France faces severe unrest with approximately 550,000 protestors participating in violent demonstrations, resulting in extensive property damage and over 2,400 arrests. This upheaval exacerbates France's fiscal concerns, impacting markets as the CAC 40 index dropped 1.3 per cent amid rising borrowing costs.
Meanwhile, US policy shifts have led to a waiver on certain sanctions against Russian exports, although Brent crude prices fell slightly to USD 107.57 per barrel as geopolitical tensions continue to influence the oil market.
Concurrently, the Democratic Republic of Congo is tightening mining controls and expanding domestic processing capabilities, aiming to increase the value derived from its copper and cobalt resources, which could reshape global supply chains. Lastly, the LNG market is tightening due to disrupted Middle East exports and high European prices, as competition among buyers intensifies ahead of the winter season.