Introduction Global energy and finance are built on two critical chokepoints: physical maritime straits and digital payment networks. A rapid closure of the Strait of Hormuz or the exclusion of major banks from SWIFT both expose how these nodes underpin the financialization of commodities. When disrupted, they fracture benchmarks, contracts, hedging, insurance, and currency flows. […]
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The shift in oil prices from 1982 to 2026 caused a radical change in home affordability as interest rates fell, the cost of driving fell and the US had a massive buildout of “far suburbs.” That system seems to be reversing itself. The structure of U.S. housing demand is closely tied to energy costs, especially […]
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On January 3, 2026, a U.S.-led military operation successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a large-scale strike on Caracas and other targets. President Donald Trump announced the operation, which removed the couple from the country to face U.S. charges, including narco-terrorism. While the intervention has drawn international criticism and […]
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