Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Oil prices edged higher in Asian trading on Friday after the U.S. imposed fresh sanctions on Iranian oil, but both Brent and WTI crude were set for weekly losses amid supply concerns.
Brent crude futures for May delivery rose 0.4% to $70.16 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 0.5% to $66.58 per barrel. Despite these gains, both benchmarks were on track for a 0.3% weekly decline following a more than 1% drop in the previous session, driven by trade tensions and oversupply worries.
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions targeting Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and entities linked to Iran’s “shadow fleet,” which allegedly uses deceptive tactics to evade existing oil sanctions. The move is part of Washington’s ongoing effort to curb Tehran’s oil revenues and limit its regional influence.
Oil prices also found support from softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data for February, raising hopes that the Federal Reserve may pause interest rate hikes.
Meanwhile, traders are weighing the impact of Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations, which could boost global oil supplies if successful. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts an oversupplied market by 2025, citing weakening demand growth amid escalating trade tensions.
Adding to supply pressures, OPEC+ plans to gradually roll back voluntary production cuts from April 2025. In February, the alliance's oil production rose by 363,000 barrels per day to 41.01 million bpd.
While geopolitical risks support oil prices, concerns over excess supply and slowing demand continue to pressure the market.
