FITCH RATINGS: GOLD PRICE DECLINE PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON INDIA’S GOLD-LOAN RISK CONTROLS

CHINA'S MOST ACTIVE FUTURES OPEN MOSTLY HIGHER; LOW-SULFUR FUEL OIL +8%, SC CRUDE +6%, FUEL OIL, PP +5%, SHFE ALUMINUM +3%; CAUSTIC SODA, SYNTHETIC RUBBER FALL

Iran conflict: • U.S. Vice President Vance hints at no long-term US presence in Iran • Iran threatens to hit USS Abraham Lincoln if it comes within missile range • Iran says it's 'waiting' for a possible U.S. ground assault • Iran strikes U.S.-linked aluminum facilities in the UAE and Bahrain; Aluminium Bahrain says two injured, damage under assessment • Iran says it destroyed a U.S. E-3 AWACS aircraft, releases satellite images • Iran’s parliament speaker says pre-market “news” was a trap for profit-taking and a contrarian signal • Pakistan’s foreign minister says preparations underway to host Iran-U.S. peace talks in coming days • U.S. troop levels in the Middle East exceed 50,000 • Donald Trump says he wants to “take the oil in Iran,” suggests seizing Kharg Island Geopolitics & military (ex-Iran): • China’s defense ministry sends delegation to Europe for mechanism-based dialogue • U.S. officials say Washington allowed a Russian oil tanker to dock in Cuba • Israel to invite U.S. military to establish bases in the country Global policy & economy: • WTO discusses extending moratorium on e-commerce tariffs for five years • Swiss president says U.S.-Switzerland trade talks to continue beyond March • U.S. Treasury to begin series of meetings in coming weeks with domestic and international insurance regulators on private credit markets – sources Energy & commodities: • Libya’s Sharara oil field output seen returning to normal within 48 hours • South Korea’s vice finance minister says government may activate level-3 resource crisis response if oil prices rise U.S. politics: • Fox News poll shows U.S. voter disapproval of Trump hits record high • Senate hearing for Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh could begin as early as week of April 13 – sources Corporate & technology: Business Insider: final founding member of Elon Musk’s xAI team departs this week Tesla plans to double size of its service center network in Japan