China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Oil prices held steady in Asian trading on Friday, following sharp gains driven by drone strikes on Iraqi oil fields and signs of tightening global supply. Brent crude futures for September remained unchanged at $69.51 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude stayed flat at $67.51.
Despite rising over 1.5% on Thursday, oil benchmarks were still on track for weekly losses exceeding 1%, pressured by geopolitical developments. U.S. President Donald Trump eased sanctions threats against Russia, granting a 50-day deadline to end the Ukraine conflict, which trimmed bullish momentum seen earlier in the week.
Supply concerns resurfaced as drone attacks, reportedly launched by Iran-backed militias, disrupted about half of Iraqi Kurdistan’s crude output. However, Iraq’s federal government announced progress in talks with the Kurdistan Regional Government, signaling a potential resumption of oil exports to Turkey after a two-year pause.
Further support came from the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, which showed crude inventories fell by 3.9 million barrels last week—more than double analysts’ expectations. This decline underscores tightening conditions amid high summer demand.
OPEC maintained its oil demand forecasts for 2025 and 2026, citing optimism that global trade tensions may ease. Last week, oil prices climbed nearly 3% as the International Energy Agency (IEA) pointed to a tight prompt market, even as OPEC+ output exceeded expectations.
While rising output typically signals easing prices, the IEA warned that increasing refinery activity to meet seasonal demand could mask the true extent of supply constraints. This dynamic, combined with ongoing geopolitical risks, continues to support oil prices despite recent volatility.
