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04-09-26 spal
The controlling Hansson family is putting their money where their rhetoric is.
March 2026 Buying: On March 3, 2026, Herbjørn Hansson and his family notably increased their stake in NAT. This follows their "Full Speed Ahead" report from late February.
The Narrative: Hansson has publicly stated that the "tumultuous" 2026 market is the best earnings environment he has seen in his career. With operating costs fixed around $9,000/day and spot rates averaging $55,000–$75,000/day across the fleet, the cash-flow generation is massive. |
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04-09-26 spal
NAT’s fleet of 20 Suezmaxes can bypass the Cape entirely, offering a 26-day transit time versus the 36-day "Cape detour" required by larger ships.
The Result: NAT is currently fixing voyages at rates that were unthinkable 12 months ago. Their March 23, 2026 update confirmed a record $175,000/day TCE for a US Gulf to Far East voyage—a direct result of the "Hormuz-Free" premium. |
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04-09-26 spal
As of April 2026, Nordic American Tankers (NAT) is in a "historic" earnings cycle. Its fleet of 20 Suezmaxes represents the "Goldilocks" solution for an energy map where the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. Unlike VLCCs, which must take 10-day detours around the Cape, NAT’s tankers transit the Suez Canal fully laden, capturing a massive "Hormuz-Free" premium.
The financials are staggering: NAT recently secured fixtures as high as $175,000/day against operating costs of only $9,000/day. With roughly 70% spot exposure, the company is a pure cash-flow engine. The Hansson family validated this "Suezmax Renaissance" by purchasing 400,000 shares in March 2026, lifting their stake to 5.2%.
With the 172-million-barrel U.S. SPR release fueling demand, NAT’s $0.17 Q1 dividend is likely just the floor. Trading at a notable NAV discount, NAT is the primary logistical bypass for a world rerouting its crude.
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04-09-26 spal
Large position - already revalued.
As of April 2026, TORM plc (TRMD) has transitioned into an "extraordinary" growth phase. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced a violent re-balancing toward the Atlantic Basin, spiking MR (this is the clean product index) triangulation rates to $75,400/day. This demand is further catalyzed by the IEA’s 400-million-barrel emergency release and U.S. SPR drawdowns, necessitating massive product movement.
TRMD is the premier "beta" play for this cycle, carrying 77% spot exposure for 2026. This allows immediate capture of record rates while asset values hit post-2008 highs, significantly boosting NAV. Strategically, TRMD’s fleet avoids the risks of the Middle East, operating in the Atlantic/U.S. Gulf triangle to sidestep exorbitant war-risk insurance while benefiting from global supply deficits. With every $1,000/day rate increase adding ~$26M to EBITDA, analysts project a $36.00 target—representing 22% immediate upside alongside a historic dividend payout. The "lull" is over; historic earnings are imminent. |
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04-08-26 carib
| Panas: thanks, not too bad, just twice more expensive. |
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04-08-26 panasonic
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04-08-26 savo
| carib...we read that they repo most of that |
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04-08-26 carib
The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey sold 52 tonnes of gold between Feb 27 and March 27, according to analysis by consultancy Metals Focus based on official data, bringing Turkey’s net central bank holdings to 440 tonnes, their lowest level in more than two years.
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04-08-26 carib
Panas: how much does a cook cost, per annum, in MIA?
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04-08-26 panasonic
Carib, a cook works for me better btw.
Miami used to be a terrible place to eat, still if you want bad and cheap still available.
I like to eat in family, cook works great, going out is expensive but options much better than 20 years ago.
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04-08-26 carib
Iran has indicated it will continue to demand shipping companies pay tolls to send oil tankers through the strait, with Trump himself on Wednesday saying the US was “thinking” of setting up a “joint venture” with Tehran to charge tolls.
Bullies of the world.. unite! ? |
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04-08-26 carib
PS: besides, in the last 30 years of my life, I had a cook.
Not easy to have one in the USA. |
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04-08-26 carib
| Panas: I am not sure, but eating well is a priority for any Italian. |
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04-08-26 spal
This would be an enormous strategic miscalculation.
===
I mean wow ... Dubai is in big throuble. |
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04-08-26 spal
(if UAE did it):
This would be an enormous strategic miscalculation. The UAE shifts from protected U.S. partner to primary combatant, potentially forfeiting full IAMD cover (Aegis/THAAD support could be curtailed).
Dubai’s “glass city” exposure is acute: debris rain from interceptions already reported at Habshan, telecom sites, and high-rises. A sustained Iranian campaign risks Jebel Ali power/desalination collapse, rendering the emirate unlivable for millions within days.
Capital flight (already underway to Singapore/London) would accelerate permanently. The “Dubai Hub” model collapses in a two-way kinetic war.
The Islamabad ceasefire is dead. Oil briefly dipped on the truce but is now re-volatile (Brent ~$95 range post-announcement, not $113). Hormuz remains closed.
Expect rapid escalation unless Washington forces de-escalation. Situation fluid—watch for satellite imagery or EDGE Group munition forensics in the next 12-24 hours.
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04-08-26 pillz
| Iran is preparing a “heavy” response to Israel’s attack on Lebanon, Iran’s Mehr news agency reports, citing an IRGC aerospace commander. |
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04-08-26 spal
| If it was the UAE I would not want to be in Dubai. |
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04-08-26 spal
Correction here is the theory:
Why UAE makes sense (OSINT view):
UAE has advanced French Mirage 2000-9s capable of long-range strikes into the Gulf, longstanding tensions with Iran, and close U.S./Israeli ties that could provide tacit support or airspace. This fits a pattern of Gulf states quietly pushing back against Iranian proxy activity post-ceasefire.
Less likely alternatives (currently unsupported): Israel/US (denied + U.S. clarification), false-flag by Iran (damage is real and self-harming), or non-state actors (too sophisticated for the reported delivery).
Bottom line: Tehran has fingered the UAE as the culprit, and the retaliation pattern confirms it.
The ceasefire is effectively dead; we are now watching an Iran–UAE direct clash unfold in real time.
Situation remains fluid—more satellite/imagery confirmation expected soon.
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04-08-26 panasonic
"But eating in Italy, Spain or Portugal, price/quality wise, beats the USA by miles"
Carib, what percentage of your budget goes to "eating"? |
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04-08-26 spal
| Fingers point to Israel (Lavan attack) |
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04-08-26 spal
What happened: On April 8, 2026, barely eight hours after a US-brokered two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran took effect, multiple explosions struck Iran’s Lavan Island oil refinery (capacity ~55,000 b/d) and the nearby Sirri Island oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf around 06:30 GMT (10:30 local).
Iranian state media and the National Iranian Oil Refining Company described the blasts as a deliberate “enemy attack,” reporting fires, significant structural damage, and black smoke at Lavan; Sirri also saw unexplained explosions. No casualties were reported. No group claimed responsibility; the IDF explicitly denied involvement, and the US declined comment.
Within ~60 minutes, Iran retaliated with a coordinated barrage: 17 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs toward the UAE (targeting Fujairah oil facilities) and 28 drones against Kuwaiti oil, power, and desalination infrastructure. UAE air defenses intercepted most incoming threats, though debris sparked fires and minor injuries. Kuwait confirmed “serious material damage” to critical power and water nodes.
Implications: The “Lavan-Sirri” strike has blown a hole in the ceasefire before planned Islamabad talks, exposing its fragility. Tehran views the incident as a violation and has signaled it may scrap negotiations. Oil markets face immediate volatility; Gulf shipping and desalination plants are newly vulnerable. With no clear perpetrator, mutual accusations risk rapid escalation into a wider US–Iran–Gulf confrontation, threatening energy security across the region. The truce, already strained by prior strikes, now hangs by a thread.
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04-08-26 carib
| The IDF said Wednesday afternoon that it carried out what it called its "largest coordinated wave of strikes across Lebanon" since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion, targeting over 100 Hezbollah command centers and military sites across Beirut, amid conflicting reports over the scope of the ceasefire with Iran. |
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04-08-26 spal
| Cease fire is not holding. |
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04-08-26 carib
To my uninformed self.. it looks like it is not over.
My impression is Bibi was kept out of the loop..
and the loop was very loopsided by itself.
It is close to an impossible job to engage into a serious war.. with no political stomach for any casualties or market downside. |
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04-08-26 carib
Panas: colores live from capital income, not from wages.
Capital can be deployed globally as appropriate.
Income can be spent where price/quality ratio is more convenient.
For example: working in Italy, Spain or Portugal for a salary is masochism, because salaries are low and taxes high.
But eating in Italy, Spain or Portugal, price/quality wise, beats the USA by miles. |
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04-08-26 panasonic
| Spal, hopefully! me pessimistic at this point, everyone focused in removing DT and ignoring the big picture :-( |
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04-08-26 spal
| Resource nationalism is bound to be a big theme over the next few years. |
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04-08-26 spal
| Market does not think it is over. |
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04-08-26 pillz
Iran has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, blocking oil tankers from transiting the waterway, in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Hezbollah, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-tied outlet Fars News reported on Wednesday.
Oil tankers attempting to transit the strait received threatening messages from the Iranian Navy, according to several shipping sources.
"Any vessel trying to travel into the sea ... will be targeted and destroyed..." the message, which was received by several vessels, said. |
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04-08-26 spal
| Lots of short covering on mainline stocks and tech specs ... now fading ... shock down draft on oilers ... now reversing. |
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04-08-26 spal
Carib ... more of a ...
"Double, double toil and trouble; / Fire burn and cauldron bubble."
If you ask me. |
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04-08-26 panasonic
I prefer cheap coffee and croissant, but my kids income ratio vs EU compensates and more.
The difference now is that I can find good croissants, in the past was a piece of cheap bread dressed like one. |
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04-08-26 carib
impressions of a frequent tourist:
gasoline in the USA is still "cheap" at 5$ a gallon (Europeans survived with gas at double that price for decades).. but a bad quality croissant sets the consumer back 4 $.. whilst the actual cost is 40 cents.
price/quality ratio is very bad, IMHO. |
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04-08-26 carib
| looks like.. a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.. |
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04-08-26 spal
| Spaldo ... sent you a new email address. The yahoo address is defunct. |
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04-08-26 panasonic
Amateur, agree.
Taiwan may fall in Chinese naturally with no use of force, just from supply control. |
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04-08-26 leopardo
Methink this is shortcovering.
The Pasdaran will continue firing missiles and drones so no end in sight. |
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04-08-26 spaldo
| SPAL, please check yahoo. |
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04-08-26 victor
| A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just “hangin’ around” in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP |
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04-08-26 victor
!!!
There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history
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Israel wasn't at the table: Lapid slams Netanyahu over US-Iran deal
The leader of the Opposition in Israeli Parliament, Yair Lapid on Wednesday questioned Israeli PM Benjamim Netanyahu's position after the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, saying that Israel was not even on the table when this was decided. Lapid said that the Israeli military carried out everything that was asked of it, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed immensely.
In a post on X, he said, "There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history. Israel wasn't even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security. The military carried out everything that was asked of it, the public demonstrated amazing resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn't meet a single one of the goals that he himself set. It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu wrought due to arrogance, negligence, and a lack of strategic planning." לא היה אסון מדיני כזה בכל תולדותינו. ישראל לא היתה אפילו ליד השולחן כשנעשו החלטות הנוגעות לליבת הבטחון הלאומי שלנו. הצבא ביצע את כל מה שביקשו ממנו, הציבור הציג חוסן מדהים, אבל נתניהו נכשל מדינית, נכשל איסטרטגית, לא עמד באף אחת מהמטרות שהוא בעצמו הציב. ייקח לנו שנים לתקן את… — יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) April 8, 2026
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04-08-26 victor
ruspan, very nice, congrats.
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En el frente, los soldados rusos pagan a los oficiales para sobrevivir
La guerra ha originado en el ejército ruso una economía corrupta basada en la extorsión
The Economist
08/04/2026
El recién construido piso de un dormitorio está decorado con gusto, con suelos de parquet, un acuario, una cabina de ducha y una cocina completa. La desventaja es la ubicación: bajo tierra, en las trincheras cerca de Baihavka, un pueblo en la región ocupada de Luhansk. El piso es la vivienda del comandante de la unidad local del ejército ruso. Maxim, un desertor que ayudó a construirlo, cuenta que el comandante no gastó ni un kopek (céntimo). No solo la mano de obra fue gratuita, sino que los soldados pagaron los materiales, los electrodomésticos y la pintura.
Los soldados rusos también deben comprar alcohol a los oficiales. “Tienen cuatro fiestas de empresa a la semana”, cuenta Serguéi, que se las apañó para sobornar y conseguir un puesto en la retaguardia como cocinero. Trabaja de cinco de la mañana a once de la noche, y paga más de la mitad de su salario a un comandante por ese privilegio.
Las entrevistas con una docena de soldados contratados en lugares como la región de Bélgorod, Luhansk y Donetsk revelan un sistema de extorsión y castigos. Los oficiales ven a sus soldados no solo como simples tropas, sino también como una fuente de enriquecimiento. La corrupción y el trabajo forzado han sido durante mucho tiempo características tanto del ejército ruso como del soviético: los oficiales profesionales controlan los medios de destrucción, mientras que los reclutas sirven como carne de cañón en la guerra o como mano de obra gratuita en tiempos de paz.
La campaña de reclutamiento de Rusia para su guerra en Ucrania ha inyectado sangre y dinero en el sistema, dando lugar a una vasta economía de guerra. Los soldados describen el frente como un mercado en el que todo tiene un precio: los drones, las medallas, los permisos para regresar a casa e incluso la propia vida. Para respaldar sus afirmaciones, muestran capturas de pantalla de transferencias bancarias, quejas a los fiscales militares, demandas de dinero y órdenes de participar en asaltos.
Maxim, un joven de 26 años de la ciudad de Krasnodar, firmó su contrato en agosto de 2024 en Moscú, donde las primas eran más altas. Expone varios motivos: la propaganda del gobierno, la muerte de su padrastro en la guerra. “Algo se me rompió en la cabeza”, asegura. “Ni siquiera sabía que el contrato era indefinido”. Probablemente influyó el hecho de que había sido detenido con anfetaminas en el bolsillo y le ofrecieron alistarse para evitar una condena. Recibió una bonificación de 2,5 millones de rublos (unos 30.000 dólares) y lo enviaron sin formación a la región de Luhansk, donde cobraba 200.000 rublos al mes hasta que desertó en enero de 2026. De los 8 millones de rublos que recibió en total, asegura que 6 millones se le fueron en equipo y sobornos.
El ejército ruso proporciona equipamiento a las unidades de élite aerotransportadas y de fuerzas especiales, pero la infantería debe comprar el suyo propio. Desde 2023, Wildberries y Ozon, los principales comercios online rusos, están disponibles en las regiones ocupadas de Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporiyia y Jersón. “Si no quieres gastarte dinero en unas buenas botas y un chaleco antibalas decente, vas al asalto con zapatillas deportivas”, afirma Maxim.
Las colectas empiezan con el pretexto de recaudar dinero para drones, material o comida, cuenta Anton, un soldado de asalto. Pero si pagas una vez, “estarás pagando siempre para que no te manden a la picadora”. El muro de drones de Ucrania ha creado una zona letal de al menos 20 kilómetros de profundidad, lo que convierte los asaltos masivos en suicidas. También ha dado lugar a una economía de vida o muerte.
Maxim cuenta que su comandante recibió a los nuevos reclutas diciéndoles que había enterrado a 12 compañías y que ellos serían la número 13. “Dijo que éramos carne de cañón y que solo el 5% de los soldados sobrevive a los asaltos”. Al día siguiente, explicó que la supervivencia no era cuestión de suerte, sino de poder pagar. Maxim y Serguéi, otro soldado, pagaron cada uno un millón de rublos para ser trasladados a la retaguardia, además de otros 100.000-150.000 rublos al mes.
Algunos mandos requisaron las tarjetas bancarias y los códigos PIN de los soldados antes de enviarlos al asalto. Ilya, otro desertor, cuenta que un oficial de la plana mayor las recoge para mantenerlas a buen recaudo. A los muertos se les declara desaparecidos y los mandos retiran el dinero que han ganado de sus cuentas bancarias en cajeros automáticos de Donetsk y Luhansk. Hay un lucrativo negocio con documentos médicos que certifican que los soldados no están aptos para el combate. Resultar herido tampoco sale gratis. “Pagué 100.000 por un permiso tras una herida”, explica Anton. “Para que te den la baja piden un millón”.
Los soldados que se niegan a pagar pueden ser arrojados a fosas excavadas donde son torturados. Andrey Bykov se negó a entregar los dos millones de rublos que recibió como compensación por haber resultado herido a sus superiores, que usaban los nombres en clave Kemer y Dudka. Según su madre, primero le esposaron y le pegaron durante varios días. Más tarde, lo ataron a un árbol y le dispararon. Los soldados a los que sus mandos ordenan matar a sus propios compañeros llaman a esto “borrar del mapa”.
Los soldados afirman que los refuseniks pueden ser eliminados disparándoles, atándoles a los árboles para que se congelen, negándoles atención médica tras las palizas o haciendo que los operadores de drones los maten en el campo de batalla. Verstka, un medio independiente ruso, ha confirmado la identidad de al menos 100 mandos que ordenaron o ejecutaron este tipo de asesinatos.
«¿Castigarán alguna vez a estos cabrones?», se pregunta Elena, una mujer de 39 años de la región de Altái, en el nordeste de Rusia. En febrero de 2025 enterró a su hijo, que había servido en el regimiento de Kemer. Él había pagado 100.000 rublos “para las necesidades del regimiento” y se informó de que había muerto en una misión de combate. El verano pasado, el marido de Elena, que servía en la misma unidad, desertó y grabó varios vídeos en los que denunciaba redes de extorsión. Presentó una denuncia ante la fiscalía militar asegurando que Kemer le había quitado dos millones de rublos. Pero poco antes de Año Nuevo fue localizado por la policía militar y devuelto a la unidad de Kemer. El 11 de enero, según Elena, lo ataron a un árbol y lo mataron.
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04-08-26 pillz
Trump says he believes China helped get Iran to negotiate ceasefire
President Donald Trump said he believes China helped get Iran to negotiate a ceasefire, AFP news agency reported.
“I hear yes,” Trump said in a telephone call when asked by AFP if Beijing had been involved in pushing Tehran – a key ally – to negotiate on a truce.
Asked for comment on reports Beijing had nudged Iran towards the ceasefire, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington told CNN that since the conflict began China had “been working to help bring about a ceasefire and end to the conflict.”
“China welcomes all efforts conducive to peace,” Liu Pengyu told CNN.
“We hope relevant parties will seize the opportunity for peace, bridge differences through dialogue and put an early end to the conflict.”
CNN has reached out to China’s foreign affairs ministry for comment.
Beijing previously played a key part in brokering a rapprochement between Iran and longtime rival Saudi Arabia in 2023. And Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s alternative vision for international security includes Beijing as a mediator. |
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04-08-26 pillz
| US, Israeli flags set on fire in Tehran as Iranians express skepticism over ceasefire |
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04-08-26 pillz
Prime Minister of Israel
https://x.com/IsraeliPM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2041714156114456660%7Ctwgr%5E7cdec83393655ccbfe069d327ce8b22f16b498eb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Flive-blog%2F2026-04-07%2Firan-war-latest |
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04-08-26 pillz
| Iran continued to launch strikes, targeting Israel, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. Israel said it would accept the ceasefire plan with Iran, but denied a statement from Pakistan that it would extend to Lebanon, where Israel has been striking Iran proxy Hezbollah. |
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04-08-26 pillz
| The extension of gains in Nasdaq futures to 3%, along with equity benchmarks in Korea, Taiwan and Japan trading near the day’s highs, appears to have an element of short covering. A couple of sales notes from foreign brokers highlight hedge funds pairing short positions, while long-only investors are largely staying on the sidelines. Commentary from a range of market participants we’ve spoken to points in a similar direction — a cautiously optimistic outlook rather than an outright bullish one. |
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04-08-26 pillz
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04-08-26 pillz
| qqq future +3% , small cap 2000 + 3.6% |
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04-08-26 spal
“Now pivot all at once from criticizing his decision to bomb Iran to calling him a chicken for not bombing Iran. Perfect.”
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04-08-26 amateur
Pana, Iran, same as Russia, is heavily backstopped by China, towards their aim to substitute the US as the world's hegemonic power. With great success.
The postwar alliance of western counties is seriously damaged.
US spending vast military resources and losing world respect, forced to negotiate with the Iranian clerics.
While China did not lose one soldier or one missile, saving power to humble the world on Taiwan Day.
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04-08-26 spal
Trump: "a whole civilization will die tonight"
Fartcoin: +6% |
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04-08-26 spal
Oil plummets
... to levels not seen since … last week |
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04-08-26 panasonic
| ...unlimited misiles left, built under Chinese sponsorship, meanwhile Iranians suffered 12 zeros devaluations...same playbook as used in Venezuela. |
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04-08-26 panasonic
| Misiles still flying to Israel and Gulf States, most probably there is no Gov. in Iran, bunch of crazy bearded fanatics acting on their own, China built a monster with many heads. |
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04-08-26 pillz
With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
https://x.com/cmshehbaz/status/2041665043423752651 |
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04-08-26 panasonic
"Iran claims victory, says it forced US to accept 10-point plan"
We'll see how it plays out now that all sides have assumed their real rolls. |
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