Chile’s ambassador to India has called for a deeper strategic partnership to jointly develop critical minerals such as copper and lithium and integrate related value chains to support India’s energy security and decarbonisation goals. The proposal highlights Chile’s position in copper—22% of global production and 21% of reserves—alongside investment incentives including R&D tax credits and a new business visa system. The initiative is framed as a policy-level opportunity linked to a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) currently under negotiation and does not set out specific projects or orders.

The Trump administration plans to press Congress to permanently authorize year-round sales of E15 gasoline, a 15% ethanol blend, removing current summer restrictions. The move is intended to help lower fuel costs amid recent pressure on gasoline prices. While easing tensions with Iran has pushed oil prices down, making the change permanent would reduce support for the summer gasoline premium and give refiners more blending flexibility, adding downside pressure to spot gasoline and near-dated futures prices.

COMEX gold prices moved back above $4,000 an ounce, while silver rebounded by $1 an ounce in a single session. The move was driven mainly by a softer US dollar index, which boosted the appeal of dollar-denominated precious metals. The rally reflected a short-term technical breakout and a currency-linked move rather than fresh inflation or a sudden geopolitical escalation, and it also triggered program-driven buying and reactions around key option strike levels.

Wheat futures were mixed on Thursday, with Chicago SRW and MIAX contracts edging higher while most Kansas City HRW and Minneapolis spring wheat contracts declined. USDA reported weekly export sales of 504,489 MT for the week of 6/18, near the top of trade estimates of 250,000 to 600,000 MT. The sales total was 25.86% above the prior week and nearly double the same week last year. Global 2026/27 wheat production was estimated at 821 MMT, while ending stocks were revised lower and EU production and stocks were also trimmed.

USDA reported weekly cotton export sales of 83,864 running bales (RB) for 2025/26 in the week of 6/18, a six-week low but slightly above the same week last year. New-crop sales totaled 67,089 RB, also a six-week low. Shipments reached 300,155 RB, a four-week high and up 46.64% from the same week in 2025. ICE cotton futures showed a weaker nearby July contract and firmer deferred months, with July down 187 points while December and March posted gains.

AAVE has broken a key resistance level as activity on the Aave protocol strengthens. DeFi lending fees on the network have surged, with fees reaching $40.69 million over the past 30 days. USDT deposits on Aave’s Ethereum Core market are approaching $3 billion, adding to bullish sentiment around the token.

Mike McCluskey said bitcoin’s decline reflects its high-beta linkage to tech stocks, not a breakdown in crypto-specific fundamentals. On Tuesday, June 23, South Korea’s Kospi fell more than 8% and triggered a Level 1 circuit breaker amid a sharp global semiconductor selloff. McCluskey argued the shock spread from Seoul to the Nasdaq and helped drive BTC down to $59,018.

As Bitcoin fell to $59,307, veteran trader Bob Loukas urged investors to stay calm and argued that Bitcoin is “not dead.” He said what is fading is the social-media narrative of quick profits. Loukas framed the sell-off as part of a bear-market process rather than an end to the asset.