The largest U.S. military presence in decades is off the coast of Venezuela: two U.S. destroyers are stationed near the country's maritime borders. The U.S. claims to be fighting drug trafficking - ships suspected of carrying drugs have been struck. President Trump said "the sea is under total control, now looking at land". Venezuela says Washington is determined to overthrow the government of Nicolas Maduro. The country has been under US sanctions for many years, but it could have interesting investment potential if the political situation changes. Oninvest asked Alexey Golubovich and Alexander Orlov to analyze which sectors and assets are worth looking at

Off the coast of Venezuela, the U.S. fleet and aviation: what it means for the investor

Oil prices up more than 5% due to new restrictions 

Chinese state-owned companies suspend Russian oil purchases due to sanctions - Reuters

The EU plans to impose a 19th package of sanctions on Oct. 23 to stop imports of Russian LNG by 2027

Oil soared 5% after new US sanctions. They will affect crude exports from Russia

Meta Platforms, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Reddit, Inc.

Brent crude oil futures soared almost 6% after new US sanctions affected Russia's largest crude producers. Meta laid off about 600 employees from its AI division. IBM posted gains: beating Wall Street forecasts, raising its full-year revenue guidance and reporting a record $9.5 billion in AI orders in its portfolio, while shares plummeted. These and other topics - in the review of key events for the morning of October 23.

Highlights for the morning: new US sanctions, Meta cuts AI staff, IBM grows, Reddit sues

This is the first package of restrictions on Russia passed under the Trump administration, Bloomberg notes

The US imposed sanctions against Russia's largest oil companies. Oil prices rose

The U.S. will announce a new round of sanctions against Russia, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned, signaling that President Donald Trump is preparing to increase pressure on Ma, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-22/white-house-to-ratchet-up-russia-sanctions-bessent-says?srnd=homepage-europe">reports </a>. "We're going to announce - either after the markets close today or tomorrow morning - a significant expansion of sanctions against Ma," Bessent told reporters at the White House on Wednesday, October 22. He did not specify which measures he was referring to.

U.S. will significantly expand sanctions against Russia - the head of the Ministry of Finance Bessent

Raiffeisen Bank International AG

Shares of Austria's Raiffeisen Bank showed the biggest growth in two months after reports that the European Union may transfer to the bank frozen assets that have been linked to Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska. According to the FT, it is about a €2 billion stake in construction concern Strabag, which could offset the bank's losses in Russia. Raiffeisen is the largest Western bank that continues to operate in that country.

Raiffeisen may get €2bn in frozen assets - FT. Shares jumped 9%

Brunello Cucinelli S.p.A.

UBS analyst expects the market value of the cashmere items manufacturer to rise by 47% from the current price

Shorts have collapsed shares of luxury brand Brunello Cucinelli. Should we buy them on a downturn?

NVIDIA Corporation

Nvidia's latest chip for the Chinese market has failed to generate excitement among local customers, Reuters has found out

Huawei has found a way to compete in the AI race with Nvidia even with weaker chips

Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Company Limited

Hangzhou Tigermed Consulting Co., Ltd

Investors were taking profits after quotations in the sector doubled since the beginning of 2025

China's biotech stocks post worst collapse in 5 months due to possible U.S. restrictions

BP p.l.c.

Shell plc

TotalEnergies SE

Oil prices could fall below $60 a barrel before the end of the year, some analysts suggest

Shares of EU oil and gas giants were among the growth leaders. What is driving the market?

The year 2025 can hardly be called a calm year for the oil market - the increase in OPEC+ production since the spring of this year has become one of the factors putting pressure on prices. Since April, the member countries of the association have been accelerating their production quotas compared to the plan approved in December 2024. As early as September 2025, they will finally lift production <a href="https://www.opec.org/pr-detail/572-03-august-2025.html">limits of</a> 2.2 million barrels per day. The mood at the July OPEC meeting in Vienna was described by one of its participants in <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/60baf8ed-9652-415d-9a78-51e2c00f686a">a conversation with the FT </a>as similar to "the mood of sailors before the storm".

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