South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Asian Markets Rebound as Tech Rally Lifts Wall Street, Investors Brace for BOJ Rate Hike 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
New Zealand Business Confidence Hits 30-Year High as Economic Outlook Improves 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
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.
