Flash News

TREE NEWS reports: France’s 10-year government bond yield fell 5.7 basis points to 5.019% in late European trading on Friday, Oct. 23, marking its largest single-day decline since Oct. 6, though it still rose 21.4 basis points over the week after climbing from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22. The 30-year French yield dropped 5.1 basis points to 5.448%, while the two-year was roughly flat at 3.802%. Italian, Spanish and Greek 10-year yields ended the week higher.

TREE NEWS update: Iran’s central bank governor said the country remains able to finance its imports despite economic pressure from Washington, and that this capacity will extend beyond US President Donald Trump’s term. The remarks address Iran’s import financing capability under sustained US sanctions pressure.

TREE NEWS update: Russian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov announced a cessation of hostilities and a “silent regime” in the Kherson direction from 4:00 a.m. Moscow time on October 27, 2026. The White House said the same day that the United States brokered a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky, Kherson region, under which both sides agreed to halt all military operations temporarily to allow humanitarian aid in and arrange civilian evacuation through designated safe corridors.

TREE NEWS update: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 23 that he had spoken by phone with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and that a meeting with Russian and US counterparts is planned for the first half of November. Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to meet on any day. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct. 23 that trilateral Russian-Ukrainian-US talks on security guarantees for Ukraine will begin in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November.

TREE NEWS update: Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 23 that the military is coordinating the timeline for a ceasefire in the city of Oleshky in the Kherson region, and that the Defense Ministry may announce operational details if they can be made public. Peskov said U.S. First Lady Melania Trump played a leading role in the coordination process, and thanked the U.S., President Trump and the First Lady for their involvement in resolving humanitarian issues.

TREE NEWS update: First Quantum Minerals is expected to apply for Argentina’s Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) before the end of the year for its Taca Taca copper project, which carries an investment of up to $5.25 billion, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said. Taca Taca is one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper projects, with production targeted for 2030, a mine life of about 35 years and average annual output of roughly 290,000 tonnes in its first decade.

TREE NEWS reports: Nineteen of 34 economists surveyed expect the Bank of Canada to raise its policy rate to 2.5% at its October 28 meeting. Among 29 economists who gave a longer view, 16 said the central bank will hike twice by March 2027.

TREE NEWS reports: ICE UK natural gas futures climbed 6.10% this week, closing at 229.600 pence per therm on Friday, October 23, after falling to 205.690 pence in early US trading on October 20 and then rising steadily. The TTF benchmark Dutch gas contract gained 5.64% to 93.306 euros per megawatt-hour, having also dropped to 83.501 euros on October 20. ICE EU carbon allowance futures rose 1.08% to 86.33 euros per tonne.

TREE NEWS update: The Kremlin confirmed on October 23 that a ceasefire agreement has been reached in the Oleshky area of Russia-controlled Kherson region under US mediation, with Russian and Ukrainian forces negotiating an implementation date. The White House earlier said US First Lady Melania Trump brokered the truce, which is set to take effect on October 29.

TREE NEWS update: The US Department of Energy has classified helium as a critical material, Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced. Wright said helium is essential to producing the semiconductors and advanced technologies that underpin the US economy, calling the designation another step in safeguarding supply chains. The move places helium on the federal list of materials deemed critical to national manufacturing and security.

TREE NEWS reports: Bitcoin dipped below $81,000 as stocks fell and Brent crude rose to its highest level since March, putting the 50-day moving average in focus. The cryptocurrency is seeking support above the $81,000 mark amid the broader market pullback.

TREE NEWS update: Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said on the 23rd that the military has entered its highest state of alert across all fronts, speaking at the scene of a shooting near Hebron in the West Bank. Zamir said the IDF will continue proactive military operations in all areas to ensure local security and stability, citing the sensitive period ahead of Israel’s parliamentary elections.

TREE NEWS reports: Italy’s bank index fell 0.4% on Friday and lost about 5.9% over the week. The Italian benchmark was down 0.10% in early trading, while Germany’s DAX 30 fell 1.02% to 25,113.54 points, down about 2% for the week. France’s index dropped 0.64% and the UK’s fell 0.63%.

TREE NEWS reports: The pan-European STOXX 600 fell 0.57% to 634.10 on Friday, bringing its weekly decline to about 1.6%. The euro-area STOXX 50 dropped 0.6% to 6,050.46, down about 2.5% for the week, while the FTSE Eurofirst 300 slipped 0.53% to 2,530.79. Luxury stocks led losses: Kering, Gucci’s parent, fell more than 16%, Salvatore Ferragamo lost 7.2% and Richemont dropped 6.3%, while L’Oréal gained 5.5%.

TREE NEWS update: Italy’s Eni will sign infrastructure contracts worth up to $1.8 billion for its Cyprus natural gas project in the coming days. The contracts cover construction work on the Mediterranean island’s gas development. No further terms or counterparties were disclosed.

TREE NEWS update: Brazil’s finance minister said the country faces no risk of default despite its elevated debt levels, in a statement that addressed concerns over the government’s fiscal position. The remark was made without providing further detail on the country’s debt trajectory or fiscal plans.

TREE NEWS update: US President Donald Trump said on October 23 that “geniuses like Elon Musk” need to be protected, adding that Musk “will never do anything wrong.” The remark was reported by Chinese crypto media outlet PANews. Trump did not elaborate on what form that protection would take or what prompted the comment.

TREE NEWS update: US President Donald Trump said Elon Musk is “smart” and that Musk will not do the wrong thing regarding the use of Starlink in Ukraine. Trump made the remarks without providing further details or specifying any policy decision. The comment touches on Musk’s role as SpaceX CEO and the satellite internet service’s use in the ongoing war.

TREE NEWS update: The White House said in a statement on October 23 that Melania Trump, wife of President Donald Trump, brokered a ceasefire in Oleshky between Russia and Ukraine. The ceasefire is set to begin on October 29. The statement did not provide further details on the terms or the parties’ commitments.

TREE NEWS update: The Macau SAR government signed the establishment documents for its government-guided fund on the 23rd, putting the fund into formal operation with an initial size of MOP20 billion. The government contributes MOP11 billion from accumulated fiscal reserve returns, while six integrated tourism and leisure enterprises provide MOP9 billion as the first batch of social capital. The fund will focus on emerging industries, industrial upgrading, technology commercialization and early-stage tech firms, supporting Macau’s linkage with the Hengqin Guangdong-Macau Deep Cooperation Zone and other Greater Bay Area cities.