MADURO’S REGIME CRUMBLES: Captured by Trump-Led Operation While Tankers Run from Total U.S. Blockade

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

US President Donald Trump declared that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had been apprehended and flown out of the country following a massive attack on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. A Republican senator was informed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Maduro will go on trial in the US and that he expects no more action.

The government does not know where Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores are, according to Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who added that the US attack has killed officials, military personnel, and civilians nationwide.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez previously stated that the Venezuelan government is unaware of Maduro’s or First Lady Cilia Flores’ whereabouts and demanded proof of life from the United States. According to her, the attack has claimed the lives of civilians, military personnel, and officials nationwide.

The defense minister of Venezuela vowed to oppose what he described as an “invasion” and “the greatest outrage the country has suffered” after the US launched missiles and rockets at Venezuelan cities.

More oil tankers are turning away from Venezuela as the US threatens to seize ships carrying oil that supports President Nicolas Maduro’s regime.

According to ship movements monitored by Bloomberg on Friday, at least seven ships have changed their course or stopped at sea. In the immediate aftermath of US forces boarding the ship Skipper in mid-December, four more people turned away.

Venezuelan oil earnings are allegedly used to finance terrorism and drug trafficking, according to US President Donald Trump. US forces have attacked suspected drug trafficking boats as part of Trump’s pressure campaign, killing over 100 people and seizing two oil tankers. The Skipper and Centuries, two of the confiscated ships, are presently sitting off the coast of Texas.

UBS Boosts Platinum Forecast $300 on Surging Demand, Palladium Up $100 Amid Tight Supply

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

UBS revised its price projections for palladium and platinum following a significant increase in both metals. Platinum prices have risen by almost $500 per ounce over the last four weeks, reaching a 17-year high, in part due to investor excitement over the European Commission’s proposal to relax its 2035 ban on combustion engine vehicles.

According to UBS strategists Giovanni Staunovo and Wayne Gordon, the action, along with slower-than-anticipated adoption of electric vehicles, has raised expectations that demand for platinum in autocatalysts may be sustained for longer.

Citing “higher investment demand and a tighter market,” they increased their platinum projections by $300 per ounce.

The team adopted a more circumspect stance regarding the longevity of platinum’s superior performance. They noted that demand for gasoline vehicle catalysts is more likely to cause palladium as platinum becomes more costly. “We will probably see the car if platinum continues to be significantly more expensive than palladium.”

Palladium has also increased significantly, hitting levels not seen in nearly three years.UBS raised its palladium price projections by $100 per ounce. According to Staunovo and Gordon, supply-side frictions and investment demand have tightened the palladium market more than anticipated. They cited remarks from Russian manufacturer Nornickel stated high lease rates have forced some glass and chemical companies to switch from leasing to direct purchases, further restricting availability. The bank cautioned that short-term volatility could be caused by policy uncertainty.

The results of the US Critical Minerals Section 232 investigation and a related antidumping petition are being closely monitored by investors. UBS noted that platinum and palladium bars shipped to the US may be re-exported to Europe if tariffs are not in place. Such flows could ease supply pressures in key hubs like London and Zurich.

China’s Silver Squeeze Sparks Mayhem Fuels Bubble

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Silver sank after breaking above $80 per ounce for the first time amid a historic rally driven by speculative trading and a persistent mismatch between supply and demand.

Increased central bank purchases, inflows into exchange-traded funds, and three consecutive rate cuts by the Federal Reserve have made precious metals hot in recent months.

The value of China’s only pure-play silver fund dropped by its daily maximum of 10%, ending a wild bull run that led the fund’s manager to issue rare warnings. The sudden decline in the UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund LOF follows weeks of gains driven by increasing global interest in precious metals, which the manager called “unsustainable.” Spot silver is on track for its best annual performance since 1979 after reaching a record high of $72.70 per ounce on Wednesday.

UBS SDIC Fund Management Co. announced new restrictions after three consecutive days this week of exceeding the 10% upward limit. Starting in December, there will be a cap on new Class C share subscriptions, typically the best option for short-term investors, decreasing from 500 yuan to 26-100 yuan ($14.25), according to a statement on the fund manager’s website. Strong investor interest in precious metals has focused on silver, with a historic short squeeze in October fueling the notable global spot price rally.

Palladium, gold, and platinum have all surged, and other Chinese funds linked to these metals have also seen significant gains, as investors caution. This year, the silver fund has surged by nearly 220%, while Shanghai-traded silver futures have risen about 128%. The premium over the underlying asset jumped from 7% at the start of the month to nearly 62% by Wednesday. As the fund’s value declined and futures rose, this premium is expected to decrease on Thursday.

Commodities that do not pay interest benefit significantly from lower borrowing costs, with traders betting on additional rate reductions in 2026. Physical premiums have hit extreme levels due to relentless industrial demand from solar panels, EVs, AI data centers, and electronics, pushing against dwindling inventories. Elon Musk’s weekend remarks highlighting the growing investor frenzy around precious metals triggered Monday’s early momentum.

“This is not good,” Musk said on X in response to a tweet about Chinese export restrictions.

Many industrial processes rely on silver. The US’s blockade of oil tankers in Venezuela and Washington’s actions against the Islamic State in Nigeria over the past week have increased the appeal of these metals as safe havens. Silver inventories are at their lowest point ever, raising the risk of supply shortages that could impact several industries.

President Trump: Maduro Captured in U.S. Strikes as Venezuela-Bound Oil Tankers Flee Blockade

Posted on January 3, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

More oil tankers are turning away from Venezuela as the US threatens to seize ships carrying oil that supports President Nicolas Maduro’s regime.

China’s Silver Export Controls Threaten the AI and Solar Boom

Posted on January 3, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

China’s new export-licensing system went into effect on January 1st, placing government gatekeepers between the country and the rest of the world for 121 million ounces of silver exports annually.

This implies that 60–70% of the refined supply traded internationally will require Beijing’s approval to exit the country. The increase in margin on silver dealers caused Wall Street to panic. The typical suspects warning about “speculative excess” were trotted out by CNBC. Six months ago, there were a lot of people on the X platform who couldn’t even spell backwardation when they suddenly explained why silver was overpriced.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, responded to a post about the impending restrictions on his social media platform X by criticizing the action.

However, the regulations are not brand-new. The new steps to improve oversight of rare metals were first announced by China’s Commerce Ministry in October, the same day that Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump met in South Korea. At the time, the US lowered tariffs while Beijing consented to a one-year suspension of some rare earth export restrictions.

A list of 44 businesses authorized to export silver under the new regulations in 2026 and 2027 was made by China earlier this month.

The new regulations in 2026 also limit exports of tungsten and antimony, two materials heavily utilized in advanced technologies and defense, which are currently dominated by China’s supply chain. The state-run Securities Times on Tuesday quoted an unidentified industry insider who stated that the new policy formally elevates the metal, even though China hasn’t declared a complete ban on silver exports.

The US added silver to its nationally recognized list of essential minerals, citing its application in solar cells, batteries, electrical circuits, and antimicrobial medical devices.

According to a different US analysis, China had one of the biggest silver reserves and was one of the world’s top producers in 2024. According to Wind Information, which cited official data, China exported over 4,600 tons of silver in the first 11 months of the year, far more than the approximately 220 tons that were imported during that time.

Gold Falls to $4320 as Cycles Point to Normal Reset – Not a Breakdown

Posted on January 3, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

The bullion asset is currently experiencing a brief corrective phase within a broader, structurally bullish framework.

The sudden sell-off from the resistance zone between 4400 and 4420 suggests a cycle-driven response rather than a breakdown of the long-term trend. According to the VC PMI, the price has quickly returned to its daily average and Buy-1 zone after an overextended bullish impulse. This is a typical reversion pattern that occurs after a momentum climax.

The precious metal maintained a support level close to the 20-day average. An attempt at a one-day bullish reversal on Friday reached a high of $4,402 before encountering significant resistance close to the 10-day average. Sellers became more aggressive in the vicinity of the 10-day line for the second time in three days. As resistance, it shows persistent selling pressure and validation of a previous support line.

The previous test of the 50-day resistance was a potentially bearish inverted hammer. Strong support around the 20-day line, at least thus far, counteracts short-term bearish behavior.

The 15-minute structure shows rejection near a sq.-of-9 harmonic resistance that coincides with a cycle crest window and aligns with the 4400 level. When weak hands exit and leverage resets, this time/price convergence often results in rapid liquidation. The price immediately enters a mean-reversion demand zone when it drops into the 4342–4350 range, where the outlook shifts from momentum continuation to stabilization.

This view is supported by cycle analysis. Within a larger weekly expansion phase, there is a minor 3–5 day corrective cycle that matches the current downswing. Importantly, there has not yet been a significant intermediate or quarterly cycle low, indicating that this move is corrective rather than impulsively bearish. The main trend remains intact as long as the price respects the Buy-1 support and the VC PMI daily mean. From the most recent breakout point, the pullback retreats into a 90-degree rotational support level, a typical area where markets pause, consolidate, or reverse. Currently, the price is acting exactly as expected for a first corrective move, but failure to hold this rotational level could lead to a deeper cycle shift toward the next harmonic support.

Copper Posts Fresh Rise to Begin 2026 Following Historic Annual Jump Not Seen Since 2009

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Copper rose on the first trading day of 2026, after capping the biggest annual gain since 2009 on prospects for a tighter market.

The red metal resumed its advance on Friday after losing 1.1% in the previous session.

Copper on the London Metal Exchange rallied 42% in 2025, underpinned by mine disruptions and concerns around tariffs, which have led traders to ramp up shipments to the US, creating tightness elsewhere.
Copper notched a series of all-time highs during an end-of-year surge, making it the best performer of the six industrial metals on the LME. Beyond the tariff-driven flows, mines in Indonesia to Chile, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo suffered accidents in 2025, crimping output. The red metal was 0.8% higher at $12,522.50 a ton at 10:45 a.m. Singapore time, after hitting a record of $12,960 on Monday.

Nickel climbed 0.8% to $16,780.00, while aluminum was little changed at $2,995.00. Iron ore futures in Singapore rose 0.2% to $105.60 a ton. Chinese markets are closed for a public holiday. This year, supply chain issues have dominated the metals industry, with accidents occurring in copper mines across Chile, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Zinc mines have also been disrupted, and increased energy costs and supply constraints in China pose a threat to aluminum production. The threat of US import tariffs remains the primary motivator for copper. The Mercuria Energy Group, Ltd. predicted in November that the rest of the world would experience a severe metal shortage in 2026.

According to Natalie Scott-Gray, senior metals analyst at StoneX Financial Ltd., copper is expected “to be led by sentiment from investors over US copper-specific tariffs, with focus on regional levels of global stocks and material entering the US, rather than underlying global fundamentals” in the upcoming months.

Tesla Faces Second Straight Sales Drop Amid Musk’s Bold Robotaxi Bet

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Tesla finished the previous year on a high note. It was another matter entirely to win over actual car buyers as investors began to believe Elon Musk’s optimism about self-driving cars. Shares of the most valuable automobile company surged in the second half because the CEO promoted robotics and artificial intelligence

Tesla stock has fallen sharply as Musk and Trump continue fighting. — The company sold fewer cars in the last six months than a year ago, despite record deliveries in the third quarter, despite the progress Musk boasted about.

According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Tesla is projected to report on Friday that it delivered about 440,900 vehicles in the fourth quarter, a decrease of 11% from the same period last year. This week, Tesla made the unusual move of releasing its own average of analyst estimates, which was even more negative and predicted a 15% drop.

Wall Street’s outlook for 2026 has also become increasingly pessimistic. Wall Street’s outlook for 2026 has also become increasingly pessimistic. Analysts predicted that Tesla would deliver more than 3 million cars at this time two years ago. This year’s average delivery estimate has dropped to about 1.8 million.

Itts most popular vehicle, the carmaker’s vehicle sales got off to a terrible start in part due to the company retooling production lines at each of its auto plants for the redesigned Model Y,

The strong criticism of its CEO’s work for US President Donald Trump was another significant contributing factor. Tesla’s stock had fallen 45% by early April, when Musk was openly at odds with administration officials over tariff policy. Musk accelerated the recovery by leaving the government and going back to work on a long-term project: launching a ride-hailing company using vehicles that he claims will eventually be autonomous.

Tesla introduced an invite-only Robotaxi service in Austin in June, and safety operators supervise each vehicle. Tesla introduced an invite-only Robotaxi service in Austin in June. Safety operators are on board to oversee each Model Y that is transporting Musk enthusiasts throughout the Texas capital. Investors have dismissed the safety concerns even though the vehicles broke traffic laws on the first day, attracting the attention of a federal regulator that has launched numerous investigations into the company’s driving systems.

Tesla proposed a new compensation package for Musk that could pay out up to $1 trillion, contingent on reaching milestones like delivering millions of robotaxis. Tesla shares were trading higher for the year shortly after the comeback was complete. In just over eight months, the company’s market capitalization had increased by more than $915 billion when the stock closed at a new all-time high on December 16.

Trump Media Partners with Crypto.com to Reward Shareholders with New Digital Tokens

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

The Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. intends to distribute a new cryptocurrency to its shareholders. According to a statement released on Wednesday, the company that runs President Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform will distribute the new token to investors in collaboration with cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com. It is expected to run on the Cronos blockchain, a network that Crypto.com supports.

The coin is the latest in a series of cryptocurrencies linked to Trump. The WLFI token and the USD1 stablecoin are run by World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance initiative backed by the Trump family.

Earlier this year, the president also introduced his own TRUMP memecoin, in addition to one that his wife, Melania, was promoting. MELANIA has dropped 99 percent since its all-time high on January 20, while TRUMP has dropped 93 percent since reaching a peak on January 19. According to Trump Media, each shareholder will receive one token per share.

According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Trump owns a 41 percent stake in the company, making him its largest shareholder. New laws to regulate some aspects of the industry were passed in the summer after he returned to the White House in January, creating a more favorable regulatory environment for cryptocurrency companies. Regulators have halted or abandoned several enforcement cases against cryptocurrency companies.

“To implement this first-of-its-kind token distribution, reward Trump Media shareholders, and promote fair and transparent markets, we look forward to utilizing Crypto.com’s blockchain technology and improving regulatory clarity,” stated Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump Media.

UBS Sees Stronger Platinum Demand Lifting Prices $300; Palladium Up $100 on Tight Supply

Posted on January 2, 2026 by Olumide Adesina

Citing “higher investment demand and a tighter market,” they increased their platinum projections by $300 per ounce.