The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia to the U.S. rose to their highest level since June 2022 in the latest week.

1. State of the Union Address Preview – US President Trump: I will address the economy in my State of the Union address. The White House press office announced that President Trump will deliver his State of the Union address to the Senate and House of Representatives on February 24. 2. Gaza Aid Talks – US Media: President Trump's Peace Committee will pledge $5 billion for Gaza reconstruction. According to sources, JPMorgan Chase is in talks to provide banking services to Trump's Peace Committee. 3. Lawsuit by Environmental Organizations Seventeen US environmental organizations and public health groups filed a lawsuit on February 18 against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its Administrator Lee Zeldin in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, opposing the Trump administration's decision to overturn the agency's 2009 greenhouse gas hazard designation. 4. US Trade Deficit to Reverse for the First Time in Decades This Year US President Trump: Due to tariffs imposed on other companies and countries, the US trade deficit has decreased by 78%. This year, the trade deficit will turn positive, the first time in decades. 5. Ensuring Sufficient Supply of Elemental Phosphorus and Herbicides – A White House official stated that Trump signed an executive order ensuring sufficient supplies of elemental phosphorus used by the U.S. military and glyphosate-based herbicides commonly used in U.S. agricultural production. 6. Reportedly, Strike Against Iran Could Be Launched as Early as Saturday According to CBS News, citing sources familiar with the matter, senior U.S. national security officials have informed Trump that the military could launch a strike against Iran as early as Saturday, but the timeline for any action could be extended beyond the end of the week. Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to launch a strike. 7. Criticism of Britain, Aimed at Iran Following his earlier statement that Britain's return of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius was "utterly foolish," U.S. President Trump again criticized Britain on the 18th for making a "major mistake." He also stated that if Iran "does not reach an agreement," the U.S. "may" need to utilize the U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, the main island of the Chagos Islands.

Spot palladium rose more than 2.00% on the day, currently trading at $1,730.19 per ounce.