Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Oil prices edged slightly higher on Friday, marking a steadier start to 2026 after suffering their steepest annual decline since 2020. Investors are cautiously balancing renewed geopolitical tensions with expectations that OPEC+ will keep its current supply strategy unchanged at an upcoming meeting, offering some support to crude markets.
As of late Friday trading, Brent crude futures for March delivery rose around 0.2% to trade near $60.97 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained a similar 0.2% to approximately $57.55 per barrel. Despite this modest rebound, both global oil benchmarks ended 2025 with losses of nearly 20%, weighed down by persistent concerns about global oversupply and uneven demand growth across major economies.
Market attention is now firmly focused on the OPEC+ meeting scheduled for January 4. The oil-producing alliance is widely expected to maintain its decision to pause further output increases in early 2026. This strategy was agreed upon late last year after crude prices came under heavy pressure, and analysts believe the group has little incentive to add more supply into an already well-balanced-to-oversupplied market. Expectations that OPEC+ will reaffirm its cautious stance have helped limit further downside in oil prices.
Geopolitical developments have also provided a degree of price support. U.S. President Donald Trump recently intensified pressure on Venezuela’s oil sector by imposing new sanctions on companies based in Hong Kong and mainland China. These measures target firms and vessels accused of assisting Venezuela in bypassing existing restrictions, raising concerns about potential disruptions to Venezuelan crude exports.
In addition, tensions between Russia and Ukraine resurfaced over the New Year period, with reports of attacks on Black Sea ports and related infrastructure. While such geopolitical risks have repeatedly threatened supply in the past, they were largely overshadowed in 2025 by a global supply glut, as OPEC+ gradually unwound production cuts and non-OPEC producers maintained high output levels.
Looking ahead, oil markets remain sensitive to policy decisions, geopolitical headlines, and demand signals, with investors closely watching whether supply discipline can help stabilize prices in 2026.
