South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Global oil prices edged lower on Tuesday even as a massive winter storm disrupted crude oil production and refinery operations across the United States, highlighting the market’s focus on broader demand concerns and supply expectations. Brent crude futures fell by 28 cents, or 0.4%, to $65.31 per barrel in early Asian trading, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined 24 cents, or 0.4%, to $60.39 per barrel.
Severe winter weather sweeping across the United States over the weekend significantly strained energy infrastructure, forcing oil producers to shut in as much as 2 million barrels per day, or roughly 15% of total U.S. oil output, according to analysts and traders. In addition to upstream disruptions, several refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast reported operational issues linked to freezing temperatures, raising concerns about short-term fuel supply disruptions. Analysts noted that refinery outages can sometimes offset the bullish impact of reduced crude production by lowering near-term crude demand.
Despite these supply-side challenges, oil prices remained under pressure, suggesting that traders are weighing broader macroeconomic factors and future supply expectations more heavily. Daniel Hynes, an analyst at ANZ, said that while supply risks remain, they have not fully translated into sustained price gains.
Geopolitical tensions also remained in focus after a U.S. aircraft carrier and supporting warships arrived in the Middle East, according to U.S. officials. The deployment expands President Donald Trump’s ability to defend U.S. forces in the region and potentially respond to escalating tensions with Iran. Persistent Middle East tensions continue to represent a key upside risk for global oil markets.
Meanwhile, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, are expected to maintain their pause on oil output increases for March. Eight OPEC+ members, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, and Oman, are set to meet on February 1. Sources indicated that recent price support has been aided by a drop in Kazakhstan’s oil production, reinforcing expectations that OPEC+ will prioritize market stability in the near term.
