Forex & Crypto

Venezuela has announced its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move follows longstanding tensions, including comments from Senator Rubio, who previously characterized the ICC as a "stupid organization," highlighting the political discourse surrounding the country's stance on international judicial oversight.

SpaceX has successfully completed the 13th test launch of its Starship spacecraft, a vehicle engineered for future lunar and Martian exploration missions.

The progression of a proposed U.S. sanctions package targeting Russia has encountered legislative gridlock, according to The New York Times. Central to the impasse are disagreements between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration regarding Section 113 of the bill. This provision would vest the President with authority to impose tariffs up to 100% on imports from nations purchasing Russian oil, gas, and uranium. Democrats raise concerns that such sweeping tariff powers could consolidate executive authority excessively, leading to resistance against the bill’s passage.

South Korea's leading technology corporations, SK Hynix and Samsung, have established strategic partnerships with prominent American technology firms, collectively valued at approximately $950 billion, as reported by Reuters.

American technology firms are actively lobbying the Trump administration to oppose a potential ban on Chinese artificial intelligence models, reports The Telegraph.

Chevron, a U.S.-based energy corporation, has expressed concerns to the Trump administration regarding recent attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) by Ukraine in the Black Sea region. In response, the United States issued a warning to Ukraine, cautioning against targeting vessels in the Black Sea that are not affiliated with Russia, according to reports by the Wall Street Journal.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged China and Russia to enhance their collaboration in response to the evolving complexities of the global landscape.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated a strategic delay in pursuing negotiations with Iran, citing the proximity of the upcoming U.S. elections as a primary factor. Concurrently, reports from Bloomberg suggest that the Trump administration is actively seeking supplementary funding to bolster military initiatives targeting Iran.

Positive Technologies is scheduled to publish its financial results for the first half of 2026 on July 27. The company had previously established a shipment target of 8.5 billion rubles for the same period.

The Central Bank of Russia has maintained its key interest rate at 14%, aligning with market expectations. Analysis indicates that the notable increases in prices and inflation expectations observed during the summer were predominantly driven by transient factors. Persistent inflation is projected to stabilize within a range of 4-5% annually. In June, credit growth experienced a slight deceleration, accompanied by a reduction in corporate future demand and output expectations. The Bank of Russia anticipates inflation to be between 6-7% in 2026. For further details, refer to the official release.

The Central Bank of Russia has announced that it will hold the interest rate steady at 14.25 percent, with a nominal reduction of 0.25 percent widely deemed symbolic. Market analysts remain divided on the implications of this decision, as evidenced by recent survey data. Concurrently, inflationary pressures have intensified, driven primarily by increasing fuel prices.

Volkswagen revises its revenue growth forecast downward for the current fiscal year, citing strategic restructuring initiatives in response to escalating tariffs and intensified competition from Chinese automotive manufacturers. The company's net profit for the second quarter experienced a decline of approximately 33%, reflecting increased market pressures and operational adjustments.

The IMOEX index has stabilized within its established range, indicating a potential period of market equilibrium for the Russian equity sector.

Russian agricultural conglomerate Rusagro announced a 27% year-over-year increase in total revenue for Q2, amounting to 107 billion rubles.

NOVATEK Reports Slightly Above-Expected First-Half Net Profit In the first half of the fiscal year, NOVATEK recorded a net profit of 218.7 billion rubles under IFRS, marginally exceeding market expectations set at 217 billion rubles. The company's normalized profit was 216.5 billion rubles, representing a decline from 237 billion rubles in the prior year. Revenue for the period rose by 3.9%, reaching 836.336 billion rubles, indicating steady top-line growth amid a backdrop of profit compression.

Russia's Sberbank Announces Plans to Establish Digital Cryptocurrency Depository by December 1, 2026

Recent developments in the U.S. technology sector reveal substantial sell-offs in the Nasdaq 100 ETF QQQ. Technical analysts highlight the persistence of the "bearish diamond" pattern, suggesting continued downward momentum.

Russian foreign exchange dealers are set to begin offering clients contracts for difference (CFDs) on cryptocurrencies, according to a report published by Коммерсантъ.

The Moscow Exchange (MOEX) has announced that the recent European Union sanctions will not have any material impact on its trading operations.

The U.S. Senate is expected to consider implementing stringent sanctions against Russia as early as next week, according to reports by Axios. Concurrently, a delegation of American lawmakers has announced plans to visit Russia later this year, either in the fall or winter, as stated by Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna.