US President Trump: I think MoU with Iran is over

United States (US) President Donald Trump said during European trading hours on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran, aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, is over.

Additional comments

I don't want to deal with Iran; they are sick people.

On NATO, Trump says not happy with NATO over Greenland and Iran.

Spain is a terrible partner in NATO.

Tells Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off all trade with Spain.

I want no business with them.

Greenland is a big problem for us.

We are treated unfairly in NATO, we pay disproportionately.

US Dollar FAQs

The US Dollar (USD) is the official currency of the United States of America, and the ‘de facto’ currency of a significant number of other countries where it is found in circulation alongside local notes. It is the most heavily traded currency in the world, accounting for over 88% of all global foreign exchange turnover, or an average of $6.6 trillion in transactions per day, according to data from 2022. Following the second world war, the USD took over from the British Pound as the world’s reserve currency. For most of its history, the US Dollar was backed by Gold, until the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1971 when the Gold Standard went away.

The most important single factor impacting on the value of the US Dollar is monetary policy, which is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability (control inflation) and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these two goals is by adjusting interest rates. When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, the Fed will raise rates, which helps the USD value. When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates, which weighs on the Greenback.

In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve can also print more Dollars and enact quantitative easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system. It is a non-standard policy measure used when credit has dried up because banks will not lend to each other (out of the fear of counterparty default). It is a last resort when simply lowering interest rates is unlikely to achieve the necessary result. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice to combat the credit crunch that occurred during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy US government bonds predominantly from financial institutions. QE usually leads to a weaker US Dollar.

Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing in new purchases. It is usually positive for the US Dollar.

EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kallas condemns Iran’s attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait

European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas said during the European trading session on Wednesday that exchanges of fire between the United States (US) and Iran further complicate already fraught talks to end the war.
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Gold: Rallies face headwinds from Oil and rates – OCBC

OCBC Bank’s Sim Moh Siong and Christopher Wong explain that the precious-metals complex has come under renewed pressure following the recent spike in Oil prices. Gold is down nearly 2% and Silver more than 4% week-to-date, as geopolitics work mainly through the Oil, inflation and rates channel.
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