Japan, U.S. Speed Up Talks on $550 Billion Investment Deal Amid Tariff Pressure 
ASX Shares Slide as 2026 Cost Outlook Jumps Amid CEO Exit and ASIC Probe 
Australian Central Bank Signals Tough Stance as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Yen Surges After Takaichi Election Win as Markets Eye U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Rise as Dollar Weakens Ahead of U.S. Payrolls Data; Aussie Hits Three-Year High 
Fed Governor Stephen Miran Warns Tight Monetary Policy Threatens U.S. Economic Growth 
Japan Weighs Using Foreign Exchange Reserve Surplus to Fund Food Tax Cuts 
Asian Stock Markets Rise as Australian Shares Rally; Investors Eye U.S. Jobs Data and China Inflation 
Asian Stocks Hit Record High as Strong U.S. Jobs Data Tempers Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
China Signals Strategic Rare Earth Push Amid Rising U.S. Competition 
Gold and Silver Prices Rise as Falling U.S. Yields Signal Softer Economy Ahead of Key Jobs Data 
India–US Trade Deal: Digital Tax Removal and $500 Billion Purchase Commitment Signal Major Policy Shift 
Wall Street Mixed as Retail Sales Stall and Investors Await Key Jobs Report 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Dollar Retreats Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
House Votes to End Trump’s Canada Tariff Emergency, Senate Showdown Looms 
Oil Prices Hold Firm as U.S.–Iran Talks and Inventory Data Shape Market Sentiment 
Nikkei 225 Surges Past 58,000 as Japan Stocks Rally on Takaichi Stimulus Boost 
Oil prices were mostly steady during Asian trading on Friday, yet both benchmark crude contracts remained on track for weekly losses after a sharp selloff in the previous session. Brent crude futures for April delivery edged up 0.1% to $67.56 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 0.1% to $62.87 per barrel. Despite the modest rebound, both benchmarks fell nearly 3% in the prior session, positioning them for around a 1% decline for the week.
Market sentiment has been pressured by growing concerns about a potential global oil supply glut. The International Energy Agency (IEA), in its latest monthly oil market report, projected a surplus of more than 3.7 million barrels per day in 2026. The agency also noted that global oil inventories increased significantly last year, marking one of the fastest stockpile builds since the pandemic. Rising inventories and resilient non-OPEC production have intensified fears of prolonged oversupply in the global energy market.
Adding to bearish sentiment, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported an 8.53 million barrel jump in crude inventories this week, far exceeding market expectations and representing the largest build since January 2025. The sharp increase signals softer refinery demand and abundant supply in the United States, the world’s largest oil consumer.
Meanwhile, geopolitical developments remain in focus. Comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that negotiations over a potential U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could extend for up to a month reduced immediate concerns about supply disruptions from the Middle East. This tempered the geopolitical risk premium that had previously supported crude oil prices.
Investors are also awaiting key U.S. consumer price index (CPI) data, which could influence Federal Reserve interest rate decisions. Strong January jobs data has already dampened expectations for near-term rate cuts, adding another layer of uncertainty to the oil market outlook.
