Trump Says 'Highly Unlikely' to Extend Iran Ceasefire, Won't Open Strait Before Deal

Formosa Plastics’ “Jun-Shan Wheel” has passed the Strait of Hormuz! It is currently transporting 2 million barrels of crude oil toward Taiwan’s Mailiao Port

The Strait of Hormuz has once again become a focal point for Taiwan’s energy security in recent days, especially as Formosa Petrochemical Shipping’s “Jun Shan” vessel is transporting 2 million barrels of crude oil from Saudi Arabia, en route to Taiwan’s Mailiao Port. Although tensions in the Middle East are high and the volume of ship traffic has reached a new high, U.S. President Trump has openly said that the Iranian regime could face a regime change, which may keep the risks in the Strait of Hormuz rising, and the market needs to prepare for longer-term volatility.

Europe's EV Registrations Surge 29.4% in Q1 2026 as Oil Prices Rise; Global Electricity Demand Grows 3%

Battery-electric vehicle registrations in Europe surged 29.4% in Q1 2026, reaching nearly 560,000 units, driven by rising fuel costs. Significant growth was seen in major countries, contributing to energy security and reduced oil consumption. Global electricity demand grew 3% in 2025, mainly fueled by emerging markets, with buildings and data centers as key drivers.

A strong 7.5 quake strikes Japan’s Tohoku region! Jiexia, Kioxia’s Iwate plants, account for 4% of global NAND capacity, raising alarms over the memory supply

On April 20, a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck Japan’s northeastern region, with seismic intensity reaching 5 in Aomori Prefecture, and it also triggered a tsunami warning. The earthquake has a major impact on the semiconductor supply chain, especially the Kioxia Iwate plant, which accounts for 4% of global NAND capacity. Shutdown inspections and restart status will affect memory market supply; in addition, the entire semiconductor manufacturing network across the northeastern region also faces risks, which could squeeze future supply growth.

Kalshi Faces Supreme Court Battle as Inflation Volatility Fuels Prediction Market Hedging Demand

Kalshi and Polymarket face a potential Supreme Court showdown over the legality of prediction markets as inflation rises and stock markets hit record highs. The outcome may redefine how traders hedge economic risks amid conflicting court rulings on their operations.

Trump First Explicitly Said “Regime Change” for Iran: The White House Officially Forwarded Three Signals

Trump first directly mentioned Iran’s “regime change” in a public statement, and explicitly said that the U.S. side would not be influenced by Israel. He used Venezuela as an analogy, implying that the U.S. may adopt a long-term pressure strategy against Iran. This will change the negotiation framework and increase the risk of oil-price and market volatility. Taiwan investors need to pay attention to the oil price trend, the reaction at the Fed hearing, and the agenda of the U.S.-China summit.

Japan launches the Canton network verification pilot and tests government bonds as digital collateral

JSCC, under the JPX Japan Exchange Group, partnered with Mizuho, Nomura, and Digital Asset to launch a concept proof-of-concept project based on the Canton network. The project will test the feasibility of Japanese government bonds as digital collateral, with the aim of improving liquidity and management efficiency in financial markets, and ensuring it does not conflict with existing regulations. The initiative also covers cross-border trading scenarios, signaling the application potential of Japanese government bonds in the digital asset space.