Ukraine Faces Pressure to Introduce VAT on Low-Value Imports to Secure IMF Funding 
Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions and Supply Disruption Fears 
Oil Prices Slip Amid UAE’s OPEC Exit and Ongoing Iran Conflict Concerns 
China Manufacturing PMI Beats Forecasts in April Amid Weak Domestic Demand 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Prices Surge and Fed Signals Inflation Risks 
AI Stocks Rally in Asia as Oil Surge and Hawkish Central Banks Shake Global Markets 
Australia Inflation Surges in March as Fuel Prices Spike Amid Middle East Conflict 
Trump Urges Iran to Sign Nuclear Deal Amid Ongoing Conflict and Port Blockade 
Trump Signals Prolonged Blockade Strategy Against Iran Amid Rising Tensions 
Asian Stocks Mixed as BOJ Holds Rates, Oil Prices and Fed Outlook Weigh on Markets 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Decision, Iran Tensions, and Inflation Data Weigh on Sentiment 
BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda Hints at Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Build 
Yen Strengthens as BOJ Signals Rate Hikes; Asian Currencies Slip Ahead of Fed Meeting 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Fed Holds Rates, Oil Prices Surge, and Big Tech Earnings Drive Market Moves 
Stock Market Update: Fed Holds Rates Steady as Tech Earnings and Geopolitical Tensions Shape Outlook 
Gold Prices Fall as Strong Dollar and Rising Oil Prices Pressure Markets 
China’s Ultra-Cheap EV Boom: Why Electric Cars Cost Far Less Than in the U.S. 
Oil prices edged lower in Asian trade Thursday, extending recent declines as traders braced for higher U.S. crude production under President Donald Trump. Brent futures slipped 0.3% to $78.80 per barrel, while WTI futures fell 0.2% to $75.27.
Crude prices have dropped from six-month highs as uncertainty surrounding Trump’s energy and trade policies loomed. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas further eased geopolitical risk premiums. Meanwhile, cold weather across the U.S. and Europe increased heating demand, supporting prices. U.S. sanctions on Russia also contributed to tighter supply expectations.
American Petroleum Institute data revealed a 1-million-barrel rise in U.S. inventories last week, breaking a five-week streak of draws. Official inventory data due later Thursday could confirm this trend, though analysts expect crude inventories to have declined while product stockpiles grew.
Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency and his rollback of climate-related restrictions aim to boost production, which already hit record highs of 13 million barrels per day in 2024. Increased U.S.
