Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
Trump Says No Hormuz Strait Tolls During 60-Day Iran Ceasefire 
Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
Asian Currencies Stabilize as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High After Fed Hawkish Signal 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
German Auto Suppliers Turn Bearish as Investment and Jobs Shift Overseas 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Oil prices slipped slightly in Asian trading on Wednesday, despite optimism that the U.S. government was close to ending its record-breaking 42-day shutdown. The temporary support from the potential reopening was outweighed by lingering fears of an oil supply glut and a strong U.S. dollar that continued to pressure the market.
Brent crude futures for January edged down 0.2% to $65.04 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also fell 0.2% to $60.85 per barrel by 20:21 ET (01:21 GMT). The modest losses came as traders weighed the impact of political and economic developments in the world’s largest oil consumer.
The U.S. Senate approved a bill on Tuesday to reopen the government, with the House of Representatives expected to vote in favor on Wednesday. Once signed into law by President Donald Trump, the measure will officially end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The prospect of restored federal operations provided some support to crude markets, as the shutdown had caused widespread disruptions across several sectors, including travel and energy logistics.
Airports across the U.S. faced significant challenges due to staffing shortages in air traffic control and safety departments, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations. These disruptions dampened fuel demand, compounding pressure on oil prices even as traders looked for positive signals from Washington.
Meanwhile, concerns over global supply continued to weigh heavily on sentiment. Reports indicated that Russia’s Lukoil declared force majeure at an Iraqi oilfield, a move linked to the tightening U.S. sanctions on Moscow’s energy sector. The development highlighted growing geopolitical risks in global oil markets, but the potential for oversupply—driven by steady output from major producers—remained the dominant theme restraining price recovery.
Overall, traders remain cautious as oil markets balance geopolitical tensions, U.S. policy shifts, and persistent fears of excess supply that could cap price gains in the near term.
