Lebanese Government Remains Split on Israel Deal, Hezbollah Predicts It Will Fail

Sign(s) Here, Here, And Here By Michael Every, global strategist at Rabobank After pricing in nearly 40 pronouncements of US victory since early April, markets have naturally embraced a US-Iran ‘deal’ now e-signed --with a thumbs up emoji?-- so all that’s left is a ceremony to mark the event on Friday. That and the details of what was signed, which are still lacking from the US. In their absence, we get more polymetis spin from both sides. Iran is saying they got everything they wanted, and there are signs of that. Weeks...

Why Central Banks Love A Gold Sell-Off Via SchiffSovereign.com, On July 7, Bloomberg published an article with the headline: “Gold’s Bull Market Has Ended and Now All Eyes Are on Bears,” explaining how many retail investors have headed for the exits. That same day, the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, reported its largest monthly gold purchase since 2023. Of course, June marked its twentieth consecutive month of adding gold to its reserves. Central banks are relatively price insensitive. They buy gold as a long term hedge to preserve value, not...

Arab Spring 2.0? Fuel Riots Erupt In Syria As Instability Spreads Across Mideast New footage posted on X shows what appear to be protests, with Israeli news organizations saying the anger is erupting because of skyrocketing fuel costs, reminiscent of the Arab Spring food riots 15 years ago. i24NEWS reports that demonstrations have popped up in parts of Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor provinces, with protesters blocking roads and stopping oil tankers as rising energy costs intensify affordability pressures. Videos on X, including one from Middle East Observer, show the chaos unfolding. Protests...