Global equities hit records as metals rebound

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, setting the stage for a critical discussion between two leaders with a history of public friction. The meeting follows a US operation last month that captured Venezuela’s president, an action that drew sharp criticism from Petro and escalated tensions.

The relationship between Petro and Trump has been notably contentious. Petro has openly challenged US actions in the Caribbean, while Trump has repeatedly threatened Colombia over the flow of cocaine into the United States.

Protesters in Bogota demand respect for Colombian sovereignty ahead of President Petro's meeting with US President Trump.

Diplomacy Amid Drugs and Deportations

Officials in the Trump administration have stated that the talks will focus on counternarcotics efforts and security cooperation. The meeting comes as Colombia has recently taken steps that align with US interests.

On Tuesday, Colombia extradited a drug lord to the US, resuming a practice that had been stalled for months amid government negotiations with armed drug trafficking groups. Furthermore, Colombia agreed last Friday to begin accepting US deportation flights.

Despite the recent animosity, Trump appeared to soften his tone on Monday, suggesting that Petro is now more willing to cooperate with Washington on drug control.

"Somehow after the Venezuelan raid, he became very nice," Trump told reporters. "He changed his attitude very much... We're gonna have a good meeting."

A History of Public Clashes

Both Trump and Petro are known for their unpredictable leadership styles and use of bombastic rhetoric. The invitation for Petro to visit Washington came directly after the US operation that ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, a move the Colombian president heavily condemned.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro (left) and US President Donald Trump (right) have a history of public criticism and tense relations.

At the time, Trump referred to Petro as a "sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States." When a reporter asked in January if the US would consider a similar operation in Colombia, Trump responded, "It sounds good to me."

Nevertheless, Petro accepted the invitation to the White House following a phone call that both leaders described in positive terms.

Sanctions and a Strained Alliance

Petro, a leftist leader elected in 2022, has frequently clashed with Trump since the US president returned to office last year. Amid their ongoing feud, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Petro and members of his family, citing his failure to curb cocaine trafficking. These sanctions had to be waived to permit Petro's travel to Washington this week.

The upcoming meeting carries significant weight, as Colombia has traditionally been the United States' most steadfast ally in Latin America and a central partner in its foreign counternarcotics strategy.

FUNDAMENTAL OVERVIEW

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Source: investinglive

The U.S. government is preparing to issue a general license that would permit companies to resume pumping oil in Venezuela. This marks a critical step in the Trump administration's plan to ease sanctions and rebuild the nation's struggling energy sector.

Sources familiar with the plan indicate the Treasury Department could release the new license as early as this week. While the Treasury has not officially commented, the White House has signaled its intent.

"The President's team is working around the clock to ensure oil companies are able to make investments in Venezuela's oil infrastructure. Stay tuned!" said Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman.

This policy shift is designed to attract U.S.-linked companies to help rebuild production in Venezuela, a nation with some of the world's largest oil reserves. The move follows a U.S. military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.

A Broader Strategy to Revive the Oil Sector

The upcoming license for production builds on previous measures aimed at restarting Venezuela's oil trade. Last week, the U.S. issued a separate general license authorizing companies to buy and sell Venezuelan crude. That license covered downstream activities like loading, exporting, and refining oil, provided the operations were handled by an "established US entity."

Before that, the administration had granted individual approvals to trading giants Trafigura Group and Vitol Group to restart Venezuelan oil sales. These moves helped clear a bottleneck caused by a partial U.S. naval blockade that had stifled exports and filled the country's storage tanks to capacity.

With exports flowing again, Venezuela's heavy sour crude is re-entering the global market. The primary destination is now shifting from Chinese buyers, who had absorbed discounted supply under previous sanctions, back to U.S. refiners, which were historically the top market for Venezuelan oil.

The New Political and Economic Framework

Following the capture of Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3, the Trump administration has backed his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez. A core part of its stabilization plan involves asserting control over Venezuela's dilapidated oil industry.

A central pillar of this strategy is a new payment system. Companies with U.S. connections operating in Venezuela are now required to deposit payments into a U.S.-controlled bank account in Qatar. The Trump administration then releases these funds to Venezuela's Central Bank, which in turn auctions the dollars to private local operators.

Investor Caution and Signs of Opening

Despite these new frameworks, companies without an existing presence in Venezuela remain cautious. According to sources, concerns about political risk and the long-term stability of the current government are holding back new investment.

Still, the Rodríguez government is taking steps to improve the business climate, running parallel to the U.S. initiatives. These measures include:

• Improving fiscal terms for oil companies.

• Releasing political prisoners.

• Separately, the U.S. has reopened Venezuelan airspace to commercial flights.

Price Discovery Starts in Futures, Not in Physical Metal

Margin Pressure Can Force Selling

Crowded Positioning Makes the Drop Sharper

Liquidity Demand Can Spill Into Silver

Renko Structure Shows a Release Phase, Not a Structural Bear Trend

Fundamentals Are Still Part of the Longer Story

Outlook

Source: investing

Key Points:

• Support emerges near $80: Silver is attempting to carve out a floor, with the $80 level and the 50‑day EMA offering initial support. Traders hope for a measured recovery toward $100 rather than another impulsive rally.
• Downside risk to $50 persists: A drop below $70 could see the metal retest the long‑term $50 breakout point. This scenario explains why caution and disciplined risk management remain essential.
• Recovery may be slow: Friday's sell‑off scarred the market; wide stops and small positions are prudent as confidence rebuilds. Still, the current stabilization could signal the start of a gradual rebound.

Silver Price Analysis – Silver Starting to Build a Floor

Silver continues to search for a bottom after last Friday's wipeout. Although prices are stabilizing, caution remains warranted in this volatile market.

Silver finds support near $80 and the 50‑day EMA

The silver market rallied slightly during early Tuesday trading as the $80 level — and the 50‑day exponential moving average — provided support. Traders see short‑term dips as buying opportunities as the metal tries to grind back toward the $100 mark. However, analysts caution that a slow and steady advance would be healthier than the impulsive behaviour seen previously.

Source: TradingView

Market scenarios and recovery outlook

There remains a distinct possibility that silver could fall below $70 and retest $50, a level that served as a ceiling for decades. The market broke out above $50 without retesting it, so some traders are watching for a pullback to that region.

Last Friday's dramatic candlestick has left the market scarred, and confidence may take time to rebuild. Wide stop losses and smaller position sizes are advised to manage risk: the last thing you want is to be caught in another large move and see your account evaporate. Despite the uncertainty, the recent stabilization represents a promising start to a potential recovery.

Source: FX Empire

The Canadian government is weighing the return of federal subsidies for electric vehicles as it prepares to launch a new national automotive strategy. According to sources familiar with the matter, the administration of Prime Minister Mark Carney is working to balance its climate objectives with a rapidly changing global trade landscape.

A Look Back at the Original iZEV Program

The potential revival follows the suspension of Canada's original EV incentive program, known as iZEV, over a year ago. The initiative, which provided buyers with up to $5,000 toward the purchase of eligible zero-emission vehicles, was halted after its funding was depleted by a surge in consumer demand.

What to Expect from the Broader Auto Plan

The upcoming national strategy is expected to provide clarity on several key issues facing the sector. A senior Canadian official indicated the plan will address not only consumer rebates but also the status of the recently paused federal EV sales mandate. Furthermore, it will tackle crucial topics like infrastructure requirements and how to manage recent interest from foreign investors.

Trade Deal with Beijing Shapes Domestic Policy

This policy shift comes on the heels of a high-profile visit to Beijing, where Prime Minister Carney negotiated new automotive trade terms. During the summit, Canada agreed to lower tariffs on as many as 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles imported annually.

In return for this concession, Beijing committed to reducing or removing its trade barriers on a range of Canadian agricultural exports. The senior official emphasized that the new auto strategy would provide much-needed direction for a sector already facing "extreme pressure" from evolving global trade dynamics.

Cabinet members have not disclosed the potential financial scale of any renewed rebate program. The finalized national automotive strategy is reportedly scheduled for a public release later this month.