China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
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 
Oil prices held steady in Asian trading on Tuesday, pausing their recent rebound as reports of a potential output hike by OPEC+ offset optimism over easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. The market’s recent gains were driven by strict U.S. sanctions on Russia’s major crude producers and renewed hopes for a trade deal between Washington and Beijing. However, signs that OPEC+ may increase production in the coming months tempered bullish momentum.
Brent crude futures for December slipped 0.1% to $65.59 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 0.1% to $61.26 per barrel by 21:21 ET (01:21 GMT). Reports from Bloomberg indicated that OPEC+ is considering a third monthly production increase of about 137,000 barrels per day in December, with at least eight member nations expected to support the proposal during their meeting this Sunday. The move comes as the group continues to unwind two years of supply cuts aimed at stabilizing prices.
The production boost reflects OPEC+’s strategy to regain market share despite recent price weakness. Meanwhile, the market remains focused on U.S. sanctions against Russia’s top oil firms, Lukoil and Rosneft, which threaten to disrupt global crude supply. While Moscow has historically managed to circumvent such restrictions, the sanctions mark a tougher stance by the U.S. administration over the war in Ukraine. Washington has also targeted India and China, key buyers of Russian oil, with tariffs and trade measures.
Despite geopolitical headwinds, sentiment was supported by reports that the U.S. and China have reached a framework trade agreement, with further discussions expected when Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet in South Korea later this week. The potential thaw in trade relations provided some relief to oil markets already navigating a volatile global landscape.
