Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Asian Stocks Waver as Trump Signals Fed Pick, Shutdown Deal and Tech Earnings Stir Markets 
Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Oil prices drifted lower in Asian trading on Wednesday as rising U.S. crude inventories and anticipation surrounding upcoming U.S. sanctions on major Russian oil companies added pressure to the market. Brent oil futures for January eased 0.4% to $64.61 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also slipped 0.4% to $60.51. The slight pullback followed a more than 1% jump on Tuesday after Russia’s Novorossiysk port resumed oil loadings following a two-day shutdown caused by a Ukrainian attack.
Fresh data from the American Petroleum Institute indicated a significant build in U.S. crude stockpiles, with inventories rising by 4.4 million barrels for the week ending November 18—more than triple the previous week’s increase. Early signals suggested that gasoline and distillate inventories may have climbed as well, reinforcing concerns of an emerging supply overhang heading into early 2026. Analysts noted that while production remains elevated globally, demand growth may not keep pace, potentially leaving the market oversupplied. ING analysts described the report as “relatively bearish” but emphasized that traders are now awaiting the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s official inventory figures, which are often more influential in market movements.
At the same time, traders are closely watching the impending U.S. sanctions on Russia’s Rosneft and Lukoil, set to take effect on November 21. These measures will restrict access to U.S.-dollar financing and limit transactions with the companies, raising concerns about potential disruptions to Russian diesel and crude supply. Analysts noted that fears over tightening Russian supply—amplified by Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries—continue to support market sentiment despite the broader bearish inventory data.
Adding a geopolitical twist, an Axios report suggested that the Trump administration has been quietly coordinating with Moscow on a proposal to end the war in Ukraine. Any diplomatic breakthrough could reshape global oil supply expectations, reduce the geopolitical risk premium, and potentially weigh on crude prices in the months ahead.
