VENEZUELA & TRUMP: ESCALATING TENSIONS

The US president has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on any country purchasing Venezuelan oil or gas from April 2 onwards, should they continue their trade relations with the South American nation.

Venezuela and the United States severed diplomatic ties in 2019, during Trump’s first term, when his administration imposed an oil embargo after deeming Maduro’s 2018 re-election fraudulent.

Additionally, the US government has revoked the license allowing Chevron to operate in Venezuela, notifying the oil giant that it has until May 27 to wind down its operations in the country.

BOLSONARO ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTED COUP

Jair Bolsonaro is set to face trial for allegedly leading an attempted coup against Lula da Silva in Brazil’s 2022 elections.

Alongside him, seven military officials—including six former ministers—will also stand trial. The Supreme Court has accepted the prosecution’s case and supporting evidence, citing events dating back to 2021.

According to the indictment, the alleged coup plotters even considered assassinating President Lula and his Vice President.

NO TRUCE IN SIGHT

Talks between Russia and the US in Riyadh regarding the war in Ukraine have ended without a ceasefire agreement.

Russia insists that Washington should "order" Kyiv to negotiate a new Black Sea deal. One of the Russian negotiators described the talks as “intense, far from easy, but highly useful.”

Moscow is pushing for a relaxation of sanctions on Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports, aiming to reintegrate itself into the global grain and fertilizer trade.

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TAX HIKE

Trump has announced plans to impose tariffs on global automotive imports to the US, fulfilling his previous pledge to introduce a trade levy on foreign car and truck manufacturers.

He stated that the tariffs will apply to "all vehicles not made in the US" starting from April 3.

The announcement appears to exclude potential exceptions for Mexico and Canada, key players in the automotive supply chain with a free trade agreement with the US.

In Europe, Volkswagen—the region’s leading car manufacturer—faces significant exposure, with 43% of its US sales coming from Mexico, according to S&P Global Mobility. Competitors Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche are also under heavy pressure.

TESLA: MUSK WARNS OF STOCK VOLATILITY

Billionaire Elon Musk has acknowledged that Tesla will not be spared from the tariff policies introduced by Trump’s administration, despite being an advisor to the US president.

"It’s important to note that Tesla has not emerged unscathed from this issue. The impact of tariffs on Tesla remains significant," Musk stated in a brief message on X.

His remarks come after Trump’s April 2 announcement of a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles, an aggressive new move escalating the ongoing trade war.

GOLDMAN SACHS PREDICTS OIL SURGE BY 2026

Goldman Sachs has forecasted a further acceleration in gold’s rally throughout the year.

Analysts Lina Thomas and Daan Stuyven have raised their year-end projection from $3,100 to $3,300, citing strong ETF inflows and continued central bank demand for gold.

Large Asian central banks are expected to sustain aggressive gold purchases over the next three to six years as they work towards their gold reserve targets.

POTENTIAL AVAX ETF

The Nasdaq Stock Exchange has submitted a request to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list Grayscale Investments’ Avalanche spot ETF.

Filed on March 27, the request seeks a rule change to allow the listing of the Grayscale Avalanche Trust (AVAX). If approved, the fund would be converted from its existing closed-end structure, initially launched in August 2024.

FRANCE MOVES TO BOOST CRYPTO INDUSTRY

France’s state-owned investment bank Bpifrance has announced a €25 million ($27 million) investment in cryptocurrencies to support local blockchain projects.

In a March 27 press release, Bpifrance stated that it aims to fund emerging projects with a strong French footprint, receiving tokens in exchange for its investment.

The initiative will focus on DeFi, staking, tokenization, and AI.

Backed by France’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, the plan seeks to foster innovation and strengthen the French blockchain ecosystem.

IMF TO FACTOR IN BITCOIN IN GLOBAL ANALYSIS

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to integrate Bitcoin into its global macroeconomic statistics, signaling an implicit recognition of its growing significance.

Key areas of focus include:

• Bitcoin Holdings: Countries will report total Bitcoin holdings by residents and entities, valued in local currency.

• Bitcoin Transactions: Data will cover total Bitcoin transaction volume, both domestic and cross-border.

• Impact on Balance of Payments: The IMF will analyze how Bitcoin transactions affect each country’s trade balance, including imports and exports settled in crypto.

This marks a new chapter in the global evaluation and regulation of digital assets.

BRAZIL BANS WLD

Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD), under the Ministry of Justice, has rejected Worldcoin’s request to resume iris biometric data collection in exchange for crypto.

The decision maintains the ban imposed in January 2025, aligning with several other countries that have halted Worldcoin’s operations.