Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Oil prices remained largely unchanged early Thursday after closing at two-week lows in the previous session, weighed down by sluggish demand and an ongoing global supply glut. Brent crude futures edged up by just 2 cents, or 0.03%, to $63.54 a barrel at 0127 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures held steady at $59.60 per barrel.
According to J.P. Morgan, global oil demand has risen by 850,000 barrels per day (bpd) so far this year, slightly below the bank’s earlier projection of 900,000 bpd. The firm noted that “high-frequency indicators suggest U.S. oil consumption remains subdued,” citing weak travel activity and reduced container shipping volumes as contributing factors.
In Wednesday’s session, oil prices dropped further after the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a larger-than-expected rise in crude inventories. U.S. crude stocks increased by 5.2 million barrels last week to 421.2 million barrels, far exceeding expectations for a modest 603,000-barrel gain. This unexpected build-up added to concerns about oversupply in the market.
Capital Economics predicted that downward pressure on oil prices will persist into the coming years. The firm expects Brent crude to average $60 per barrel by the end of 2025 and fall further to around $50 by the end of 2026.
Global oil prices declined for a third consecutive month in October, as fears of an oversupplied market continued to intensify. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies have been ramping up production, while non-OPEC producers also maintain robust output levels.
With weak global demand and rising inventories, analysts anticipate that oil markets will remain under pressure, keeping prices volatile in the near term.
