Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Oil prices slipped slightly in Asian trading on Friday as investors awaited signals from the upcoming OPEC+ meeting, while new U.S. sanctions on Iran helped limit losses.
Brent crude futures for September fell 0.2% to $68.66 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 0.2% to $65.51. Despite modest weekly gains of 1% to 2%, both benchmarks remain down double digits from the previous week’s selloff.
A stronger U.S. dollar, driven by robust nonfarm payrolls data, weighed on oil. The report dampened expectations for imminent interest rate cuts, pressuring dollar-denominated commodities like crude. Market sentiment also remains fragile due to mounting concerns over U.S. fiscal stability following the passage of a major tax and spending bill and looming trade tariff deadlines.
Attention is centered on the OPEC+ meeting this weekend. Reports suggest the alliance plans to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day in August, continuing a trend of phased production hikes. These increases aim to unwind deep supply cuts made over the past two years, as oil prices remain below key thresholds. Led by Saudi Arabia, OPEC+ also seeks to enforce compliance and address internal overproduction.
The U.S. also tightened sanctions on Iran, targeting a network smuggling Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi crude. The sanctions hit entities linked to Iraqi-British national Salim Ahmed Said, as part of efforts to curb Tehran’s oil revenues and nuclear ambitions.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, following U.S. strikes on key uranium sites and Iran’s suspension of cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Nonetheless, both sides are expected to resume nuclear talks in Oslo next week.
Overall, oil markets remain volatile, influenced by geopolitical risks, production policy, and macroeconomic uncertainty.
