Commodity Prices

• Aluminum: $2,182/ton
• Antimony (ingot min. 99.65% fob China): $12,000/ton
• Cobalt: $33,420/ton
• Copper: $8,949/ton
• Gold: $1,982/toz
• Lead: $2,100/ton
• Natural Gas (Nymex): $2.91/MMbtu
• WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $88.14/barrel
• Zinc: $2,438/ton

• A second aid convoy of 14 more trucks entered Gaza from Egypt yesterday, adding to the 20 trucks of aid delivered Saturday. NGOs say Gazans need at least five times that much aid each day.
• Meanwhile, Arab leaders left their peace summit in Cairo without agreeing on how to bring peace to Gaza. It was a doomed effort from the start, given Israel's absence - and imminent invasion plans.
• Israel warned that it will escalate its airstrikes on northern Gaza and repeated calls for civilians there to flee south.
• Israel also lashed out at adversaries in Syria - with airstrikes on the airports in Damascus and Aleppo - and the West Bank - with airstrikes on a "terror cell" under a mosque in Jenin.

• A UN commission reported new evidence of Russian war crimes in southern Ukraine, including deliberate killings, rapes, and forced removals of Ukrainian children.
• Ukraine claimed a 90% increase in Russian casualties in recent weeks. Both sides are ramping up their efforts ahead of a winter freeze they expect in a few weeks.

• Venezuela's opposition held a primary yesterday to determine who will run against Pres. Maduro if (and that's a big if) he follows through on his commitment to hold open elections in late 2024.
• Former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado has a huge lead (93%) from the votes that have been counted - but that's only 26% of the total registered. The remaining 74% was delayed due to a temporary server outage and should be counted today.
• The opposition organized this election without any help from Maduro's government, and organizers say participation was double what they expected in some states. That seems like a good indicator of popular support for the opposition.

• China and the Philippines traded blame for two naval collisions in a disputed part of the South China Sea yesterday.

• Argentina voted for president yesterday. Early results show a lead for populist candidate Javier Milei, who wants to abolish the central bank and ease gun laws.