{"id":63717,"date":"2026-06-25T04:38:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T08:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-bitcoin-volatility-and-uk-political-shift-major-earthquake-hits-venezuela\/63717\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T04:38:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T08:38:22","slug":"global-markets-braced-for-bitcoin-volatility-and-uk-political-shift-major-earthquake-hits-venezuela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-bitcoin-volatility-and-uk-political-shift-major-earthquake-hits-venezuela\/63717\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets Braced for Bitcoin Volatility and UK Political Shift; Major Earthquake Hits Venezuela"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-bitcoin-volatility-and-uk-political-shift-major-earthquake-hits-venezuela\/63717\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-bitcoin-volatility-and-uk-political-shift-major-earthquake-hits-venezuela\/63717\/#Natural_Disaster_Historic_Earthquake_Hits_Venezuela\" >Natural Disaster: Historic Earthquake Hits Venezuela<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-bitcoin-volatility-and-uk-political-shift-major-earthquake-hits-venezuela\/63717\/#Financial_Markets_Bitcoin_Braced_for_10B_Expiry\" >Financial Markets: Bitcoin Braced for $10B Expiry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-bitcoin-volatility-and-uk-political-shift-major-earthquake-hits-venezuela\/63717\/#UK_Politics_The_Burnham_Transition_and_the_Battle_for_No_11\" >UK Politics: The Burnham Transition and the Battle for No. 11<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-bitcoin-volatility-and-uk-political-shift-major-earthquake-hits-venezuela\/63717\/#Geopolitics_EU-US_Trade_and_Iran_Negotiations\" >Geopolitics: EU-US Trade and Iran Negotiations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-braced-for-bitcoin-volatility-and-uk-political-shift-major-earthquake-hits-venezuela\/63717\/#Energy_Refineries_Rebalance_Global_Supply\" >Energy: Refineries Rebalance Global Supply<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Venezuela struck by 7.5-magnitude earthquake<\/strong>, the strongest since 1900, causing widespread damage and casualties in Caracas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bitcoin faces $10 billion options expiry<\/strong> on Friday, with 80% of positions &quot;out-of-the-money,&quot; risking a deeper market selloff.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Andy Burnham prepares for UK Premiership<\/strong> on July 17; a cabinet battle emerges as Ed Miliband is considered for Chancellor.<\/li>\n<li><strong>EU approves US trade deal<\/strong> just ahead of President Trump\u2019s July 4 deadline, averting a 25% tariff on European autos.<\/li>\n<li><strong>US refineries resolve jet fuel shortage<\/strong> by shifting yields from gasoline, preventing a summer travel disruption despite Middle East tensions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Natural_Disaster_Historic_Earthquake_Hits_Venezuela\"><\/span>Natural Disaster: Historic Earthquake Hits Venezuela<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)<\/strong> reported that a massive <strong>7.5-magnitude earthquake<\/strong> struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday, the strongest seismic event in the country since 1900. The quake was preceded by a <strong>7.2-magnitude foreshock<\/strong> just minutes earlier, causing buildings to collapse in the capital, Caracas, and forcing the closure of <strong>Sim\u00f3n Bol\u00edvar International Airport<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Acting President <strong>Delcy Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong> has declared a state of emergency, with early reports confirming at least <strong>32 deaths and over 700 injuries<\/strong>. Rescue teams are currently searching through rubble in the San Bernardino district, while energy analysts monitor potential impacts on the country&#39;s oil infrastructure.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Financial_Markets_Bitcoin_Braced_for_10B_Expiry\"><\/span>Financial Markets: Bitcoin Braced for $10B Expiry<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The cryptocurrency market is entering a period of high sensitivity as <strong>over $10 billion in Bitcoin (<a href=\"\/stock\/BTC\">BTC<\/a>) options<\/strong> are set to expire this Friday. Data suggests that approximately <strong>80% of these positions are currently &quot;out-of-the-money,&quot;<\/strong> creating significant downward pressure as traders adjust their hedges.<\/p>\n<p>Analysts warn that a breakdown below the <strong>$60,000 support level<\/strong> could trigger a wave of panic selling. The market remains highly correlated with traditional equities, which have seen recent volatility due to a <strong>semiconductor sector selloff<\/strong> and a hawkish stance from the <strong>Federal Reserve<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UK_Politics_The_Burnham_Transition_and_the_Battle_for_No_11\"><\/span>UK Politics: The Burnham Transition and the Battle for No. 11<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As <strong>Andy Burnham<\/strong> prepares to enter 10 Downing Street on July 17, a fierce internal debate has broken out over the appointment of the next Chancellor. <strong>Ed Miliband<\/strong> is currently playing an integral role in developing economic policies for the transition team, but his candidacy for the Treasury is facing pushback from those who fear his &quot;radical&quot; green agenda could spook bond markets.<\/p>\n<p>Other top contenders for the role include <strong>Shabana Mahmood<\/strong> and <strong>Wes Streeting<\/strong>. Meanwhile, outgoing Finance Minister <strong>Rachel Reeves<\/strong> has expressed hope that the new government will &quot;honour existing licenses&quot; for <strong>North Sea oil<\/strong>, a point of contention as Miliband remains opposed to new drilling.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitics_EU-US_Trade_and_Iran_Negotiations\"><\/span>Geopolitics: EU-US Trade and Iran Negotiations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>European Union<\/strong> has officially approved a sweeping trade deal with the United States, meeting a critical deadline set by <strong>President Donald Trump<\/strong>. The agreement eliminates EU tariffs on most American industrial goods in exchange for a <strong>15% tariff ceiling<\/strong> on European exports, successfully averting the threat of 25% levies on the automotive sector.<\/p>\n<p>In the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State <strong>Marco Rubio<\/strong> has taken a firm stance against Iranian proposals to charge tolls for passage through the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>. Rubio emphasized that the strait is an &quot;international waterway&quot; and warned that any attempt to impose fees would set an &quot;unacceptable precedent&quot; for global maritime trade.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Energy_Refineries_Rebalance_Global_Supply\"><\/span>Energy: Refineries Rebalance Global Supply<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>U.S. refineries have successfully mitigated a looming jet fuel shortage by cutting gasoline yields by <strong>1.5 percentage points<\/strong> and lifting jet fuel production by an equivalent margin. Major operators like <strong>Marathon Petroleum (<a href=\"\/stock\/MPC\">MPC<\/a>)<\/strong> and <strong>Valero (<a href=\"\/stock\/VLO\">VLO<\/a>)<\/strong> have maximized yields to capitalize on high margins driven by Middle Eastern supply disruptions.<\/p>\n<p>This strategic shift has resulted in a <strong>gasoline supply glut<\/strong>, though analysts note this may not immediately lower prices at the pump due to blending capacity constraints. Despite the &quot;energy chaos&quot; of early 2026, the expected summer disruption to peak flight season has largely failed to materialize.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Venezuela struck by 7.5-magnitude earthquake, the strongest since 1900, causing widespread damage and casualties in Caracas. Bitcoin faces [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50383,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"rank_math_schema_Article":[],"rank_math_focus_keyword":[],"rank_math_description":[],"financial_data_references":[],"stock_symbols_mentioned":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5012],"tags":[16986,1947,3733,3734,4824,5024,5030,6069,9121,10633],"class_list":["post-63717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","tag-macro","tag-oil","tag-bitcoin","tag-btc","tag-geopolitics","tag-trade","tag-energy","tag-venezuela","tag-usgs","tag-ukpolitics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63717"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63717\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}