Pakistan's Defense Minister: We have informed Iran that we are considering the joint defense agreement between us and Saudi Arabia.

Energy: 1. LNG carrier freight rates doubled to $200,000 in a single day. 2. The Iranian crisis threatens global supply, causing European natural gas prices to surge by as much as 50%. 3. Baltic Exchange: Tanker freight rates soared to record levels due to the Middle East conflict, with benchmark tankers earning $424,000 per day. 4. Sources: Saudi Aramco's Rastanura refinery, which was attacked and caught fire by Iranian drones, has been shut down as a precaution, and the situation is under control. 5. JPMorgan Chase stated that even a 3-4 week disruption to passage through the Strait of Hormuz could force Gulf Cooperation Council member states to shut down oil production and push Brent crude prices above $100 per barrel. 6. Goldman Sachs: Due to disruptions in Qatar's LNG supply, it raised its April 26 TTF natural gas price forecast to €55/MWh ($19/MMBtu), up from €36/MWh previously. The JKM gas price forecast for April 2026 has been revised upwards from $11.90/MMBtu to $20/MMBtu. Precious Metals and Mining: 1. A key copper export route from the Democratic Republic of Congo has been disrupted due to a bridge collapse. 2. Uzbekistan has suspended gold exports, with no resumption date set. 3. Reports indicate that Singapore is partnering with several banks to establish a regional gold hub. 4. Risks of conflict in Iran are pushing up aluminum prices; Goldman Sachs predicts it could rise to $3,600 per ton. 5. BMI: If the situation in the Middle East continues, gold prices may reach a record high this week. The Middle East conflict could push aluminum prices to $3,700 per ton. 6. The Governor of the Central Bank of Serbia: Amid escalating external risks, Serbia is increasing its buffer funds and gold reserves. Other: 1. Shanghai Pudong Airport and Yangshan Port have adjusted flights and routes involving the Middle East. 2. The oil tanker "AthenNova" has been attacked by a drone and has stopped sailing in the Strait of Hormuz. 3. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC): Has suspended all global freight bookings to the Middle East. 4. Shipping giant Maersk: Will suspend the entry and exit of refrigerated cargo and dangerous/special cargo to and from the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia until further notice.

[Futures Market Hotspot Tracking] The inverted price difference between domestic and international markets has triggered a wave of order cancellations. The Indian soybean oil market has seen a large-scale cancellation of shipments, with approximately 75,000 tons of soybean oil originally destined for Brazil and Argentina being cancelled. The market generally expects this figure to eventually climb to this range!