit expected to arrive in the coming days. Vance anticipates positive progress in the negotiations, stating that the U.S. side is 'highly optimistic' about the talks while warning Iran not to 'play games.' The Iranian parliamentary speaker emphasized that two preconditions must be met before negotiations: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the unfreezing of Iran's frozen assets. The Iranian military stated that it remains on high alert, ready to respond forcefully to continued attacks o
The 'post-war trading boom' is here! Wall Street hails the golden age of commodities, while emphasizing semiconductors, consumer goods, and Chinese technology.
The steepening of the long-term government bond yield curve, consumer sectors, semiconductor sectors, and Chinese technology stocks, coupled with a broader backdrop assessment — namely, that global equity markets are unlikely to enter a deep bear market due to policy support — constitute, in Bank of America's view, the core trading themes second only to commodities within the framework of 'post-war trading trends.'
Iran stated that the ceasefire and other truce terms in Lebanon have been violated, undermining the 'negotiation foundation.' Trump claimed that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, and Vance noted that there was never a commitment to include it.
According to the Speaker of Iran's Parliament, the ten-point plan violated by the other side also involves the right to uranium enrichment and drone incursions into airspace. Reports indicate that Iran has informed mediators that it will only engage in talks with the U.S. if a ceasefire is achieved in Lebanon; should Israel continue its attacks on Lebanon, Iran is considering withdrawing from the ceasefire. Iran is preparing to launch a "deterrence operation" targeting Israeli military positions. Vance will lead a delegation to negotiate with Iran, stating that Iran has misunderstood, believing that the ceasefire agreement includes Lebanon—a commitment the U.S. never made. The Iranian military has stated that Israel must immediately cease its attacks on Lebanon, or it will face a "heavy counterattack." The U.S. and Israel are reportedly “submitting” to Iran’s ceasefire conditions while preparing for a fiercer, longer, and broader war. Trump is said to not oppose Israel’s confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebano