Russia Says Finland’s Lift of Its Ban on Nuclear Weapons Requires a Response

Continuing Jobless Claims Tumble To 2-Year Lows The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits for the first time rose from 203k to 219k last week (higher than the expected 210k), but still hovering within the low-low range of the last four years... Source: Bloomberg New Jersey and Oregon saw the largest WoW rise in initial claims while Texas and New York saw the biggest decline... But, while initial claims rose, continuing jobless claims tumbled to the lowest level since May 2024... Source: Bloomberg Soft survey data continues to signal a stressed labor market, while...

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Mount Hermon, inside what was once the UNDOF-controlled “demilitarized zone” in southwest Syria, but which is presently presented as a “buffer zone” entirely under Israeli military occupation. That occupation, according to Katz, will be open-ended. Israel invaded and occupied the demilitarized zone in December of 2024, immediately following the […]

Iran escalation, fragile debt markets, and gold flashing warning signs. Mark Thornton explains why this bubble won’t end gently.