Yen Slides as BOJ Caution Undercuts Rate Hike Impact 
Precious Metals Rally as Silver and Platinum Outperform on Rate Cut Bets 
Oil Prices Climb in Asian Trade as Venezuela Sanctions and Middle East Tensions Fuel Risk Premium 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy Shares Support MOEX Index 
Asian Stocks Rise as Wall Street Tech Rally Lifts Markets, Yen Slumps Despite BOJ Rate Hike 
Why U.S. Coffee Prices Are Staying High Despite Trump’s Tariff Rollbacks 
Global Demand for Yuan Loans and Bonds Surges as China Pushes Currency Internationalization 
China’s Power Market Revamp Fuels Global Boom in Energy Storage Batteries 
South Korea Central Bank Warns of Rising Financial Stability Risks Amid Won Volatility 
Trump Defends Economic Record in North Carolina as Midterm Election Pressure Mounts 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise Ahead of Holiday-Shortened Week as AI Optimism Lifts Tech 
EU Approves €90 Billion Ukraine Aid as Frozen Russian Asset Plan Stalls 
Wall Street Ends Higher as S&P 500, Nasdaq Extend Gains Ahead of Holiday Week 
Japan Signals Possible Yen Intervention as Currency Weakens Despite BOJ Rate Hike 
UK Economy Grows 0.1% in Q3 2025 as Outlook Remains Fragile 
China Keeps Benchmark Lending Rates Steady as Economic Outlook Remains Cautious 
Oil prices surged Wednesday as tensions flared in the Middle East, raising concerns over potential disruptions to global oil supplies. Brent crude futures rose 83 cents, or 1.13%, to $74.39 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 88 cents, or 1.26%, to $70.71 by 0029 GMT, easing slightly from earlier spikes exceeding $1. The increases followed a more than 5% jump in both benchmarks on Tuesday.
Iran-Israel Conflict Fuels Fears of Oil Supply Disruption
The rise in prices followed Iran’s launch of over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, according to Israeli reports. The attacks were seen as retaliation for Israel's recent campaign against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, sparking fears of a broader regional conflict. Iran, a major OPEC member and oil producer, could see its oil output impacted, potentially affecting global supplies.
“The direct involvement of Iran, an OPEC member, raises the prospect of disruptions to oil supplies,” ANZ Research said in a note. The firm added that Iran’s oil production had risen to a six-year high of 3.7 million barrels per day in August.
Regional Tensions Draw International Focus
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Iran would face consequences for the missile attacks, while Tehran warned any retaliation would lead to “vast destruction.” U.S. President Joe Biden expressed full support for Israel, and the U.N. Security Council scheduled a meeting to address the conflict.
“A major escalation by Iran risks bringing the U.S. into the war,” analysts at Capital Economics noted. With Iran contributing around 4% of global oil output, any supply disruption could be mitigated by increased production from other key producers like Saudi Arabia.
OPEC+ Meeting and U.S. Stockpile Data in Focus
OPEC+ ministers are set to meet later Wednesday to review the market, with no policy changes expected. The coalition, which includes Russia, plans to increase output by 180,000 barrels per day from December.
In the U.S., oil stockpile data revealed a mixed outlook: crude oil and distillate inventories fell last week, while gasoline inventories saw a rise, according to figures from the American Petroleum Institute.
