Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
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.
