Obayashi to Acquire Multiplex in $526M Expansion Deal 
Russian Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
France Faces Long Road to Economic Rebalancing as Weak Demand and High Rates Weigh, Says Citi 
China Keeps Loan Prime Rates Unchanged for 13th Straight Month as Policymakers Prioritize Credit Demand Recovery 
Qantas Unveils Wellness-Focused Nonstop Sydney-London Flights to Reduce Jet Lag 
Chinese Social Media Giant Xiaohongshu Eyes Hong Kong IPO at Over $70 Billion Valuation 
Dollar Holds Firm as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Tensions, GBP/USD Slips Amid UK Political Uncertainty 
Samsung Gains Interest from BYD, Google, AMD as AI Chip Demand Strains TSMC Capacity 
Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene as USD/JPY Nears 161 Amid Yen Weakness 
GM and Lockheed Martin Partner to Strengthen U.S. Defense Manufacturing Capacity 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Jio IPO Filing Nears as Reliance Targets $4 Billion Market Debut 
Google Gemini Co-Lead Noam Shazeer Leaves for OpenAI Amid AI Talent Race 
Brent crude oil prices stabilized in early Tuesday trading after a drone attack on Russia’s Kropotkinskaya pipeline station disrupted oil flows from Kazakhstan. Brent futures dipped 0.09% to $75.15 per barrel by 0137 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 47 cents to $71.21 per barrel, with Monday's WTI settlement delayed due to the U.S. Presidents' Day holiday.
The drone strike in Russia's Krasnodar region reduced shipments managed by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, affecting Western companies like Chevron and Exxon Mobil. Despite the disruption, February’s Black Sea CPC Blend oil loading schedule remains unchanged, sources told Reuters.
Market fundamentals kept price reactions subdued. Analysts from BMI forecast Brent prices averaging $76 per barrel in 2025, reflecting a 5% decline from 2024 due to oversupply, tariffs, and trade tensions.
OPEC+ producers are not considering delaying scheduled oil supply increases starting in April, according to Russian state media. In December, OPEC had postponed raising output until April in response to weak demand and growing supply from non-OPEC sources.
The combination of geopolitical tensions and market oversupply continues to influence global oil prices.
