Biden-Appointed D.C. Judge Orders White House To Provide Sign Language Interpreters For Press Briefings

Authored by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times,

A federal judge ruled on Nov. 5 that the White House must provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation during press briefings held by President Donald Trump and press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The decision followed a lawsuit filed in May by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and Derrick Ford, a deaf individual, which alleged that the Trump administration “inexplicably stopped” using ASL interpreters since taking office, denying deaf Americans access to real-time White House communications.

In a 26-page order, President-Biden-appointed U.S. District Judge Amir Ali in Washington said the plaintiffs are likely to prevail on their claim that the administration’s actions violated the Rehabilitation Act, a federal law that aims to ensure people with disabilities have access to federal activities.

“White House press briefings engage the American people on important issues affecting their daily lives—in recent months, war, the economy, and healthcare, and, in recent years, a global pandemic,” Ali said in the order. “The exclusion of deaf Americans from that programming, in addition to likely violating the Rehabilitation Act, is clear and present harm that the court cannot meaningfully remedy after the fact.”

The judge said that English captions and transcripts alone are not enough to make briefings accessible to people who use ASL, as many deaf individuals do not communicate in English, according to the ruling.

The White House had argued that requiring the president to share his platform with ASL interpreters at all press briefings would cause a “major incursion on his central prerogatives.”

The judge rejected this argument, noting that ASL interpretation could be implemented without requiring interpreters to be in the same room as the speaker. Ali added that the White House did not clarify what “major incursion” it was referring to.

The plaintiffs also asked the court to mandate ASL interpretation for press briefings and events held by First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance, as well as for all videos posted on the White House’s websites and social media channels. Ali said they had not presented sufficient evidence to justify that request.

Ali ordered the Trump administration to file a status report by Nov. 7 that “apprises the court of their compliance with this order.”

Neither the NAD nor the White House responded to a request for comment by publication time.

The lawsuit marks the NAD’s second suit against the White House over access to ASL interpretation. In 2020, the NAD sued to require ASL interpretation for COVID-19-related press briefings.

That case was resolved when the White House implemented a policy to provide interpreters for all press briefings conducted by the president, vice president, first lady, second gentleman, and press secretary, according to the group.

The White House stopped providing ASL interpretation in January this year and has not included interpreters at any press briefings since, the NAD said in a May 28 statement.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 13:20

US Urges UN To Lift Sanctions On Syrian Leader Ahead Of Washington Visit

Authored by Kimberley Hayek via The Epoch Times,

The United States has put forth a draft resolution within the U.N. Security Council meant to end sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the Islamist militant and political group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The proposal comes ahead of al-Sharaa’s anticipated meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, set for next Monday.

The Security Council has regularly approved travel exemptions for al-Sharaa this year, meaning the White House meeting does not hinge on the outcome of the U.S. proposal.

The draft resolution, seen by Reuters on Tuesday, also advocates for the repeal of sanctions against Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Khattab.

The U.N. sanctions include a travel ban, asset freeze, and arms embargo.

It is unclear when a vote on the draft could be held. At least nine of the 15 council constituents need to vote in favor of the proposal for it to be enacted. However, Russia, China, the United States, France, and the UK each hold a veto.

Washington has for many months urged the Security Council to cease the sanctions on the regime in Syria.

President Bashar al-Assad was deposed in December 2024 after HTS-led militants effectively won a 13-year civil war in the country.

The country has languished since May 2014 on the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions list aimed at al-Qaeda and ISIS affiliates.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced al-Sharaa’s visit to the White House at a press briefing on Tuesday.

“When the president was in the Middle East, he made the historic decision to lift sanctions on Syria to give them a real chance at peace, and I think the administration, we’ve seen good progress on that front under their new leadership,” Leavitt said.

In July this year, Trump rescinded unilateral U.S. sanctions on Syria via executive order, saying it was “a chance at greatness” for the Syrian people, but he kept sanctions on Assad and other leaders.

The Trump administration also revoked the foreign terrorist organization designation for HTS.

U.N. monitors said there are no active al-Qaeda-HTS ties in a July report.

Trump last met with al-Sharaa in mid-May in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, where the U.S. president urged the Syrian leader to join the Abraham Accords. According to the White House, Trump also asked al-Sharaa to “tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria, deport Palestinian terrorists, help the U.S. prevent the resurgence of ISIS, and assume responsibility for ISIS detention centers in Northeast Syria.”

On Sept. 22, al-Sharaa addressed the U.N. General Assembly—the first time a Syrian president had done so since 1967—where he called for full sanctions relief and highlighted his country’s reconstruction needs.

[ZH: Of course, as we detailed here, this new 'friendship' has an ulterior motive...]

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 12:40

"Contrary To Human Nature": VDH Reminds Us That Mamdani-Style Socialism Always Ends In Disaster

Victor Davis Hanson is warning that Democrats' move towards socialism and their embrace of figures such as Zohran Mamdani is not going to end well.

Mamdani, a socialist who's promised to redistribute wealth, and insists that "taxation isn't theft, capitalism is" - is pushing politics that VDH says are 'contrary to human nature.'

"Historically, socialists always come in after capitalists have made prosperity, and then they offer and improve prosperity," he told Fox News' Laura Ingraham. "And it’s contrary to human nature. People like initiative. They like pride in their property. Some people like to work a lot and get compensated."

According to Hanson, when the state is in control of human innovation and productivity, it it 'has to be repressive.'

"It gives you that freedom of opportunity. And then the society at large benefits, Laura, from all these millions of agendas and ideas that improve, that people are free to innovate and to take experiments and risk. But when the state monopolizes all of that, it’s contrary to human nature, and then it has to be repressive," Hanson said. "So all of these social experiments, even if they’re democratic, they end up repressive. At the worst form, it’s no accident that the greatest mass murderers in history were Mao [Zedong] and [Joseph] Stalin, 30 million, 60 million, and they were radical communists, and even people like Hitler, National Socialist Party."

And of course, whoever is running a communist regime is living a life of privilege.

"Talented people who can help the economy, who are successful or demonized, they flee. People who want things for nothing come in. There’s open borders," Hanson continued. "They destroy personal liberty, and they stamp out any dissent or criticism. And there’s always an elite, the billionaire Castro brothers, Chavez and Maduro. They always are never subject to their consequences, their ideology. Here in California, we are becoming socialist."

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 12:20

Plugging One Goal With The Other

By Elwin de Groot, Head of Macro Strategy at Rabobank

Markets were in a risk-off mood yesterday, led by a sell-off in tech shares and growing investor concerns about valuations and policy risks. The US made the books with the longest government shutdown in its history. The S&P lost 1.2%, the Eurostoxx 50 index fell 0.4%. The risk-off tone resulted in lower yields across the board, albeit modestly (1-3 bp in US/Europe). Remarkably, Bitcoin plunged and gold prices dipped as well, an unusual move suggesting broader repositioning rather than just a classic safe-haven bid.

Talks between EU environment ministers yesterday confirmed that the bloc remains committed to its headline goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by the 2040, but with greater flexibility built in. This flexibility introduces a higher risk that targets may not be fully met, or not within the set timeframe. Ministers agreed to include so-called brake clauses, which would allow targets to be adjusted if natural carbon sinks underperform, and to permit offsetting, meaning that part of the reductions could come from foreign carbon credits. They also discussed enabling emissions to be traded between domestic sectors such as industry and agriculture.

This shift in tone is not surprising and reflects the recalibration of priorities between economic and environmental goals advocated in the 2024 Draghi report on competitiveness. That report did not call for abandoning climate objectives, but it urged integrating decarbonization with competitiveness through a “Clean Industrial Deal” and a major investment push. The EU intends to present a unified view next week at the COP30, but many details remain unresolved and attention may already be shifting toward another critical issue: raw material supply security.

On that front, tensions between China and the Netherlands –and by extension the EU– remain unresolved. The US announced on Saturday that China would allow Dutch chipmaker Nexperia BV to resume shipments from its Chinese facilities, easing fears of disruptions to auto production. However, China escalated pressure yesterday. Beijing criticized the Dutch government’s “unilateral” actions and urged it to stop interfering in Nexperia’s internal affairs and find a constructive solution.

The broader economic impact on European or even global industry is still hard to gauge at this stage. Nexperia chips are widely used, especially in automotive applications. Since Nexperia halted wafer exports to China, supply disruptions could also affect production of consumer goods there. Automotive experts note that substitutes exist, but switching would take weeks at minimum – raising the risk of temporary production halts given low inventories in Europe. Some companies, such as Robert Bosch GmbH in Germany and Honda in the US, have already announced production reductions, while others, including Volkswagen AG, have warned they may have to follow suit.

There is little precedent for assessing the impact. The post-COVID chip shortage, which partly caused a 40% decline in motor vehicle production between November 2020 and August 2021, offers some perspective. That shortage stemmed from a perfect storm of factors: surging demand for consumer electronics during lockdowns, automakers cancelling chip orders early and then scrambling as demand rebounded, factory shutdowns, and staffing shortages at semiconductor fabs, natural disasters such as droughts in Taiwan and fires in Japan, and later raw material shortages linked to the Russia–Ukraine war.

If so, it probably requires more financial resources from governments as well, which are in short supply, as the IMF warned yesterday. The institution argues for “a rethink of the role of government […] in some countries” and notes that “if reforms and medium-term consolidation are insufficient, then more radical fiscal measures could include reassessing the scope of public services and other government functions, potentially affecting the social contract.”

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 12:00

Things Aren't Looking Great For Trump In Supreme Court Tariff Arguments

Odds of the Supreme Court siding with Trump over tariffs tumbled on Wednesday, after conservative justices Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Coney Barrett asked tough questions during oral arguments in two cases. 

After the first hour of argument, the Trump administration's case justifying tariffs looked to be in serious trouble - specifically his claim that a 1977 economic emergency law grants the president unilateral power to impose tariffs at will. 

Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Neil Gorsuch and other conservatives raised against Solicitor General John Sauer one of the legal principles they used to strike down big priorities for the Biden administration: the Major Questions Doctrine, which holds that the executive can’t find extraordinary powers in statutes that don’t contemplate major policy changes. -WSJ

More:

• Gorsuch hammered Solicitor General John Sauer over separation of powers - suggesting that if the court were to accept Sauer's argument that Congress can delegate sweeping power to the president, there might be no limit to what other powers they could "hand off."

• The Justice then launched into a "series of skeptical - and at times openly hostile - questions at the solicitor general." (WSJ)

• Justice Brett Kavanaugh also focused on Trump's assertion of power - noting that he's the first president in US history to invoke wartime law to impose sweeping global tariffs. 

• Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked Sauer to explain how the global tariffs were necessary to respond to an "unusual and extraordinary threat."

That said, the Trump admin has a plan if things don't go their way with the Supremes.

As the WSJ notes; 

Trump's team for months has weighed using other laws as contingency plans to replace the Ieepa tariffs if they lose in court. That includes potentially deploying a never-before used provision in the Trade Act of 1974-Section 122- which allows for tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days to address trade imbalances with other countries. That would buy time for Trump to devise individualized tariffs for each major trading partner under a different provision of the same law, Section 301, which is used to counter unfair foreign trade practices.

That plan could be more legally defensible. The U.S. Court of International Trade, which ruled against Trump's tariffs, pointed to Section 122 as a more reasonable legal defense for global tariffs. Section 301, meanwhile, has long been used to address unfair foreign trade practices, and was deployed to underpin Trump's first-term tariffs on China. Additionally, the administration could also seek to use Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which allows the president to impose tariffs up to 50% on nations that discriminate against U.S. commerce.

The clawbacks here are going to be a shitshow... 

*  *  *

Authored by Sam Dorman via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on Nov. 5 in a landmark case over the legality of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs.

Illustration by The Epoch Times, Getty Images, Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

More specifically, the justices are expected to hear two cases—Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc.—for at least 80 minutes with input from various parties. According to the court, oral arguments will include 40 minutes from the Trump administration and 20 minutes each for both the private businesses and states challenging Trump’s policy.

Whatever the ruling, the case could have major implications for the nation’s economy and determine how much future presidents can alter trade. Here’s what you need to know heading into oral arguments.

1. What Are the Cases About?

The cases center on two groups of tariffs that the Trump administration imposed earlier this year. One group targeted Mexico, Canada, and China over their alleged failure to address fentanyl trafficking, and the other set included a lengthy list of reciprocal tariffs on countries worldwide.

The tariffs were imposed under a 1977 emergency powers law—the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trump is the first president to impose tariffs under this law, although President Richard Nixon used an identical provision in a predecessor law in 1971—the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917—to declare a trade emergency and issue 10 percent tariffs on all imports.

Trump established the fentanyl tariffs in February in response to the three countries’ failure to stem the flow of illegal opioids into the United States, which created a national emergency, including a public health crisis, according to his executive orders.

The president cited the hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths of Americans and the drug crisis’s impact on the health care system, communities, and families. Mexico and Canada were also penalized for failing to stem illegal immigration.

In enacting the reciprocal tariffs in April, Trump declared an emergency over large and persistent U.S. trade deficits caused by decades of unfair trade practices by other countries in the form of tariffs and nontariff barriers.

The persistent trade imbalance has threatened national and economic security, Trump’s executive order states, by hollowing out the country’s manufacturing capacity, undermining critical supply chains, and causing the defense industry to be dependent on foreign adversaries.

Trucks enter the United States from Canada at the Pacific Highway Port of Entry in Blaine, Wash., on Feb. 1, 2025. Earlier this year, the Trump administration imposed 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Nov. 5 in a landmark case over the legality of the administration’s global tariffs. David Ryder/Getty Images 2. The Stakes

Trump has said that winning the case will be “vital to the interests” of the United States. Tariffs have been used against the country for years, causing the United States to lose its domestic industries, he said in an October interview with Fox Business.

The president noted that he was able to stop several wars by using the threat of tariffs as leverage, including one earlier this year between Pakistan and India.

As of Sept. 23, revenue from tariffs imposed under the emergency law hit nearly $90 billion in fiscal year 2025, according to data by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. That’s nearly half the total tariff revenue collected in the fiscal year.

The United States faces a trade deficit of more than $1 trillion, and the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the tariffs will reduce federal deficits by $4 trillion, according to a Justice Department (DOJ) filing.

So far, the Trump administration has reached trade deals with several countries, including the U.K., the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. These deals have led to more than $2 trillion in purchases and investment commitments in the United States.

Should the administration lose the case, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that the government could invoke other authorities to implement tariffs, although they are “not as efficient, not as powerful.”

Private companies have urged the Supreme Court to rule against the Trump administration, arguing that the tariffs represent hundreds of billions of dollars in new taxes. Some outside estimates have also been critical of the tariffs.

For example, the Peterson Institute for International Economics stated in September that U.S. businesses had absorbed much of the tariff costs through July, and consumers could see higher prices.

APEC leaders pose for a group photo before a dinner honoring U.S. President Donald Trump (4th-L) during APEC meetings at the Hilton Gyeongju in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Oct. 29, 2025. The Trump administration has secured trade deals with several countries, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images 3. Emergency Powers Law

The Supreme Court is set to review whether the tariffs are authorized by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The law authorizes the president to take a range of actions in response to emergencies.

It allows the president to declare a national emergency to deal with any “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the country’s national security, foreign policy, or economy.

In court, the DOJ has defended the Trump administration’s invocation of the law to impose tariffs by pointing to a section that allows presidents to regulate imports.

That provision allows the president to “investigate, block during the pendency of an investigation, regulate, direct and compel, nullify, void, prevent or prohibit, any acquisition, holding, withholding, use, transfer, withdrawal, transportation, importation or exportation of, or dealing in, or exercising any right, power, or privilege with respect to, or transactions involving, any property in which any foreign country or a national thereof has any interest.”

In arguing that the levies were not authorized by the law, challengers have highlighted that the provision doesn’t include the word tariffs.

The justices are expected to consider not only whether the law allows the tariffs but also whether the law was constitutional.

Because the Constitution grants tariff power to Congress, there is a question over whether the emergency law violated the nation’s separation of powers by unconstitutionally delegating expansive tariff authority to the president.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order after remarks on reciprocal tariffs during a Rose Garden event at the White House on April 2, 2025. The Supreme Court is set to review whether the tariffs are authorized under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images 4. What Did Lower Courts Decide?

So far, multiple federal courts—including the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia—have stated that Trump’s tariffs are unlawful, but delayed the effects of their orders blocking the tariffs.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit halted oral arguments for one of the cases after the Supreme Court granted certiorari, or took it up for further consideration. The Supreme Court is expected to review that case, as well as one that the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled on in May. That ruling against Trump’s tariffs was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in August.

Both the district court in Washington and the Federal Circuit have noted that the law does not use the term tariffs. According to the court in Washington, regulating imports entails controlling them through rules, whereas tariffs are taxes on imports or exports.

Read the rest here...

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 11:48

Trump Drafting Executive Order On Election Integrity After Alleging Ballot Fraud In California

Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times,

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said an executive order is being drafted to strengthen U.S. elections and curb mail-in ballot fraud, after President Donald Trump alleged that California’s mail voting system “is rigged” and parts of it are under “legal and criminal review.”

“The White House is working on an executive order to strengthen our elections in this country and to ensure that there cannot be blatant fraud, as we’ve seen in California with their universal mail-in voting system,” Leavitt told reporters during a Nov. 4 briefing. “It’s absolutely true that ... there is fraud in California’s elections. It’s just a fact.”

Leavitt’s comments followed a Truth Social post by Trump earlier in the day, in which he renewed his criticism of mail-in voting and suggested criminal investigations were underway.

“The Unconstitutional Redistricting Vote in California is a GIANT SCAM in that the entire process, in particular the Voting itself, is RIGGED,” Trump wrote.

“All ‘Mail-In’ Ballots, where the Republicans in that State are ‘Shut Out,’ is under very serious legal and criminal review.”

When asked what evidence the White House had to support those claims and which authorities were conducting the purported reviews, Leavitt said she would provide evidence of fraud to reporters after the briefing, alleging that “fraudulent ballots are being mailed in the names of other people, in the names of illegal aliens who shouldn’t be voting in American elections.”

The White House has not disclosed details of the upcoming executive order. The president has repeatedly promised sweeping changes to election procedures, including a nationwide ban on universal mail-in voting and electronic voting machines.

Redistricting Vote Sparks Clash

On Nov. 4, California voters approved Proposition 50, a ballot measure championed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Democrats that allows lawmakers to temporarily bypass the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission to redraw congressional maps.

Supporters said the measure was a needed counterweight to Republican-led redistricting in states such as Texas, while critics—including Trump—characterized it as an unconstitutional power grab.

Newsom described the referendum as “California’s chance to save democracy,” saying it would help Democrats regain momentum ahead of next year’s elections.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the future of our country,” he told supporters at a Los Angeles rally on Nov. 1.

Republican state Sen. Tony Strickland told The Epoch Times that the measure could ultimately backfire on Democrats.

“If Prop 50 passes, it becomes a rally cry nationally,” he said. “The biggest winner tonight will be [President] Donald Trump.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a "Yes on Prop 50" volunteer event at the LA Convention Center in Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2025. Jill Connelly/Getty Images

After Trump posted on Truth Social that the redistricting vote was unconstitutional and that some of California’s mail-in ballots are under criminal review, Newsom responded by dismissing the comments as the “ramblings” of someone who “knows he’s about to LOSE.”

Trump has long criticized mail-in voting, calling it a source of widespread fraud. In August, he told reporters that his legal team was drafting an executive order to ban mail-in voting nationwide and to phase out electronic voting machines in favor of paper ballots.

Constitutional experts have said that any such move would face immediate legal challenges. Under the U.S. Constitution, states control the “times, places, and manner” of elections, though Congress retains the power to alter those regulations.

“The president has no power to dictate to states how they conduct national elections,” Rick Pildes, a political science professor at New York University, told The Epoch Times in an earlier interview. He said such changes would likely require congressional approval.

Trump’s forthcoming order would mark the latest in a series of White House efforts to tighten federal election rules.

In March, the president signed an executive order directing agencies to update election security protocols, voter registration processes, and mail-ballot deadlines.

While portions of that order were blocked by a federal judge who found the action exceeded presidential authority, a directive tightening mail-in ballot deadlines was allowed to stand.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 11:20

Consumer Squeeze Hits Home Renovation Spending As Leading Deck-Maker Shares Collapse

Shares of Trex Company, best known for its wood-alternative composite decking, plunged the most since the Dot Com bust in premarket trading after the company's fourth-quarter net sales forecast came in below Bloomberg Consensus estimates. Analysts warned that soft consumer spending trends and a deteriorating home-improvement backdrop are weighing on demand. 

Trex reported adjusted EPS of $.51 (vs. $.57 est.) and net sales of $285 million, up 22% year-over-year but millions below the $302 million consensus. EBITDA increased 27% to $86.4 million, missing the $96.8 million estimate. 

Analysts focused on weaker outlooks. For Q4, Trex expects net sales of $140 million to $150 million, well below the $199 million consensus. For the full year, the company now sees EBITDA margins of 28% to 28.5%, down from prior guidance of above 31% and the 31% analyst estimate, signaling further margin compression.

"Given the lackluster outlook for consumer spending and 'marketing war' that has popped up in the industry, we lack confidence in our estimates and valuation," William Blair analyst Ryan Merkel wrote in a note to clients. He downgraded the stock to market perform from outperform. 

Merkel noted, "Our take is that Trex is protecting its share by matching marketing spending and channel incentives that competitors are offering in a soft market. This is a major business model reset for a category that was viewed as having secular growth and rational competitors."

Truist analyst Keith Hughes warned, "The stock will take a substantial hit after a weak year already and the potential for M&A around TREX is now growing.  We remain Buy on the long term secular growth story."

The earnings showed "evidence of cracks in near-term fundamentals and a preview of competitive share dynamics to come," Barclays analyst Matthew Bouley wrote. He said there's a significant risk that "real share loss has not even begun" after James Hardie's acquisition of Azek. 

Trex shares plunged to early-2020 lows amid the dismal outlook.

Shares are down 32% in premarket trading, the most since the Dot-Com bust in late 2000. 

Trex is often viewed as a home-improvement indicator within the discretionary spending segment tied to outdoor living and remodeling, given how expensive its composite decking boards can be, sometimes upwards of $140 for a 16-foot board, compared with about $18 for a treated lumber board of the same length.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 11:00

"Mad Max For Years?" Bill Holter Warns There's More Risk In The System Now Than Ever

Via Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com,

Financial writer and precious metals expert Bill Holt (aka Mr. Gold) said a month ago that rising “gold and silver prices were sniffing out risk.”  

Looks like the Federal Reserve is also smelling some risk.  

It recently, quietly flooded the banks with $125 billion injection in just five days.  The cash went into the repo market.  Mr. Gold says, “This is just a tremor, the cash going into the repo market."

"  Understand that there are more derivatives outstanding, and there is more debt outstanding.  Whatever metric you want to use to measure it, there is more risk in the system now than any time ever. 

Go back to 2008 and 2009, and we were very close to a complete meltdown with markets not opening up on Monday morning. 

They started handwringing over $700 billion in TARP, while behind the scenes, the Federal Reserve created $16 trillion or $17 trillion and lent it all over the world. 

It didn’t right the ship, but it did stop it from sinking.  I ask you, has anything changed or has anything been fixed? 

Did they address any of those problems we had back in 2008 and 2009? 

The answer is no. 

In fact, they double, triple and quadrupled down on those same policies.”

Mr. Gold goes on to say, “They are trying to fix a debt problem with liquidity.  The liquidity is like a Novocaine shot..."  

"It makes things feel better temporarily, but it does not fix the problem.  The problem is there is too much debt outstanding by any metric. 

Whether you look at debt to cash flow or debt to equity, a perfect example is the US dollar.  The United States is now 130% debt to GDP, and, oh, by the way, the dollar is still the world reserve currency.  In 1982 when I graduated from college, if debt got to 100% of GDP, it was considered a banana republic. 

That being said, you could say the entire world is a banana republic because they use as a reserve currency something that is issued by a bankrupt entity.  It is insolvent because look at the Fed’s balance sheet. 

The Fed has negative equity now.  They lost so much on bonds they bought in 2008 and 2009, and interest rates have gone up.  That means their portfolio has dropped. . .. two or three years back, they were operating with only $65 billion in equity. 

They had trillions of dollars, and if you want to count derivatives, they had quadrillions of dollars (of debt) dancing on the head of a $65 billion pin.”

Mr. Gold is not worried about the most recent correction with gold and silver prices.  Holter says:

“Watch out for a possible ‘failure to deliver’ of physical gold and silver at the end of the year...

Failure to deliver physical metal will end the fraud, and it will be game over for the metal contracts.  More and more people are now standing for delivery.”

With the government shutdown and SNAP food benefits being cut off, where does this end?   Mr. Gold says,

“You’ve got people on line saying if they cut off the food that they are going to go out and steal to feed their families...

Mad Max, this is where this ends.  Is it going to be Mad Max for years?  It might be two weeks or two months. 

God forbid it goes on for six months because the skills are gone with hunting and farming. 

What people know how to do is get in their car and go to the corner store.”

In closing, Holter says, “Get your capital out of the system.” 

Buying physical gold and silver is getting cash out of the system and putting it under your direct control.

There is much more in the 45-minute interview.

Join Greg Hunter of USAWatchdog as he goes One-on-One with financial writer and precious metals expert Bill Holter/Mr. Gold for 11.4.25.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 10:45

WTI Holds Losses After Big Crude Build, Record US Production

Oil prices weakened for a second session early on Wednesday as a report showed an unexpected surge in U.S. oil inventories, keeping demand and over-supply concerns top of mind for traders.

"API data indicated the largest US crude inventory build in more than three months, with stockpiles rising by 6.5 million barrels last week. If confirmed by the EIA later today, it would mark the biggest gain since late July," Saxo Bank noted.

The unexpected rise in stocks comes amid persistent warnings the oil market is oversupplied as rising production from OPEC+ and Western Hemisphere producers climbs above demand growth. The concerns were amplified by OPEC+'s weekend decision to hike supply for a third month by 137,000 barrels per day in December, following on the September end to the return of 2.2-million bpd of production cuts.

The question now, is will the official data confirm API's worrying build.

API

• Crude +6.5mm

• Cushing +400k

• Gasoline -5.7mm

• Distillates -2.5mm

DOE

• Crude +5.2mm - biggest build since July

• Cushing +300k

• Gasoline -4.7mm

• Distillates -643k

The official data confirmed API's large crude build (biggest weekly addition since July) but we are also seeing product inventory drawdowns for a fifth straight week

Source: Bloomberg

There was a fairly chunky lurch in the adjustment number last week.

While the outright value from both weeks isn’t massive, there was a positive swing of 874,000 barrels a day (from -481k to +393k). 

Source: Bloomberg

US Crude production rose once again to a new record high of 13.65mm b/d despite recent rig count stability...

Source: Bloomberg

Oil price are holding at the lows of the day after the official data with WTI finding support at $60 for now...

Finally, as MT Newswires reports, rising output comes as the global economy slows with U.S. tariff policies hampering global trade and cutting into demand. Economic data this week showed slowing manufacturing activity in the United States, China and Japan, pushing investors away from over-heated risk assets.

"Japan's manufacturing sector shrank at its fastest pace in 19 months. Tepid new orders in the US led to the eighth consecutive monthly contraction in factory activity. A private survey reached the same conclusion in China, where expansion slowed last month, while manufacturers across other Asian economies are clearly feeling the impact of US tariffs in the form of declining orders," PVM Oil Associates noted.

Still, concerns over Russian supply is offering support for the energy complex, as Ukraine continues its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Reports said Ukrainian drones on Tuesday struck at a Lukoil oil refinery in Russia, the second attack on Russian refineries this week, while Russia suspended exports from its main Black Sea oil export port following a Ukrainian attack.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 10:35

Yields Rise, Rate-Cut Odds Slide As ISM Services Survey Signal Inflation Fears

After yesterday's mixed picture on Manufacturing (PMI up, ISM down), analysts expected both Services surveys this morning to show an upward bounce.

• S&P Global's Services PMI disappointed but did rise from September's 54.2 to 54.8 (but that was less than expected and less than the 55.2 preliminary print)

• ISM's Services PMI beat expectations, rising from 50.0 to 52.4, well above the 50.8 expectations.

And this is happening amid a rise in 'hard' data (though admittedly based on housing and marginal labor data given the vacuum since the shutdown)

Source: Bloomberg

Across the PMI surveys, only ISM Manufacturing saw a decline MoM in October...

Source: Bloomberg

Under the hood, Prices surged to their highest in three years, new orders expanded at their fastest pace in a year and employment improved (though remained below 50)...

Source: Bloomberg

“October’s final PMI data add to signs that the US economy has entered the fourth quarter with strong momentum," according to Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

"Growth in the vast services economy has picked up speed to accompany an improved performance in the manufacturing sector.

In total, business activity is growing at a rate commensurate with GDP rising at an annualized pace of around 2.5% after a similarly solid expansion was signalled for the third quarter."

While growth is being driven principally by the financial services and tech sectors, Williamson says the survey is also picking up signs of improving demand from consumers.

However, the surge in prices paid is having some consequences

“However, there are signs that new business is coming at the cost of service providers having to soak up continued high input price growth to remain competitive.

Customers are often pushing back on price rises, especially in consumer-facing markets.

While good news in terms of inflation, this lack of pricing power hints at weak underlying demand and lower profits. "

Business expectations about the year ahead have also fallen sharply and are now running at one of the lowest levels seen over the past three years, as Williamson notes "signs of spending caution from customers is accompanied by heightened political and economic uncertainty."

However, Williamson points out that lower interest rates have helped offset some of the drags to business confidence, for which the October FOMC rate cut will have likely helped further.

Treasury yields are on the rise (likely driven by the inflation jump) and rate-cut odds are lower...

Hopefully we will get some 'hard' data reality (Payrolls and CPI) if the government reopens before the next FOMC meeting but for now we would say, this should not be weighted enough to warrant The Fed veering from its easing path.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 10:05

Britain "Doomed" Under Labour As Wealthy Scramble To "Get The Hell Out Of London", Ryanair Boss Warns

Authored by John-Paul Ford Rojas via ThisIsMoney.co.uk,

The UK is doomed under Labour, the boss of Ryanair has warned as he claimed wealthy people were scrambling to ‘get the hell out of London’ before being hit by a Budget tax raid.

Michael O’Leary said he had no faith in the Chancellor’s ability to restore growth and branded her tax policies ‘dumb’.

The comments came amid reports that Rachel Reeves is planning to target the wealthy with a mansion tax in the Budget later this month.

He told the Guardian: ‘The UK economy under the current leadership is doomed.'

‘The UK badly needs growth, but the way to deliver growth is through selective tax cuts… you are not going to grow the UK economy by taxing wealth or taxing air travel.’

Mr O’Leary’s comments add to a chorus of criticism of Labour from UK business leaders – following warnings about tax from the likes of Marks & Spencer boss Stuart Machin and Asda’s Allan Leighton.

Michael O'Leary branded Labour's policies 'dumb'

The Ryanair boss said: ‘I hold very little faith in Rachel Reeves or the current economic strategy of the Labour government.'

‘Rich people are fleeing… as they are trying to find low-fare flights to get the hell out of London before Rachel Reeves taxes their mansions, their income and inheritance.’

Mr O'Leary has also taken umbrage at Labour’s decision to hike air passenger duty – a tax on flights – and said further increases in the Budget would prompt the carrier to shift capacity to other countries with lower tax burdens such as Sweden or Italy.

He told Bloomberg: ‘She hasn’t a rashers how to deliver growth. She puts up employment taxes, puts up APD.’

Mr O’Leary said Ryanair had written to the Treasury describing the increase in the air tax as ‘the dumbest idea even you lot have come up with’.

He said that a further increase at the Budget would mean 10 per cent of Ryanair’s capacity, or about five million seats, is moved to lower tax countries.

‘Eventually even a dumb Labour government will work out that for an island on the periphery of Europe, the way to grow – and the way to increase tax revenue – is to get tourists onto the island first and then tax them,' he added.

‘The way to grow is not by increasing entry taxes, which is what APD is.’

Mr O’Leary made the comments as the airline revealed a surge in half-year profit amid a hike in fares. It was also helped by aircraft deliveries helping it fly more passengers.

The low-cost airline reported a pre-tax profit of £2.6 billion for the six months to the end of September, 40 per cent higher than the same period last year.

It flew 119 million passengers, 3 per cent more than last year

Average airfares rose by 13 per cent year on year to 58 euros (£50.90), Ryanair revealed, having spiked during the Easter period.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 09:00

Yields Spike After Treasury Refunding Unexpectedly Warns Bessent Considering "Increases To Future Auction Sizes"

Superficially, there were no surprises in the quantitative aspects of this morning's Treasury refunding announcement: as previewed earlier, the Treasury just announced a total quarterly refunding size of $125 billion, just as expected, and furthermore indicated it’s not looking to boost sales of notes and bonds "for at least the next several quarters", in a decision that will see the government increasingly rely on bills to fund the budget deficit. However, the big surprise was the announcement that "looking ahead, Treasury has begun to preliminarily consider future increases to nominal coupon and FRN auction sizes, with a focus on evaluating trends in structural demand and assessing potential costs and risks of various issuance profiles." Translation: no bond auction increases for a few months, and then we blast off, and the bond market reacted appropriately sending 10Y yields to session highs. 

Here are the details.

In  its refunding statement Wednesday, the department said it anticipated keeping auction sizes unchanged for nominal notes and bonds “for at least the next several quarters.” That form language, which has been used since early last year, reflects the higher cost of issuing longer-dated securities compared with bills, which mature in up to a year.

Next week’s auctions of 3-, 10- and 30-year maturities will total $125 billion, the same amount going back to May last year. Dealers had widely expected the move, and most don’t see an increase in issuance of notes and bonds until mid-2026 or later to help finance federal deficits, which have declined slightly in part because of tariff revenue.

For next week’s refunding auctions, they will be made up of:

• $58 billion of 3-year notes on Nov. 10
• $42 billion of 10-year notes on Nov. 12
• $25 billion of 30-year bonds on Nov. 13

The balance of Treasury financing requirements over the quarter will be met with regular weekly bill auctions, cash management bills (CMBs), and monthly note, bond, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), and 2-year Floating Rate Note (FRN) auctions.

The Treasury issuance forecast table below, which shows actual auction sizes for the August to October 2025 quarter and the anticipated auction sizes for the November 2025 to January 2026 quarter, is identical to the preview we posted earlier (see below), confirming no surprises.

As an aside, the Fed's rate cuts have pulled down yields on the shortest-dated US debt, making it more attractive for the Treasury to sell those maturities. While 10-year yields are currently a bit above 4%, bills due in 12 months are around 3.5%. That's why the Refunding statement said that while it "expects to maintain the offering sizes of benchmark bills into late-November" and to "implement modest reductions to short-dated bill auction sizes during the month of December", thereafter, "by the middle of January 2026, Treasury anticipates increasing bill auction sizes based on expected fiscal outflows."

The share of bills compared with overall outstanding debt is set to rise unless the Treasury boosts longer-dated issuance. The ratio is on course to climb past 26% by the end of 2027, Citigroup estimates.

Last year, the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee — a panel of dealers, investors and other market participants — recommended it average around 20% over time. As of September, the ratio was over 21% and will keep rising for the foreseeable future. 

But it's not just Bill sizes that will spike: here is the sentence that sent TSY yields spiking by 3 bps so far:

“Looking ahead, Treasury has begun to preliminarily consider future increases to nominal coupon and FRN auction sizes, with a focus on evaluating trends in structural demand and assessing potential costs and risks of various issuance profiles."

While dealers had expected the Treasury start laying the groundwork for an increase in sales of longer-dated obligations at some poin - given that the government continues to run historically large fiscal deficits, boosting the overall debt load - today's announcement by the Treasury came as a surprise. It shouldn't have: as securities sold during the record deficits of the pandemic era, in 2020 and 2021, come due in coming years, Treasury note sales would only suffice to repay what’s maturing, meanwhile the US deficit remains at $2 trillion and rising.

Some Wall Street firms have pushed off forecasts for when they expect boosts to longer-dated issuance, given how Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has signaled he prefers not to lock the government into higher borrowing costs at a time when bills are cheaper. And yet, that is precisely what he now intends to do in early 2026 based on today's announcement. 

This led to lots of confusion: in April, JPMorgan rates strategists expected officials to boost coupon sizes by this refunding announcement. But in the bank’s latest projection for when that would occur, ahead of Wednesday’s statement, that date had shifted to November 2026. Now JPM will have to adjust again. 

In a separate note, the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee said current projections could "warrant increases in coupon issuance in FY 2027" to wit: 

In terms of issuance, the Committee recommended keeping nominal coupon sizes as well as TIPS issuance unchanged. The Committee discussed potential changes to coupon issuance in the future, and the timing thereof. Given the uncertainty of potential financing needs, the Committee was mixed on how Treasury should approach adjustments to its current forward guidance. The Committee believes that current projections could warrant increases in coupon issuance in FY2027

The committee in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the current issuance mix appears to be near the “efficient frontier” while the Treasury’s move toward a higher share of T-bills in recent years somewhat reduced expected costs but also increased volatility, based on the committee’s refreshed Optimal Debt Model, one of many tools the Department uses to inform issuance decisions.

“While the current mix seems appropriate in a ‘Productivity Boom’ scenario, the other scenarios highlighted additional risks for Treasury,” TBAC wrote. “The Model suggests that a decrease in bill issuance, increase in belly issuance, and a decrease in bonds lowers volatility for a negligible cost increase in the adverse scenarios.”

Committee had an “extensive debate” around the tradeoff between solving for the lowest debt service costs versus limiting funding volatility, and how Treasury should think about risk tolerance and mitigation. When thinking about potential changes to coupon issuance in the future and timing, the Committee was mixed on how Treasury should approach adjustments to its current forward guidance.

Finally, the Refunding statement touched on the recent increase in Treasury buybacks, noting that in both the 10- to 20-year and 20- to 30-year nominal coupon buckets, Treasury plans to conduct four operations over the refunding quarter, each for up to $2 billion.  In the other nominal coupon buckets, Treasury plans to conduct one liquidity support buyback of up to $4 billion. Treasury also plans to conduct two operations in the 1- to 10-year TIPS bucket, each for up to $750 million, and one operation for up to $500 million in the 10- to 30-year TIPS bucket. 

Treasury also anticipates that over the course of the upcoming quarter it will purchase up to $38 billion in off-the-run securities across buckets for liquidity support and up to $25 billion in the 1-month to 2-year bucket for cash management purposes.

As announced at the last quarterly refunding, in the first half of 2026 Treasury plans to offer direct buyback access to a limited number of additional counterparties based on their participation in Treasury auctions. 

In response to the refunding statement's surprising notice of coming coupon increases, 10Y yields spiked not only to session highs, but are just shy of the highest level in the past week. 

Earlier:

Treasury Refunding Preview

The US Treasury announced it expects to borrow $569BN in privately-held net marketable debt in the Oct-Dec quarter down from the $590BN it projected for Q4 in July. The lower estimate is due to higher start of quarter cash balance, partially offset by lower projected net cash flows. The projection still assumes an end-Dec cash balance of $850BN, albeit some had been looking for this to increase to $900BN. Looking ahead to Q1 '26 (Jan-Mar), the Treasury expects to borrow $578BN, assuming an end-March cash balance of $850BN.

During the July-September 2025 quarter, the Treasury borrowed $1.058TN in privately-held net marketable debt and ended the quarter with a cash balance of $891BN. In July 2025, Treasury estimated borrowing of $1.007TN and assumed an end-of-September cash balance of $850BN. The $50BN difference in privately-held net marketable borrowing resulted primarily from the higher end-of- quarter cash balance and lower net cash flows. Excluding the higher-than-assumed end-of-quarter cash balance, actual borrowing was $10BN higher than announced in July.

Turning to the Quarterly Refunding Announcement, Newsquawk notes that for the refunding, the Treasury maintained guidance that it expects to maintain nominal coupon and FRN auction sizes for at least the next several quarters; any change to this would be of note. However, Morgan Stanley expects current coupon sizes to remain steady until February 2027, with guidance expected to be maintained. Regarding TIPS, Morgan Stanley expects the Treasury will continue with incremental increases to the TIPS auction sizes, expecting the $19BN of 10yr TIPS re-opening auction to be maintained, with a $1BN increase to both the 5yr TIPS re-opening and the 10yr TIPS new issue.

We will have a look at the upcoming buyback operations too for any changes. The prior refunding saw the Treasury state in H1 2026, it plans to offer direct buyback access to a limited number of additional counterparties, based on their participation in Treasury auctions. Morgan Stanley "interpret this statement to mean that the additional eligible participants for buyback operations will be the largest participants in auctions by risk taken down".

One thing to bear in mind is the Fed's end of QT. From December 1st, the Fed will start to reinvest all maturing Treasury security holdings on its balance sheet, while it will continue to let mortgage-backed securities roll off the balance sheet; however, the payments will be reinvested into Treasury bills instead of MBS. Morgan Stanley writes that after QT ends, the Fed will deem an across-the-curve reinvestment strategy as most optimal, meaning more front-end UST demand relative to the status quo.

Providing the nominal coupon auction sizes are left unchanged as per guidance, this is what the auction sizes would look like.

 

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 08:30

ADP Employment Report Shows Labor Market Rebound In October

Following the new weekly update of ADP's employment report showing a rebound to job additions after two straight month of declines, analysts expected a 30k rise in jobs for October's monthly report.

And analysts were right with ADP reporting 42k jobs added in October (better than expected)

Source: Bloomberg

Services added 32k jobs while Goods Producers added 9k...

Last month delivered a rebound from two months of weak hiring, but the bounce wasn't broad-based.

Education and health care, and trade, transportation, and utilities led the growth.

For the third straight month, employers shed jobs in professional business services, information, and leisure and hospitality.

"Private employers added jobs in October for the first time since July, but hiring was modest relative to what we reported earlier this year," according to Dr. Nela Richardson Chief Economist, ADP.

"Meanwhile, pay growth has been largely flat for more than a year, indicating that shifts in supply and demand are balanced."

Small Businesses have also lost jobs for three straight months.

But, this overall rebound fits with the Revelio Labs monthly job growth data...

Source: Apollo

And a slight decline in job cut announcements (despite all the headlines)...

Source: Apollo

Finally, wage growth for job stayers and job changers was flat from September...

With females seeing higher gains across all age cohorts...

Hardly a major gain in jobs but its not a decline. Having said that, we find it hard to believe that The Fed will see this number and feel like another cut in December is not required.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 08:22

Futures Rebound From Session Lows As Government Shutdown Becomes Longest Ever

Welcome to day 36 of the government shutdown which officially makes it the longest shut down in history. Futures are trading moderately lower, following weaker Asian and European sessions, but well off session lows as Japan retraced nearly 50% of its losses during the session. As of 8:00am ET, S&P futures are down 0.2% having earlier slid far more following Tuesday’s 1.2% slump as technology shares dragged stocks lower globally; Nasdaq futures are down 0.1%, also recovering most of their losses. In premarket trading, Mag 7 stocks are mixed with Semis weaker. Confirming just how dented upward momentum is, many of the larger Tech companies that reported last night are weaker this morning. Both Cyclicals and Defensives are mixed without reflecting which will outperform today. According to JPM, so far yesterday’s price action has yet to spill over to the US session and the view that a valuation-induced sell-off with Tech underperforming was a narrative that was forming. It may be the case that as the market looks to remove froth that we see Mag7 outperform the higher beta segments of TMT / AI. In overnight news, China banned foreign-made chips in state-funded data centers. Bond yields are unchanged, erasing an earlier and the USD is also flat. Commodities are poised for a rebound with WTI, Precious Metals, and Ags all higher. Today’s macro data focus is on ADP and ISM-Srvcs. With the shutdown in Washington leaving a vacuum in official data, the private ADP employment numbers out today will get more attention than usual.

In premarket trading, Magnificent Seven stocks are mixed (Tesla +1.2%, Meta +0.3%, Apple -0.05%, Microsoft -0.1%, Alphabet -0.1%, Amazon -0.2%, Nvidia -0.7%)

• AMD (AMD) falls 4% after the chipmaker reported its third-quarter results and gave an outlook. While analysts are broadly positive, they note some issues with margins and the outlook. The stock has more than doubled this year.
• Arista Networks (ANET) slides 10% after the company’s forecast for adjusted gross margin in the fourth quarter fell short of the average analyst estimate.
• Axon (AXON) drops 18% after the Taser maker reported disappointing third-quarter adjusted EPS and agreed to buy emergency-tech company Carbyne in a deal valuing the company at $625 million.
• Biohaven (BHVN) tumbles 44% as TD Cowen calls the FDA’s Vyglxia Complete Response Letter as “highly disappointing” amid broader concerns over its impact on the firm’s R&D spending.
• Clover Health (CLOV) sinks 20% after the health insurer cut its adjusted Ebitda guidance for the full year, following third-quarter adjusted Ebitda results that fell short of expectations. The company notes high medical costs in the quarter pressured margins.
• Humana (HUM) falls 5% after the health insurer reaffirmed its forecast for medical costs for the full year, with the outlook below the average analyst estimate. The firm also reported higher medical costs for the third quarter than analysts anticipated.
• Kennedy-Wilson (KW) surges 26% after receiving a buyout proposal letter from CEO William McMorrow and Fairfax Financial Holdings to acquire all outstanding common stock.
• Kratos (KTOS) falls 8% after the defense contractor forecast revenue and adjusted Ebitda for the fourth quarter that missed the average analyst estimate.
• Mosaic (MOS) shares are up 5% after the agricultural chemicals company reported adjusted earnings per share for the third quarter that beat the average analyst estimate.
• Pinterest (PINS) is down 18% after the search platform gave a revenue outlook that is weaker than expected.
• Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI) falls 7% after the server maker missed reduced estimates for first-quarter sales and profit and gave a disappointing earnings forecast for the current period, reinforcing concerns about its ability to capitalize on demand for AI equipment.
• Toast (TOST) gains 3% after the restaurant software company reported third-quarter results that beat expectations and raised its full-year forecast for adjusted Ebitda.
• Trex (TREX) sinks 33% after the maker of decking products forecast net sales for the fourth quarter that fell short of the average analyst estimate.
• United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) slips 1.8% after one of its freighter jets crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff on Tuesday from Louisville, Kentucky, killing three crew members and at least four people on the ground.
• Upstart (UPST) falls 13% after the AI lending marketplace reported third-quarter revenue that missed expectations and lowered its full-year revenue forecast.

In corporate news, Google and Fortnite game maker Epic Games reached a settlement in their long-running antitrust fight over how developers distribute and monetize apps on Android phones. A UPS freighter jet crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky, killing at least seven people.  Toyota’s annual profit guidance disappointed investors, a sign that the impacts of US tariffs are still weighing on its bottom line. Amazon.com is suing Perplexity AI to try and stop the startup from helping users buy items on the world’s largest online marketplace.

The VIX jumped to 19 on Tuesday but there’s no sign of panic so far in derivatives markets with the gauge holding under 20, with some 25/30 call spread buying, a likely hedge into year-end playing a moderate rise in volatility. 

“There has been way more nervousness than usual during the last rally, and that’s not a good sign,” said Alexandre Baradez, chief market analyst at IG in Paris. “The market was priced for perfection so that explains why emerging questions about rate cuts, liquidity, and valuations are having such an impact.”

Crypto markets offered an early warning signal on the recent liquidity rush, with Bitcoin about 20% below a record high reached a month ago — before paring some of those losses in Wednesday trading. Holders of the cryptocurrency have offloaded around 400,000 Bitcoin over the past month, an exodus of about $45 billion that’s left the market unbalanced.

Meanwhile, the US government has reached a major milestone of dysfunction, with the federal shutdown now the longest in history — and economic pain is deepening. The CBO estimates 4Q growth could be cut by as much as 2 percentage points if the impasse continues for eight weeks. 

In politics, Democrats landed a series of local election wins. Zohran Mamdani was elected the 111th Mayor of New York, and his proposals and inexperience — he’s sponsored only a handful of bills while serving three terms as a state assemblyman — is said to have unnerved business leaders and real estate groups. 

ADP jobs data today comes in the face of recent corporate cutbacks which economists fear may be a warning sign, with companies such as Starbucks, Target, and Amazon making significant job cuts.

Turning to earnings, by Tuesday night, three-quarters of S&P 500 companies had reported results this season with a positive surprise ratio of 82% — similar to 2Q, which was the highest beat percentage since the third quarter of 2021. Price reaction to AI-related earnings remains volatile, with AMD falling despite lifting guidance, perhaps reflecting elevated buyside expectations. Other AI-related names to fall on results include Tempus AI, Super Micro Computer and Arista Networks.

Emerson Electric, FIS, Humana, McDonald’s, Unity Software and Zimmer Biomet are among companies expected to report results before the market opens. Sales growth at McDonald’s is expected to accelerate to 3.6% from a 1.5% drop last year, as its enhanced value offerings resonate with consumers. Earnings from AppLovin, DoorDash, ARM, Duolingo, Figma, Fortinet, Robinhood, Qualcomm and Lyft follow later in the day.

European stocks fall for a second day, though with less severity than seen earlier in Asia. Stoxx 600 down by 0.5% with tech stocks underperforming on a drag from ASML. That followed weakness in chip stocks in the US and drops for the tech-heavy Nikkei 225 in Japan and Kospi in Korea. Here are some of the biggest movers on Wednesday:

• Barry Callebaut climbs as much as 7.8% following results on Wednesday, with analysts noting its “sober” outlook, but Vontobel saying the chocolate product manufacturer is at least setting more realistic goals.
• Vestas gains as much as 15% after the Danish wind-power manufacturer reported a strong set of earnings, with analysts highlighting outperformance for its Power Solutions division, with a new and unexpected buyback program welcome.
• Aixtron shares climb as much as 7.6%. Demand for power from AI infrastructure could drive growth at the semiconductor equipment manufacturer, according to Barclays, which upgraded the stock to overweight from equal-weight.
• Ahold Delhaize shares rise 4.6% as the retailer reported adjusted operating profit for the third quarter that beat the average analyst estimate.
• Demant gains as much as 7.6%, despite the firm saying it now expects full-year organic sales growth to come in toward the lower end of its existing 1%-3% guidance range.
• Novo shares fluctuate in morning trading before rising as much as 2.7%. The Danish drugmaker narrowed its sales guidance for the year, while its commentary around negotiated US Medicare pricing was better than expected, according to analysts.
• Ambu slumps as much as 19%, the most in three years, after the Danish health-care equipment company reported its latest earnings. JPMorgan sees a miss to 4Q estimates, and new 2026 guidance implies large cuts to Ebit consensus expectations.
• Siemens Healthineers falls as much as 13%, the most on record, after the German health-care equipment group reported earnings which analysts describe as a disappointment.
• Pandora shares fall as much as 5.2% after the jewellery manufacturer lowered guidance for 2025 like-for-like growth and its 2026 EBIT margin target, and reported revenue for the third quarter that missed the average analyst estimate.
• Nexi shares fall as much as 9.9% after the third-quarter operating revenue of the payment services provider missed estimates.
• Qiagen drops as much as 4.4% in Frankfurt as Morgan Stanley says the German life science and diagnostics firm’s fourth-quarter growth outlook potentially overshadows decent third-quarter results.
• Evotec shares fall as much as 12% after the German company reported results RBC called “dismal” with revenue and Ebitda significantly below consensus estimates.

Earlier in the session, Asian stocks fell, weighed by a selloff in tech shares amid mounting concerns over excessive valuations. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped as much as 2.3%, before trimming some losses on dip-buying. Tech heavyweights TSMC, SoftBank and Samsung Electronics were among the biggest drags. Most markets were in the red, with Japan and South Korea leading the losses.  The selloff follows Wall Street chiefs’ warnings about an overdue correction, while fading expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts and the prolonged US government shutdown also contribute to the risk-off sentiment. South Korea’s equity benchmark Kospi Index finished 2.9% lower — narrowing earlier losses of as much as 6.2% — marking its steepest daily decline since August. Japan’s blue-chip Nikkei 225 gauge also pared a plunge of 4.7% to close 2.5% lower, while the broader Topix Index fell 1.3%.  China’s benchmark CSI 300 Index reversed early losses to end the day in the green, helped by solid gains in solar stocks. Indonesia also posted mild gains. Markets in India were closed for a holiday.

In FX, the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index is in a narrow range but has reversed an earlier decline. Sterling an outperformer, Swedish krona in the middle of the pack in the G-10 after the Riksbank held rates at a three-year low.

In rates, we are seeing muted moves in bond markets, with US Treasury yields little changed amid similarly muted price action in German bonds, while long-end gilts underperform slightly. US 10-year is lower by less than 1bp near 4.08% with German counterpart similar and UK’s lagging by around 1bp. Treasury 5s30s curve is around 1bp steeper on the day. Focal points of US session focus include October ADP employment change and services PMIs, as well as Treasury quarterly refunding announcement at 8:30am New York time. For the US Treasury’s quarterly refunding announcement, dealers expect two- to 30-year auction sizes will be unchanged during the November-to-January period
IG dollar issuance slate includes at least two offerings so far. Three borrowers raised a combined $2.85b Wednesday. Issuers paid about 12bps of concession on deals that were 2.9 times covered. 

In commodities, gold is higher by $34 to around $3,964/oz. Oil prices up, Brent futures heading closer to $65/barrel. Bitcoin briefly fell below $100,000, though is now holding just above that level.

US economic calendar slate includes October ADP employment change (8:15am), October S&P Global US services PMI (9:45am) and October ISM services index (10am). Fed speaker slate empty for the session

Market Snapshot

• S&P 500 mini -0.2%
• Nasdaq 100 mini -0.1%
• Russell 2000 mini little changed
• Stoxx Europe 600 -0.4%
• DAX -0.7%
• CAC 40 -0.2%
• 10-year Treasury yield little changed at 4.09%
• VIX +0.5 points at 19.54
• Bloomberg Dollar Index little changed at 1226.45
• euro little changed at $1.148
• WTI crude +0.7% at $61/barrel

Top overnight News

• The government shutdown dragged into its 36th day becoming the longest in history. Every week that passes with Congress deadlocked costs the US economy between $10 billion to $30 billion, according to analysts’ estimates, with several landing in the $15 billion range. BBG
• A "handful" of moderate Senate Democrats are considering voting to end the government shutdown. The deal would pass three full-year appropriations bills to fund some agencies, along with a short-term bill that would reopen the rest of the government: WaPo
• Democrat Mikie Sherrill won the New Jersey Governor election and Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia Governor election, while Democrat Zohran Mamdani won the New York mayoral election.
• In addition to Mamdani’s victor in New York, Democrats also scored other victories throughout the country. The party won gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia around a message of economic affordability. California voters approved a new congressional map intended to create five new Democratic-leaning districts. BBG
• New Yorkers squeezed by the city’s housing crunch also voted in favor of proposals to fast-track affordable housing projects, expedite modest developments and create an appeals board, vote tallies recorded by the AP and the NYT showed. BBG
• The Chinese government has issued guidance requiring new data center projects that have received any state funds to only use domestically-made artificial intelligence chips. Order likely to affect U.S. chipmakers Nvidia, AMD, Intel as Beijing tries to cultivate domestic AI chipmakers like Huawei. RTRS
• Japan’s top currency official, Atsushi Mimura, said recent moves by the yen are deviating from what might be expected given interest rate differentials. The yen touched an eight-month low against the dollar after the BOJ left rates unchanged, despite subtle hints of a potential hike from Governor Kazuo Ueda. BBG
• A growing number of policymakers at the Bank of Japan believed that conditions were falling into place for interest rates to rise, with two members advocating an immediate increase, minutes of the central bank's September meeting showed on Wednesday. RTRS
• The Bank of England is exploring ways of encouraging lenders to use more of their regulatory capital buffers in a bid to boost economic growth. BBG
• German factory orders rose for the first time in five months. Demand increased 1.1% in September, led by automotive and electrical equipment manufacturers and beating estimates. BBG

Trade/Tariffs

• US President Trump posted the "United States Supreme Court case is, literally, LIFE OR DEATH for our Country. With a Victory, we have tremendous, but fair, Financial and National Security. Without it, we are virtually defenceless against other Countries who have, for years, taken advantage of us. Our Stock Market is consistently hitting Record Highs, and our Country has never been more respected than it is right now. A big part of this is the Economic Security created by Tariffs, and the Deals that we have negotiated because of them."
• US President Trump posts it was his "Great Honor to just meet with high level Representatives of Switzerland. We discussed many subjects including, and most importantly, Trade and Trade Imbalance. The meeting was adjourned with the understanding that our Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, will discuss the subjects further with Switzerland’s Leaders."
• White House posted the Executive Order modifying duties addressing the synthetic opioid supply chain in China.
• White House said it is not interested in selling to China at this time regarding NVIDIA (NVDA) Blackwell chips.
• China announced it will suspend 24% US tariffs for a year but will maintain 10% US tariffs, while it will lift some tariffs on US agriculture goods from November 10th.
• Chinese Premier Li said some unilateral and protectionist measures have had severe impacts on the economic world order, while he said they should uphold equality and mutual benefit and consolidate the foundation of legitimate common interest. Li stated that it is all the more important for them to stay committed to mutual cooperation and pursue free trade when economic growth is slowing. Furthermore, he said China is willing to stand with all parties to foster an open and inclusive environment, as well as commented that countries should not seek unilateral wins at the expense of others, and need to balance their interests against the greater good.
• White House said US President Trump feels positively about the relationship with India and trade teams continue to be in serious discussions, while it added that President Trump and Indian PM Modi speak frequently.
• China Commerce Ministry suspends unreliable entity list announced in April; removes entity list announced in March and will adjust the list.

A more detailed look at global markets courtesy of newsquawk

APAC stocks were mixed after an early sell-off following the losses stateside, where tech underperformed amid valuation concerns. ASX 200 was rangebound as resilience in defensives and the top-weighted financial sector provided a cushion. Nikkei 225 suffered heavy losses and briefly fell beneath the 50,000 level with the downturn led by tech-related stocks. KOSPI collapsed alongside the tech bloodbath, which prompted the Korea Exchange to briefly trigger sidecars on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ. Hang Seng and Shanghai Comp are mixed after paring most of their earlier losses following somewhat mixed Chinese RatingDog Services and Composite PMI data in which the former marginally topped estimates, but the composite figure slowed, while both the US and China made adjustments to their tariffs following last week's Trump-Xi talks.

Top Asian News

• BoJ Minutes from the September 18th-19th Meeting stated that members agreed current real interest rates are very low, and the BoJ is likely to continue raising interest rates if its economic and price projections materialise. Furthermore, members agreed there is high uncertainty on trade policy developments and their impact on the economy, while a few members said it is appropriate to maintain current monetary policy to scrutinise trade policy impact on the domestic and overseas economy, as well as prices.
• Japan's Top Currency Diplomat Mimura says recent JPY moves deviate from fundamentals, JPY long positions have been shrinking after summer. FX excessive volatility, not levels, is the main concern. There is some speculation in the market about Japan's macroeconomic policies, especially fiscal policy. A bit worried whether or not the current situation in the stock market might be a little too rapid.

European bourses (STOXX 600 -0.2%) opened entirely in the red, as the downbeat risk tone continues to follow through into today's session. Lack of pertinent newsflow and a slew of EZ PMIs have had little impact to change price action, which has been fairly rangebound throughout the day. European sectors hold a negative bias. Autos takes the top spot, buoyed by post-earning strength in BMW (+1.5%) after reporting decent Q3 metrics, and reiterating its FY outlook. Tech is found towards the foot of the pile, as AI-bubble fears continue to grow; ASML (-2%). Elsewhere, Novo Nordisk (+1%) has pared initial losses, despite poor headline metrics and trimming FY guidance.

Top European News

• UK Chancellor Reeves is to urge insurance bosses to increase investment in London, according to FT.
• The Times' Shadow MPC says that BoE should wait to cut rates again until after the November 26th budget. The decision was via a narrow 5-4 vote.
• Politico writes that the mood around French Socialist Party Leader Faure concerning the budget bills was rather optimistic. An associate cited said “What would be the point of a governing party doing all this work if they're not going to vote in the end?”.
• Riksbank maintains its rate at 1.75% as expected; reiterates that policy rate is expected to remain at this level for some time to come. The labour market is still showing weak development, although there are now some signs that a turnaround is on its way.
• ECB's Nagel says the ECB should be vigilant but not complacent on inflation.

FX

• The recent rally in the USD that has been driven by improving US-China relations, the hawkish FOMC announcement and yesterday's global equity selling has paused for breath. As the US shutdown enters its 35th day, matching its prior record, official US data releases remain suspended. However, today we will be presented by the latest ADP employment report and ISM services print. The former is expected to see employment in October rise to 28k from the -32k print in September. For the ISM print, consensus looks for the headline metric to pick-up to 50.8 from the neutral 50 mark. Elsewhere, today will see the commencement of the hearing on the legality of US President Trump's Reciprocal Tariff Policy. DXY remains below Tuesday's best at 100.25.
• EUR is attempting to stop the rot vs. the USD following a recent run of losses, which dragged EUR/USD down from a 1.1668 peak last week to a 1.1473 trough yesterday. Incremental macro drivers remain on the light side for the Eurozone with final services & composite PMIs and an unrevised ECB annual wage tracker failing to move the dial for the EUR.
• JPY is now only incrementally firmer vs. the USD following a bout of strength overnight as global equities continued to slip. USD/JPY delved as low as 152.97 before returning to levels above 153.50. Recent strength in JPY has been stemming more from the risk-aversion price action in the market as opposed to anything Japan-specific. Fleeting modest JPY appreciation was seen in early European trade after Japanese Top Currency Diplomat Mimura noted that recent JPY moves are deviating from fundamentals and that excessive FX volatility, not levels, is the main concern.
• GBP is attempting to atone for its recent run of losses, which have largely been driven by increasing odds of a December BoE cut and ongoing angst ahead of the November 26th budget. This angst was brought to the forefront yesterday following Chancellor Reeve's pre-budget speech in which she stopped shy of naming any specific policies but helped reaffirm the markets view that it will be a growth-negative event. Cable is holding above Tuesday's 1.3010 trough but some way off the 1.3139 peak.
• Antipodeans are mixed, with the Kiwi marginally outmuscling the Aussie on the cross. Overnight markets had Chinese Services/Composite PMI data, in which the former marginally topped estimates, but the composite figure slowed. Overall, quiet trade for the pair this morning, as the FX space awaits key US data.
• As was widely-expected, the Riksbank opted to keep rates unchanged and reiterated guidance that the "policy rate is expected to remain at this level for some time to come". Within its economic assessment, it was judged that the outlook for inflation and economic activity remains largely unchanged. SEK was little moved.

Fixed Income

• A firmer start to the day for USTs but only modestly so. Action for USTs overnight occurred in tandem with the broader risk tone, as a move lower in equity futures was seen around the beginning of the APAC session, the fixed benchmark picked up, taking USTs to an overnight 113-02 high. Thereafter, the benchmark drifted as the risk tone picked up off lows and stabilised. Nonetheless, USTs hold onto modest gains but are at the lower-end of a narrow 112-26 to 113-02 band. The docket ahead is packed from a US perspective. On the data front, the monthly ADP (reminder, they also do a weekly update now on non-NFP weeks) series is due and expected to come in at 28k (prev. -32k); ISM Services also due. The Quarterly Refunding Announcement is also due and is expected to maintain the nominal coupon auction sizes for the November-January period. Finally, the Supreme Court tariff hearing begins today with oral arguments to be presented for the first time.
• Bunds are echoing USTs in terms of overnight direction, though the magnitude of action has been slightly more pronounced, Bunds are in a 129.26-47 band but ultimately remain in the green by a tick or two, as is the case with USTs. No move to the morning’s final PMIs, posting upward revisions to the services and composite measures. The latest ECB wage tracker maintained the annual rate and did not spark any price action.
• Gilts are underperforming peers. Opened unchanged 93.66 before lifting a few ticks higher to 93.69, acknowledging the overnight move, and then slipping into the red and currently to a 93.50 trough, posting downside of 16 ticks at most. Pressure that sends Gilts back to the 93.49 low from Tuesday, but still above Monday’s 93.37 close and thus retaining some of the support derived from the late-Monday/early-Tuesday press briefings around potential UK tax moves. Overnight updates include The Times reporting that Reeves is considering removing the 5p cut to fuel duty (introduced in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine), as it is not being passed onto individual customers. That cut, alongside the duty freeze that has been in place since 2011, costs c. GBP 3bln/yr.

Commodities

• Crude benchmarks dipped at the start of the APAC session as Asian equities followed the sell-off seen stateside but gradually reversed as the European session got underway as risk sentiment improved a little. WTI and Brent dipped to a trough of USD 60.02/bbl and 63.92/bbl respectively before reversing to a peak of USD 60.90/bbl and 64.78/bbl as European players entered the market. Currently, crude benchmarks remain near session highs as markets wait for a new catalyst to drive the oil market. In the meantime, US ADP/ISM Services will keep markets busy.
• Spot XAU has rebounded from Tuesday’s selloff, which moved counter to the wider risk theme running through markets. XAU fell just shy of Tuesday’s low of USD 3928/oz at the start of the APAC session before trading higher to a peak of USD 3979/oz as the European session got underway. The yellow metal briefly extended higher to USD 3987/oz but has since fallen back into prior ranges. After falling over 12% from ATHs, there is a wider consensus that the pullback is mostly over as underlying drivers remain strong.
• Base metals have traded rangebound as the European session gets underway after 3M LME Copper fell for 4 straight days, its longest losing streak since late July. 3M LME Copper oscillates in a USD 10.58k-10.71k/t band as markets wait for a catalyst.
• US Private Energy Inventory Data (bbls): Crude +6.5mln (exp. +0.6mln), Distillate -2.5mln (exp. -2mln), Gasoline -5.7mln (exp. -1.1mln), Cushing +0.4mln.

Geopolitics

• IAEA's Grossi said Iran must seriously improve cooperation with UN inspectors to avoid heightening tensions with the West, according to FT.
• North Korea shows signs of preparing to launch additional spy satellites aided by Russia, while it was also reported that North Korean leader Kim could conduct a nuclear test in the near future if he wants, according to South Korea's spy agency.
• US Secretary of Defense Hegseth said the US military carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters in the Eastern Pacific.

US Event Calendar

• 7:00 am: Oct 31 MBA Mortgage Applications -1.9%, prior 7.1%
• 8:15 am: Oct ADP Employment Change, est. 30k, prior -32k
• 9:45 am: Oct F S&P Global U.S. Services PMI, est. 55.2, prior 55.2
• 9:45 am: Oct F S&P Global U.S. Composite PMI, est. 54.85, prior 54.8
• 10:00 am: Oct ISM Services Index, est. 50.8, prior 50

DB's Jim Reid concludes the overnight wrap

The last 24 hours have brought a clear risk-off move, as concerns over lofty tech valuations have hit investor sentiment. Markets compounded these losses in the early hours of Asian trading but have been rallying back in the couple of hours prior to going to print with US futures clawing back towards flat with the KOSPI rallying back a couple of percentage points from early -5% plus losses. In the main session yesterday, the S&P 500 (-1.17%) lost ground thanks to sharp losses among tech stocks, and there was a big slump for Palantir (-7.94%) after its earnings the previous day. Moreover, this pattern was clear across multiple asset classes, as US HY spreads (+10bps) ticked up for a 4th consecutive day, Brent crude oil (-0.69%) fell back again, whilst Bitcoin (-6.18%) fell below $100k for the first time since June, some -20% off its recent all-time highs.

In terms of overnight news, it was a big election day across many states in the US yesterday including NYC mayor and gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. While the Democrat victories that we've seen were expected in these high profile races, the party appears to have mostly outperformed opinion polls. So an early sign of an anti-incumbent party swing ahead of the mid-terms in a year’s time, even if one has to be cautious in the read across from state to federal elections. In NYC, the Democrats’ candidate and self-described democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the three-way mayoral race ahead of former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The vote was in part seen as a test of Mamdani’s leftist economic proposals which include higher local corporate and top-end income tax rates, though it is far from clear if these would get the necessary backing of the New York state legislature and Governor.

US political news will remain in the spotlight today as the Supreme Court is due to hear oral arguments in the case against Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs. Lower courts invalidated the IEEPEA tariffs back in the summer but left them in place pending appeal. While a ruling by the Supreme Court may take some time, today’s hearing could well provide hints of how the justices view the arguments. If the Supreme Court upholds the earlier decisions, it would impact many of the tariffs imposed this year, with implications for government revenue, though the administration may look to replace these using other statutes.

Back to yesterday and whilst the moves were only one day’s selloff, the market narrative saw a discernible shift, with a growing chorus discussing whether we might be on the verge of an equity correction. That speculation has gathered pace over the last month in particular, mainly because the Magnificent 7 has diverged from the rest of the S&P 500, which has revived questions about how concentrated this equity market now is. Indeed, whilst the Mag 7 have been advancing in recent weeks, the equal-weighted S&P 500 actually fell in October for the first time in 6 months.

Yesterday’s decline for Palantir (-7.94%) was seen as emblematic of this shift, particularly given they’d actually raised their revenue outlook the previous day. But given their share price had quadrupled in the last year, that’s set the bar incredibly high for any earnings releases. In fact, the Magnificent 7 (-2.28%) led the declines yesterday, with Nvidia itself down by a larger -3.96% as some of those top-performing stocks came under scrutiny. The S&P 500 ex-Mag-7 was also down a notable -0.75% with the equal-weight index -0.63% and the Russell 2000 -1.78%. For the S&P 500 itself (-1.17%), it was the worst day since October 10, when trade escalation fears between US and China spiked.

Whilst many assets struggled yesterday, US Treasuries benefited from the risk-off tone, with yields falling across the curve. So the 2yr yield (-2.9bps) fell back to 3.58%, whilst the 10yr yield (-2.5bps) fell to 4.09% (4.072% as I type in Asia). That came as investors dialled up the likelihood of a December rate cut again, particularly as fears of a larger equity correction gathered pace. So by the close, a December rate cut was back up to a 74% probability, and that move got further support from the decline in commodity prices, with Brent crude down -0.69% to $64.44/bbl. Despite the fall in yields, the dollar index (+0.35%) gained amid the risk-off mood, while gold (-1.73%) retreated.

Elsewhere, the mood hasn’t been helped by the ongoing US government shutdown, which is now the longest on record at 36 days today, surpassing the most recent 35-day shutdown in 2018-19. Interestingly, we did see mounting speculation yesterday about a potential deal between Republicans and Democrats, with hopes that a compromise will become more likely with yesterday’s elections out of the way. Indeed, the Polymarket odds of the shutdown continuing past November 16 have fallen from around 40% when we went to press yesterday to 27% now. We also heard from President Trump, who said that SNAP benefits (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) would only be given when the government was open, and he said in another post that the Senate filibuster should be terminated so Republicans could reopen the government themselves.

Overnight in Asia, markets are continuing their decline but are well off their early morning lows. The Nikkei (-2.62%) and Kospi (-2.83%) are leading the way with the latter down over -5% earlier. Elsewhere the sell-off is less severe with the Hang Seng (-0.31%) and ASX (-0.13%) rallying back towards flat and the Shanghai Composite (+0.14%) actually higher. NASDAQ futures are down -0.20% and S&P 500 futures down -0.07%, with the former rallying nearly a percentage point from the lows.

Earlier in Europe, the main news came from the UK, where gilts rallied after Chancellor Reeves delivered a speech that reassured markets about future bond issuance. Notably, she said that the “more we try and sell, the more it will cost us”, and she also affirmed that her “commitment to the fiscal rules is ironclad.” So that helped 10yr gilt yields to fall -1.0bps yesterday, ending the session at 4.42%. The speech comes ahead of the budget on November 26, and another significant feature was that Reeves didn’t rule out the prospect of tax rises either. That’s important, because the governing Labour Party promised at last year’s general election that they wouldn’t raise income tax, VAT or National Insurance (a payroll tax), so a shift in that stance would be a big political moment.

Elsewhere in Europe, the risk-off tone mirrored what we saw in the US, with the STOXX 600 (-0.30%) falling to a two-week low. Several of the major indices lost ground, including the DAX (-0.76%) and the CAC 40 (-0.52%), although the FTSE 100 (+0.14%) posted a modest gain as it was supported by the weakness in the pound sterling (-0.91% vs USD). Meanwhile, sovereign bonds rallied across the continent, with yields on 10yr bunds (-1.3bps), OATs (-0.6bps) and BTPs (-1.0bps) all falling back.

To the day ahead now, and data releases from the US include the ISM services index and the ADP’s report of private payrolls for October. Otherwise, we’ll get the final services and composite PMIs from the US and Europe, German factory orders for September. Otherwise, central bank speakers include the ECB’s Villeroy, Nagel and Kocher, along with the BoE’s Breeden. Earnings releases include McDonald’s and Qualcomm.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 08:18

Recession Watch: Could The Next One Be Right Around The Corner

Authored by Carlo Putti via BondVigilantes.com,

Recessions often appear crystal clear when analysed in retrospect.

It’s easy to sit back, glance at the Bloomberg screen, and spot the evident recession we had in 2008 or the dot-com bubble of 2000.

However, discerning whether an economy is on the brink of a recession, or even if it is already are in one, is considerably more challenging. Recessions often become obvious only once they are well underway, and by then, significant economic damage may have occurred. For instance, during the GFC (Great Financial Crisis), many viewed Lehman Brothers’ collapse in September 2008 and the simultaneous surge in unemployment as the onset of the recession. However, the recession started almost a year earlier in the fourth quarter of 2007. This shows that by the time most people realise there’s a recession, it is typically already in full swing. Additionally, macroeconomic data poses another challenge in early recession identification because it tends to be lagging and  subject to sharp revisions, altering the perceived state of the economy. Looking back at the GFC, labour market data in early 2008 still was showing a picture of positive job growth, suggesting economic robustness. It was only after subsequent revisions that these numbers were adjusted to reflect negative job growth, exposing the real extent of economic deterioration. These dynamics highlight why recessions seem obvious only after substantial damage has unfolded.

With that in mind, what can we discern about the current state of the US economy? Macroeconomic data doesn’t paint a bleak picture: the labour market appears robust and real growth is decent. Additionally, equity markets are at or near all-time highs while credit spreads remain historically low, suggesting that investors’ confidence in the economy’s durability is strong. But what if this perception is wrong? What if the US is on the edge of a recession, or even, what if it is already in one?

Typically, recessions are triggered by a substantial slowdown in monetary flow. When liquidity abounds and money flows smoothly, as it did post-Covid, the economy tends to boom. Conversely, when money flow halts and reverses, economic activity decelerates, ultimately causing significant job losses and a further downturn in economic growth. Therefore, monitoring monetary flows is crucial to gauging the future trajectory of the economy.

At a high level, money flows are primarily influenced by monetary and fiscal policies. During the Covid pandemic, both policies were expansionary, spurring the subsequent economic boom. Since then, monetary policy has become more restrictive, yet fiscal easing has replenished this shift, continuing to support economic expansion. However, today, we are confronted with a scenario where both monetary and fiscal policies appear to be restrictive, impeding the flow of money into the economy.

On the monetary front, commercial banks exhibit drastically muted lending activity, while the Federal Reserve is shrinking its balance sheet and maintaining relatively high interest rates.

On the fiscal side, things started to change under President Trump, driven by cuts and the introduction of tariffs, which increasingly appear to be paid domestically as opposed to be borne by the exporters.

This leaves us in a very different position compared to the post-Covid boom era. Now, monetary flows are stalling and reversing. While this trend might not yet be evident in widely followed macroeconomic data, it is beginning to appear in traditional recession indicators that investors have historically relied upon. Richard Woolnough recently discussed Dr. Copper, a long-standing indicator used by many to evaluate economic growth prospects. Building on this, below is a selection of other indicators that also suggest a similarly bleak economic outlook.

Source: University of Michigan, Bloomberg (CONSUEXR Index), 31 August 2025

Source: Conference Board, Bloomberg (USESTEMP Index), 31 August 2025

Source: Conference Board, Bloomberg (LEI YOY Index), 31 August 2025

Source: Conference Board, Bloomberg (NHSPATOT Index), 31 August 2025

Source: Bloomberg (USYC2Y10 Index), 31 August 2025

In conclusion, identifying a recession after it has happened is often very straightforward, but identifying one when you’re on the brink of it, or even in the middle of it, is much more challenging. Recessions don’t start when the labour market cracks. That’s only a consequence of the recession, not the cause. They begin when money stops flowing through the economy, slowing down growth, cutting profits, and leading to layoffs.

Since Covid, governments and central banks have been pouring money into the global economy, helping it to grow quickly. But now, both are tightening up, making it harder for money to move around freely, which is a big concern for the future. Some recession indicators are already suggesting a potential downturn in the US, yet investors seem overly optimistic, assuming a negligible chance of an impending recession. I believe this could be a mistake, and given the current macroeconomic environment, we should be more cautious and start discussing recession probabilities.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 08:05

Nigerian Officials Deny Christian Slaughter, Call For "Sit Down" With Trump

When South African president Cyril Ramaphosa traveled to the White House this year with his big grin and large entourage, he did not seem to understand the nature of the visit.  He seemed to believe he was there to wine and dine with President Trump, as he had done with Joe Biden on multiple occasions, and that American money would flow from the encounter as it always had. 

South Africa had become so accustomed to easy US cash they felt entitled to it.  What Ramaphosa did not understand, however, was that he was in Washington DC to be interviewed and tested.  He failed miserably.  His denials of mass murders and government oppression specifically targeting white farmers were exposed in real time.  The man was crushed like a bug in front of the very western liberal media that had protected his government from scrutiny.

A similar tone is being taken by the leaders of Nigeria.  With Trump threatening potential US intervention in the region due to ongoing attacks on Christians by Muslim militants, the Nigerian government is resorting to the same denials.  A Nigerian presidential adviser has made a statement to the press, asserting that the country refutes reports of Christian persecution, but is willing to have a 'sit down' with Washington to find a common front in fighting insurgency. 

Sources cited by the adviser do not have any regular observers on the ground in Nigeria, except for Amnesty International.  The left leaning organization is notorious for glossing over religious violence aimed at Christians in the country, designating it as a byproduct of non-religious civil unrest and crime, instead.  

It's a similar tactic used by South Africa to dismiss targeted violence and oppression of the white minority, along with crime data rigging to under-report murders or mislabel race motivated killings and politically motivated killings as simple "robberies gone wrong."  The problem is, the citizens and observers on the ground in these countries cannot be gaslit.  They see the tragedies unfold every day.

The data relies on how the attacks are categorized vs perceived motives of the culprits.  Some organizations post raw data on total Christians killed during these incidents while avoiding interpretations of motive.  Others specify motives and take a nuanced approach.  All of these groups, however, agree that Christians are vastly more likely to be killed due to militant violence than anyone else in Nigeria. 

Islamic militants of various terror groups do kill each other at times, often because of internal politics.  Christians are targeted specifically for their beliefs, while the Nigerian government attempts to partially blame them as if they are involved in the sectarian warfare.  

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a Nigeria-based NGO that produces detailed investigative reports on religious violence, estimates 125,000+ Christian deaths since 2009 (part of 185,000+ total civilian killings), with 7,087 killed in the first 220 days of 2025 alone, alongside 19,100 churches destroyed and thousands abducted.

Open Doors, an international Christian persecution watchdog, ranks Nigeria as the deadliest country for Christians in its annual World Watch List. It reports a more conservative 3,100–4,118 Christians killed for their faith in recent tracking periods (e.g., Oct. 2022–Sept. 2023), accounting for 70–82% of global faith-related Christian deaths.

International Christian Concern (ICC), a U.S.-based persecution monitor that tracks specific incidents via on-ground partners, documents attacks like the June 2025 Middle Belt killings (85+ Christians in one week) and Boko Haram raids.

Global Christian Relief estimate at least 4000 religiously motivated killings of Christians in Nigeria every year.

To be clear, there are no organized Christian militant or terrorist groups in Nigeria equivalent to Boko Haram, ISWAP, or radical Fulani militias that initiate systematic attacks on Muslims or others for religious reasons.  There are also no widespread attacks on Muslim Mosques in Nigeria, and there are no specific incidents of state officials singling out Muslim communities or religious buildings for demolition. 

For Christians it's a different story.  For example, in 2021 in Kaduna State (under Sharia Law), authorities demolished 263 buildings in the predominantly Christian Gracelands community in Zaria, including 6 churches, a school, and homes. Officials claimed the land belonged to an aviation college, despite residents holding certificates of occupancy. 

Events involving the government destruction of Christian properties are common across Nigeria.  The Nigerian government, though it boasts of being secular and balanced, has only had one Christian president in the past 50 years.  The rest have been Muslim, including the current president (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and vice president in control of the country since 2023.  Tinubu's wife is a Christian, but the base of power in Nigeria is with Muslim groups, primarily because they are willing and able to project violence at will.

This is why 12 of the 36 Nigerian states are under total Sharia Law.  The Nigerian government will be hard-pressed to convince Trump that Christians are not being singled out and targeted.  Too much evidence exists to the contrary, and simply categorizing political violence as average crime did not work for the South Africans, so it's unlikely to work for the Nigerians.  

Solutions will probably focus in financial cuts at first.  Nigeria receives over $1 billion annually from the US along with around $6.5 billion in FDI inflows.  Much of this cash can be frozen by Trump within days using sanctions and tariffs.  A kinetic response, though improbable, is currently on the table.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 04:15

Nigerian Officials Deny Christian Slaughter, Call For "Sit Down" With Trump

When South African president Cyril Ramaphosa traveled to the White House this year with his big grin and large entourage, he did not seem to understand the nature of the visit.  He seemed to believe he was there to wine and dine with President Trump, as he had done with Joe Biden on multiple occasions, and that American money would flow from the encounter as it always had. 

South Africa had become so accustomed to easy US cash they felt entitled to it.  What Ramaphosa did not understand, however, was that he was in Washington DC to be interviewed and tested.  He failed miserably.  His denials of mass murders and government oppression specifically targeting white farmers were exposed in real time.  The man was crushed like a bug in front of the very western liberal media that had protected his government from scrutiny.

A similar tone is being taken by the leaders of Nigeria.  With Trump threatening potential US intervention in the region due to ongoing attacks on Christians by Muslim militants, the Nigerian government is resorting to the same denials.  A Nigerian presidential adviser has made a statement to the press, asserting that the country refutes reports of Christian persecution, but is willing to have a 'sit down' with Washington to find a common front in fighting insurgency. 

Sources cited by the adviser do not have any regular observers on the ground in Nigeria, except for Amnesty International.  The left leaning organization is notorious for glossing over religious violence aimed at Christians in the country, designating it as a byproduct of non-religious civil unrest and crime, instead.  

It's a similar tactic used by South Africa to dismiss targeted violence and oppression of the white minority, along with crime data rigging to under-report murders or mislabel race motivated killings and politically motivated killings as simple "robberies gone wrong."  The problem is, the citizens and observers on the ground in these countries cannot be gaslit.  They see the tragedies unfold every day.

The data relies on how the attacks are categorized vs perceived motives of the culprits.  Some organizations post raw data on total Christians killed during these incidents while avoiding interpretations of motive.  Others specify motives and take a nuanced approach.  All of these groups, however, agree that Christians are vastly more likely to be killed due to militant violence than anyone else in Nigeria. 

Islamic militants of various terror groups do kill each other at times, often because of internal politics.  Christians are targeted specifically for their beliefs, while the Nigerian government attempts to partially blame them as if they are involved in the sectarian warfare.  

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a Nigeria-based NGO that produces detailed investigative reports on religious violence, estimates 125,000+ Christian deaths since 2009 (part of 185,000+ total civilian killings), with 7,087 killed in the first 220 days of 2025 alone, alongside 19,100 churches destroyed and thousands abducted.

Open Doors, an international Christian persecution watchdog, ranks Nigeria as the deadliest country for Christians in its annual World Watch List. It reports a more conservative 3,100–4,118 Christians killed for their faith in recent tracking periods (e.g., Oct. 2022–Sept. 2023), accounting for 70–82% of global faith-related Christian deaths.

International Christian Concern (ICC), a U.S.-based persecution monitor that tracks specific incidents via on-ground partners, documents attacks like the June 2025 Middle Belt killings (85+ Christians in one week) and Boko Haram raids.

Global Christian Relief estimate at least 4000 religiously motivated killings of Christians in Nigeria every year.

To be clear, there are no organized Christian militant or terrorist groups in Nigeria equivalent to Boko Haram, ISWAP, or radical Fulani militias that initiate systematic attacks on Muslims or others for religious reasons.  There are also no widespread attacks on Muslim Mosques in Nigeria, and there are no specific incidents of state officials singling out Muslim communities or religious buildings for demolition. 

For Christians it's a different story.  For example, in 2021 in Kaduna State (under Sharia Law), authorities demolished 263 buildings in the predominantly Christian Gracelands community in Zaria, including 6 churches, a school, and homes. Officials claimed the land belonged to an aviation college, despite residents holding certificates of occupancy. 

Events involving the government destruction of Christian properties are common across Nigeria.  The Nigerian government, though it boasts of being secular and balanced, has only had one Christian president in the past 50 years.  The rest have been Muslim, including the current president (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and vice president in control of the country since 2023.  Tinubu's wife is a Christian, but the base of power in Nigeria is with Muslim groups, primarily because they are willing and able to project violence at will.

This is why 12 of the 36 Nigerian states are under total Sharia Law.  The Nigerian government will be hard-pressed to convince Trump that Christians are not being singled out and targeted.  Too much evidence exists to the contrary, and simply categorizing political violence as average crime did not work for the South Africans, so it's unlikely to work for the Nigerians.  

Solutions will probably focus in financial cuts at first.  Nigeria receives over $1 billion annually from the US along with around $6.5 billion in FDI inflows.  Much of this cash can be frozen by Trump within days using sanctions and tariffs.  A kinetic response, though improbable, is currently on the table.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 04:15

Children Face Higher Risk Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders If Exposed To COVID-19 In Womb: Study

Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Children whose mothers contracted COVID-19 while pregnant face an elevated risk of developing autism or another neurodevelopmental disorder, according to a new paper.

A woman who is four months pregnant holds her belly in this photo taken on Aug. 10, 2018. Ulises Ruiz/AFP via Getty Images

About one in six children born to mothers who tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy was diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder by age 3, researchers with Mass General Brigham said in the study. That was higher than the one in 10 other children who received a diagnosis of one of the disorders and were born to a woman who did not have COVID-19 during pregnancy.

“These findings highlight that COVID-19, like many other infections in pregnancy, may pose risks not only to the mother, but to fetal brain development,” Dr. Andrea Edlow, a specialist at Mass General Brigham and the senior author of the paper, said in an Oct. 30 statement.

In the paper, published by the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology last week following peer review, the researchers detailed how they analyzed records from births that took place within the Mass General Brigham system between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021.

The time period was chosen due to there being universal COVID-19 testing in labor and delivery units across the system.

Mothers were defined as having COVID-19 if they tested positive for the illness during pregnancy, and defined as not having COVID-19 if they did not test positive.

The overwhelming majority of each group was unvaccinated, as vaccines only became available in late 2020.

Of the 18,124 women who gave birth and were tested, 861 tested positive for COVID-19 while pregnant.

Other records were reviewed to see if the children received neurodevelopmental diagnoses, using codes for autism and other disorders.

Sixteen percent, or 140 children, born to those women received a neurodevelopmental diagnosis by their third birthday, compared to 1,680, or 9.7 percent, of the 17,263 other children.

After adjustments, the researchers said COVID-19 infection during pregnancy was linked to 29 percent higher odds of neurodevelopmental disorders in children born to the COVID-positive mothers. The risk was higher for infection during the third semester.

Even though there was an elevated risk recorded, Dr. Roy Perlis, another author of the study, said in a statement that the “overall risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in exposed children likely remains low.”

Funding for the study came from grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Massachusetts General Hospital Executive Committee on Research.

In the conflicts of interest section, Perlis listed being a paid editor at another journal, the Journal of the American Medical Association, while Edlow said she is a consultant for several pharmaceutical companies, including Merck.

The researchers said one limit of the study was not tracking children’s diagnoses outside the Mass General Brigham system, which includes eight hospitals. Another was potentially missing asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 among pregnant women.

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 03:30

The EU Has A Rare Earths Problem, Poland May Have The Answer

Via Remix News,

The EU has a serious shortage of rare earths, which are vital for industrial and technological production on the continent. Poland may have at least a partial solution, and it has to do with Poland’s expertise in mining and extraction.

In a wide-ranging interview, Tomasz Zdzikot from the SET Foundation talks about how Europe has lagged behind in the mining of rare earth minerals for. years, with China clearly dominating the industry.

“Europe correctly diagnoses that raw materials are crucial, for example, in technological development and energy. (…) While the diagnostics have been good for over a decade, this has not translated into actions that could mitigate the identified risks,” the SET Foundation’s Tomasz Zdzikot told the DoRzeczy news portal.

A recent report from the SET Foundation addressed what the EU has identified as a key pillar of national security: the mining industry, and more broadly, ​​the raw materials industry.

Highlighting that Europe must “join the ongoing raw materials race,” Zdzikot said, “For over a decade, Europe has been correctly recognizing that raw materials are crucial, for example, in technological development and energy.”

How can Poland help?

This is where Poland’s mining industry will play a key role, Zdzikot told DoRzeczy. The country is not just involved in coal mining but copper mining, lithium mining, and titanium mining.

Poland’s KGHM is one of the world’s largest silver producers, as well as a major copper producer. The company has mines and mining projects in Chile, the United States, and Canada, allowing it to play a significant role in ensuring Europe’s resource security. 

He also emphasized that Europe must promote careers in mining. 

“From 2000 to today, the number of mining graduates in Europe has fallen by 60 percent. The average age of a miner in Europe is now over 50. Fortunately, we in Poland still have miners, experts, and excellent universities that educate miners,” Zdzikot said. 

“We also have excellent academic staff capable of leading complex projects,” he continued, adding that what Poland lacks “is a coherent resource policy.”

The EU as a whole must decide what raw materials to pursue to try to gain a competitive advantage. This can start in Poland, as the country can provide the continent with all the copper and coal it needs. However, Poland’s mining sector needs to be expanded to other resources as well. 

The SET Foundation report also calls for a European Commodities Fund to support raw material investments worldwide, help identify deposits, and establish financial structures to acquire rights to raw materials.

The challenges are huge

Europe is, however, currently vulnerable to disruptions in the supply of almost all key raw materials.

There are plans, the expert noted, to increase extraction, simplify and shorten procedures, and diversify supply sources, but the EU — along with many other countries — remains highly dependent on outside sources, namely, China.

This is no accident. China, the report emphasizes, has been pursuing its rare earths policy since the 1980s. Today, it supplies 100 percent of global demand for 10 heavy rare earth elements.

Asked about China’s recent decision to limit exports of rare earth metals, Zdzikot confirmed that all companies (including those outside China) that export products containing at least 0.1% Chinese rare earth elements or using Chinese mining, processing, or recycling technologies will be required to obtain a license issued by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. 

It was also announced that, as a rule, approvals will not be granted if it involves building military capabilities or even developing dual-use technologies, such as artificial intelligence with defense potential. 

In 2024, NATO published a list of 12 raw materials it designated as crucial to the defense industry. This is where China still enjoys a global monopoly, Zdzikot said. 

Electric vehicles and other key climate-friendly developments also require increasingly larger amounts of various resources. All in all, demand will be increasing across all metals and rare earth resources. 

For example, global demand for lithium is forecast to increase 40-fold between 2020 and 2040, 25-fold for graphite, and 7-fold for rare earth elements.

Mining countries have an edge

It would take years for countries to just acquire or develop the technology for extracting and processing rare earth resources. Highly advanced mining countries, such as Australia and Canada, estimate that at least six years are needed to achieve the capacity to refine rare earth elements without using Chinese technologies.

The European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act states that the EU aims to meet at least 10 percent of its demand for strategic raw materials through domestic extraction by 2030. Its goal is a processing capacity of 40 percent of its demand for strategic raw materials and a 25 percent recycling capacity. 

The Act also seeks to ensure that no country supplies the European Union with more than 65 percent of a single strategic raw material. 

The key to achieving all of this is to shorten the time required to get mining production up and running, according to Zdzikot.

Read more here...

Tyler Durden Wed, 11/05/2025 - 02:00

Russia Should Investigate The Taliban's Claim About US-Pakistani Drone Cooperation

Authored by Andrew Korybko via Substack,

While there are reasons to suspect that the Taliban has self-interested political motives in peddling lies about Pakistan, there are also reasons for Russia to take its latest claim very seriously...

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed over the weekend that “American drones are indeed operating in Afghanistan’s skies; they pass through Pakistani airspace and violate our airspace. This must not happen. They [Pakistan] are helpless here, they can’t stop it. Naturally, this should be seen as a form of incapability, and we understand that. We suspect that major global powers, those who once clashed with us or claimed Bagram are behind this pressure.”

He concluded by observing that “They don’t come directly, but they assign others to provoke unrest in the region and create pretexts. We stand firm against any conspiracy and won’t allow misguided ambitions to become reality in the region.”

His latest claim follows a similarly scandalous one from early October alleging that the Crocus terrorist attack was orchestrated from Pakistan.

The larger context concerns the cross-border violence between them that prompted fears of Pakistan invading Afghanistan.

This didn’t occur in a vacuum but amidst the rapid US-Pakistani rapprochement and Trump’s renewed demands to return US forces to Afghanistan’s Bagram Airbase, both of which preceded a report from the Financial Times about Pakistan offering the US a port ostensibly for economic purposes. Given this background, while there are reasons to suspect that the Taliban has self-interested political motives in peddling lies about Pakistan, there are also reasons for Russia to take its latest claim very seriously.

It’s not the first time that the Taliban claimed that those two are conspiring against it in this way.

Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob alleged around the one-year anniversary of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan that “US drone aircraft are coming from Pakistan and entering Afghanistan territory.” Pakistan denied that allegation just like it denied the latest one, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the CIA secretly reobtained access to drone bases there in exchange for Trump backing Pakistan over India lately.

Russia should therefore investigate the Taliban’s claim about US-Pakistani drone cooperation. Despite their own rapid rapprochement, Russia twice hinted in recent years that Pakistan might be playing a double game. The first indication came in November 2022 when Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said that “The Americans are openly blackmailing Taliban leaders, threatening them with a drone attack and forcing them to distance themselves from Russia and China”.

The innuendo was that these drone attacks would be facilitated by Pakistan letting the US use its airspace given that it’s the only realistic way for them to bomb Afghanistan. In late August of this year, Secretary of the Security Council Sergey Shoigu then wrote in an article that “The situation is aggravated by the recorded facts of the transfer of militants from other regions of the world to Afghanistan. There is reason to believe that behind these actions are the special services of a number of Western countries”.

As with what Kabulov said nearly three years prior, the innuendo is that Pakistan is facilitating the Western intelligence-backed infiltration of these terrorists into Afghanistan, once again due to it being the only realistic way for them to enter that country. Coupled with the Taliban’s recent claim that the Crocus terrorist attack was orchestrated from Pakistan, the pieces are in place for Russia to investigate whether its new partner is playing a double game and then reconsider their relations if this is confirmed.

Tyler Durden Tue, 11/04/2025 - 23:25