Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Oil prices edged higher on Thursday, breaking a three-day losing streak and rebounding from 16-week lows, as investors weighed the possibility of tighter sanctions on Russian crude. However, optimism was capped by expectations of increased supply from an OPEC+ output boost starting next month.
Brent crude futures rose 15 cents, or 0.2%, to $65.50 a barrel by 0116 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $61.92 a barrel. Both benchmarks had dropped about 1% on Wednesday, with Brent closing at its lowest level since June 5 and WTI since May 30.
Analysts noted that buying interest resurfaced as WTI approached the $60 support level. Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist at Nissan Securities Investment, said geopolitical tensions and speculation over stricter restrictions on Russian oil flows provided some support.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers announced plans to intensify pressure on Russia by targeting buyers of Russian crude and entities aiding in sanctions evasion. Adding to this, the U.S. is set to provide Ukraine with intelligence to aid long-range missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, potentially disrupting refineries and pipelines critical to Moscow’s oil revenues, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Despite these bullish factors, broader concerns weighed on markets. Fears of a U.S. government shutdown raised worries over global economic growth. Meanwhile, OPEC+ may agree to boost oil production by up to 500,000 barrels per day in November, triple the increase set for October, as Saudi Arabia seeks to recapture market share. This comes at a time when both U.S. and Asian demand show signs of slowing.
On the supply front, U.S. crude inventories increased by 1.8 million barrels last week to 416.5 million, above market expectations of a 1 million-barrel rise, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Gasoline and distillate stockpiles also grew as refining activity weakened, signaling softer demand.
The oil market remains caught between geopolitical risks that could tighten supply and the reality of growing inventories and potential OPEC+ output increases that may pressure prices further.
