Russian-Ukrainian negotiators shake hands,
On the evening of March 3, Beijing time, the second round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations began. The talks took place in the Belovezh Forest in Belarus, the specific location is unknown, and it was agreed by both sides to be a "hunter's hut".
Whether this round of negotiations can ease the current tension between Russia and Ukraine has been highly concerned by the global market.
Affected by the recent situation in Russia and Ukraine, global commodity energy prices continued to soar on the 3rd. Among them, the price of crude oil in New York in the United States broke through $115 / barrel for the first time since September 22, 2008, and once reached $116.57 / barrel. The price of Brent crude oil in Europe is approaching $120 / barrel, and at one point it reached $119.84 / barrel.
In terms of base metals, the London Metal Exchange (LME) benchmark aluminium and nickel prices continue to brush record highs. It is worth noting that on the 3rd day, Rusal United Company (00486. HK) rebounded sharply, with a maximum gain of 23.34%.
In the current international environment, the notorious US arms dealer can be described as a "disaster fortune", and related stocks have risen sharply in recent days. Shares of U.S. military giants Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon have been rising since the end of February. In the last five trading days, Lockheed Martin shares have risen more than 18%, Northrop Grumman has risen by 16%, and Raytheon has risen nearly 10%.
The second round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations was held on the evening of the 3rd
The Russian-Ukrainian war entered its second week, and the second round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, which had been scheduled for the evening of March 2, was postponed to March 3. According to CCTV news, on March 3 (Note: Beijing time on the evening of the same day), Ukrainian negotiators arrived in the Belovezh Forest by helicopter. Subsequently, the second round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations officially began.
Earlier, meginsky, head of the Russian delegation, said that the second round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations will be held at 15:00 local time on March 3. Meginsky said the news about the timing and location of the change in the talks was not in line with the facts and that the talks would take place in brest Oblast.
Meginsky said that the Russian side has put forward negotiations proposals to the Ukrainian side from three aspects: military technology, humanistic international relations, and politics.
Podoriak, an adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, said the second round of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations would discuss the establishment of humanitarian corridors. Members of the Ukrainian delegation also stated that it was planned to agree with Russia on the establishment of a number of humanitarian corridors in the new round of negotiations.
Earlier, Mekzynski said that in the first round of negotiations, Russia and Ukraine put forward their respective positions, and the Russian side put forward some suggestions for an immediate ceasefire. The two sides reached an understanding on some issues, but on some issues of principle, the Ukrainian delegation needed time to seek the views of the Ukrainian leadership.
On the 2nd local time, the US government announced a new round of economic sanctions against Russia and Belarus, including the implementation of export control policies for Belarus to prevent scientific and technological software and technology from flowing into Russia through Belarus. The European Union also announced on the same day that it would increase sanctions against Belarus. At the same time, the United States and its NATO allies have downplayed their responses over some references to military intervention in the situation in Ukraine and the establishment of no-fly zones in Ukraine. The United States also said that sanctions on Russian oil and gas exports will not be ruled out, but will not act at the moment and is considering various possible impacts.
On March 3, Rogozin, general manager of the Russian National Space Corporation, said that Russia had stopped supplying rocket engines to the United States. Rogozin also said that in the face of sanctions, Russia's space program will be adjusted and will give priority to defense satellites.
Oil prices approached $120 per barrel, and commodities such as aluminum and nickel hit record highs
Affected by tensions, global commodity prices such as crude oil continue to soar. On March 3, the price of U.S. WTI crude oil exceeded $115/b for the first time since September 22, 2008, reaching $116.57/b at one point. The price of Brent crude oil in Europe is approaching $120 / barrel, and at one point it reached $119.84 / barrel.
At the same time, aluminum and nickel prices also hit record highs. Among them, the benchmark aluminum price and nickel price of the London Metal Exchange (LME) continued to rise sharply. On March 3, the international aluminum price rose by more than 3700 US dollars / ton, once again refreshing the high point record of 3380 US dollars / ton in 2008. Domestic Shanghai aluminum is also following the rise, shanghai aluminum main contract closed at 23,800 yuan / ton, an increase of 3.71%; up 17.6% from the beginning of the year.
On March 3, Rusal Associates (00486. HK) rebounded sharply, rising 23.34% intraday, and the stock closed at HK$3.65 on the day, closing up 5.19%. RUSAL is one of the world's largest primary aluminum producers, with an annual output of about 4 million tons of electrolytic aluminum. About 80% of them are used for export. In the past 10 trading days, due to sanctions imposed by Russia and other factors, the company's stock price has plummeted from HK$9.2 to HK$3.47, a cumulative decline of more than 60%.
On the other hand, the dollar exchange rate of the Moscow Foreign Exchange Exchange Office in Russia hit a new high. As of now, the ruble has briefly fallen below 110 to 1 against the dollar. The euro exchange rate at the Moscow Foreign Exchange Office in Russia also hit a new high, with the ruble falling below 122 to 1 at one point.
According to data from the European Intercontinental Exchange (ICE Futures Europe), the price of high-quality thermal coal futures shipped at the port of Newcastle, Australia, which is the benchmark coal price in Asia, rose to $446 / ton on March 2, up $140.55 in a single day, an increase of 46%, the highest level since 2008. On Feb. 25, the closing offer was just $238/mt, which means it's up 87% over 3 trading days.
Negotiations to resume the Iranian nuclear agreement have entered a critical week
It is worth noting that at present, the negotiations on the resumption of the Iranian nuclear agreement have entered a critical week. Western diplomats warned on Monday that talks could break down if a deal is not reached this week. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hatibzadeh said that all parties have jointly drafted "more than 98%" of the draft agreement in the negotiations between the parties involved in the Iranian nuclear agreement, and Iran is reviewing it.
Speaking at a news conference on the Iranian nuclear negotiations in Vienna, Khatibzadeh said there are still individual issues that require political decisions from Western countries, including the lifting of sanctions, the provision of "assurances" and some political accusations against Iran's peaceful nuclear activities. He once again stressed that the Iranian side refused to set a deadline for the negotiations.
In the past few days, Iran's Supreme National Security Council has held several meetings on the Iranian nuclear negotiations in Vienna, and Iranian President Lehi has also attended. Iran's negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister Bagheri, who returned to Vienna on the evening of February 27, will work to promote the resolution of outstanding issues. In the negotiations, Iran has been trying to explain its red line and position to the West. He said that Iran's red line cannot be broken, and the West should not dwell too much on it.
U.S. arms dealers made a big "disaster fortune" and their stocks soared
The war between Russia and Ukraine continued to burn, and the US arms dealers once again issued "disaster money."
Shares of several U.S. military giants — Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon — have all risen sharply since the end of February. As of the time of the chinese reporter's press release, in the past 5 trading days, Lockheed Martin's stock price has risen by more than 18%, Northrop Grumman has risen by more than 16%, and Raytheon's stock price has risen by nearly 10%.
As early as the end of January, Thor and Lockheed Martin executives were bragging everywhere that tensions in Places like Ukraine would benefit the sales performance of military companies.
Due to the close relationship between the US military industry enterprises and the US government and Congress, a powerful military industry interest group has been formed, also known as the "military-industrial complex". Former US Congressman and Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential election in the United States, Tursi Gabbard, said bluntly that the US government continues to stir up trouble on the situation in Ukraine, just for its own selfish interests, the military-industrial complex will make a lot of money due to the war, but the people of the United States, Ukraine, and Russia will pay a huge price.
Editor-in-Charge: Ringoon