Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Silver Prices Surge to New Record Above $60 as Supply Concerns and Fed Expectations Boost Demand 
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Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
U.S. Open to Special Trade Terms for South Africa Under Possible AGOA Extension 
Oil prices plunged in Asian trading Monday after OPEC+ surprised markets with a larger-than-expected production increase, raising concerns of a looming supply glut amid weakening global demand.
Brent crude futures for June dropped 3.6% to $59.10 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 3.7% to $55.68. The decline puts oil near the four-year lows seen in early April, compounding losses already sustained in 2025.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) announced over the weekend a 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) output increase starting in June—nearly triple the volume initially expected. Saudi Arabia and Russia, two of the group’s largest producers, are set to lead the ramp-up, fueling fears of oversupply despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The market largely brushed off fresh threats from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toward Iran, focusing instead on the bearish fundamentals of rising supply and sluggish demand.
Oil has already been under pressure this year due to macroeconomic uncertainty and escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy—especially the imposition of 145% tariffs on Chinese oil imports—triggered retaliatory measures from Beijing, including 125% duties, further destabilizing trade flows and dampening demand expectations.
Even as Washington and Beijing expressed limited interest in renewed trade talks last week, market sentiment remained cautious. Analysts warn that Trump’s protectionist policies could stall global economic growth, reducing energy consumption and extending oil’s bearish streak.
With rising output and slowing demand, the oil market appears increasingly vulnerable to further downside. Traders are now closely watching for additional policy shifts or signs of demand recovery before reassessing oil’s trajectory.
