Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Oil Prices Dip on Rising U.S. Inventories and Middle East Tensions
Oil prices declined during Asian trading on Wednesday following an unexpected increase in U.S. oil inventories. Meanwhile, global attention remained on U.S. diplomatic efforts to ease rising tensions in the Middle East.
U.S. Inventory Build Exceeds Expectations
According to data from the American Petroleum Institute (API), U.S. oil inventories increased by 1.643 million barrels last week, surpassing the forecasted 0.7 million barrel build. This sparked concerns that U.S. fuel demand may be softening, potentially signaling a similar outcome in official data set to be released later on Wednesday.
Diplomatic Efforts in the Middle East
Despite a brief rise in crude prices after Israel claimed responsibility for the death of Hezbollah's Hashem Safieddine, prices soon fell as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued diplomatic talks in Israel. These discussions aim to de-escalate conflict in the region, while also pushing for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.
China’s Economic Signals and Dollar Strength
Market participants are also closely monitoring China, the world’s largest oil importer, amid ongoing concerns about reduced demand. Further pressure on oil prices came from a strong U.S. dollar, driven by expectations of smaller interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, pushing the currency to its highest level since August.
Goldman Sachs Oil Price Forecast
Goldman Sachs expects oil prices to average $76 per barrel by 2025, citing moderate surpluses and spare production capacity among major oil producers. The bank noted that Middle East tensions have not significantly affected oil supplies and that OPEC+ plans to increase output later this year.
