Venezuela's oil shipments have cratered this week following the US seizure of a cargo tanker, according to shipping intelligence and port monitors. The move marks an escalation in trade pressure and has ripple effects across energy markets. This kind of geopolitical friction often creates volatility in broader asset classes – when crude supply tightens and shipping lanes face disruption, it typically feeds into inflation concerns and central bank policy decisions. Worth watching how this plays into macro trends affecting risk assets and commodity-linked investments.