U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China may push U.S. crude exports lower in 2025 for the first time since the pandemic. Analysts warn that Chinese tariffs could limit U.S. oil access to the world’s largest energy importer, impacting the global market.
Since lifting its oil export ban in 2015, the U.S. has become the world’s third-largest exporter. However, total exports may decline to 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025 from 3.8 million bpd in 2024, according to Vortexa analyst Rohit Rathod. China currently consumes about 166,000 bpd of U.S. crude, making up roughly 5% of U.S. exports.
Medium-sour crude grades like Mars and Southern Green Canyon—nearly 48% of China’s U.S. crude imports—are expected to stay in the U.S. Gulf Coast, where refineries require them. Meanwhile, lighter West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude may find new buyers in Europe and India.
The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port accounted for nearly half of U.S. crude exports to China in 2024, while Enbridge’s Ingleside terminal handled 25%. However, Enbridge executives expect minimal impact since China historically took less than 15% of its volumes. Occidental Petroleum, one of the largest U.S. crude suppliers to China, shipped at least 13 WTI Midland cargoes there last year.
China’s overall reliance on U.S. crude is minimal, with imports accounting for only 1.7% of its total in 2024, down from 2.5% in 2023. The country has ramped up imports from Canada, boosted by the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, while also securing discounted Russian and Iranian oil.
As geopolitical tensions rise, global crude markets brace for potential shifts, with the U.S. seeking alternative buyers and China diversifying its supply sources.
