South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Global oil prices declined sharply in 2025, with Brent crude posting its longest stretch of annual losses on record as rising supply continued to outpace demand despite persistent geopolitical tensions. Brent crude futures fell more than 10% over the year and were down nearly 18% overall, marking their steepest annual percentage decline since 2018 and extending losses for a third consecutive year. The March Brent contract was trading around $61.27 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude hovered near $57.90, heading toward a 15% yearly drop.
Oil markets began the year on a stronger footing after former U.S. President Joe Biden imposed tougher sanctions on Russia, disrupting energy supplies to major buyers such as China and India. Prices were further supported by escalating geopolitical events, including intensified fighting in Ukraine, drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, disruptions to Kazakhstan’s oil exports, and a brief but significant Iran-Israel conflict that threatened shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.
Additional uncertainty came from conflicts involving key producers. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates remained embroiled in tensions linked to Yemen, while U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a blockade on Venezuelan oil exports and warned of potential further strikes on Iran. These developments initially added a risk premium to oil prices.
However, market sentiment shifted as OPEC+ accelerated output increases, releasing nearly 2.9 million barrels per day into global markets since April. At the same time, concerns over higher U.S. tariffs and their impact on global economic growth weighed on fuel demand expectations. OPEC+ has since paused further output hikes for the first quarter of 2026, with its next meeting scheduled for January 4.
Looking ahead, most analysts expect oil supply to exceed demand in 2026. Estimates range from a surplus of nearly 4 million barrels per day by the International Energy Agency to about 2 million barrels per day projected by Goldman Sachs. Analysts suggest that if prices fall further into the low $50 range, OPEC+ may consider renewed production cuts, but if current price levels persist, producers could continue unwinding existing cuts.
