Tech Stocks Surge in Asia; Experts Warn ‘Cooling AI Boom May Hit NVIDIA’s Gains Hard’ 
Chinalco and Rio Tinto Acquire Controlling Stake in Brazil’s CBA for $903 Million 
Gold Hits Record High as Investors Eye Fed Chair Powell’s Speech on Tariffs 
Asian Markets React to Tariff Reports and Fed Policy Shifts 
U.S. Stocks Hit Unprecedented Peaks Amid Growing Speculation of Federal Rate Cuts 
Federal Judge Signals Possible Dismissal of xAI Lawsuit Against OpenAI 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Retreats After Fed Decision 
Panama Supreme Court Voids CK Hutchison Port Concessions, Raising Geopolitical and Trade Concerns 
Boeing Secures New Labor Contract With Former Spirit AeroSystems Employees 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
Asian Stocks Waver as Trump Signals Fed Pick, Shutdown Deal and Tech Earnings Stir Markets 
Bullish Start for S&P 500 Sparks Optimism for 2025, Despite Risks 
US Judge Rejects $2.36B Penalty Bid Against Google in Privacy Data Case 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Trump Threatens Aircraft Tariffs as U.S.-Canada Jet Certification Dispute Escalates 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
SpaceX Updates Starlink Privacy Policy to Allow AI Training as xAI Merger Talks and IPO Loom 
Oil prices extended gains on Monday, with Brent crude surpassing $81 per barrel, its highest level in over four months. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also climbed, reaching $78.10 per barrel. This marks a significant 6% rise since January 8, driven by new U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil exports.
The U.S. Treasury’s expanded sanctions include Russian oil producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, along with 183 vessels involved in Russian crude shipments. Analysts estimate these measures will disrupt the export of approximately 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil, including 750,000 bpd to China and 350,000 bpd to India.
With China and India—the world’s top and third-largest oil importers—facing reduced access to Russian oil, they are expected to increase imports from alternative suppliers in the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. This shift is likely to boost oil prices and shipping costs globally, according to market analysts.
RBC Capital analysts noted that these sanctions add significant uncertainty to the first-quarter oil market outlook. The measures double the number of tankers sanctioned for transporting Russian crude, creating logistical challenges for global oil flows.
Many of the affected tankers have previously shipped oil to Asia following earlier Western sanctions and the Group of Seven’s 2022 price cap. Some also transported Iranian oil, further compounding supply constraints.
Harry Tchilinguirian of Onyx Capital Group emphasized the impact of these sanctions on India, noting the logistical and economic repercussions for the country’s oil supply chain.
As the sanctions take effect, traders anticipate heightened volatility in global oil markets, with prices expected to remain under upward pressure.
