Oil and LNG Tankers Turn Back as Strait of Hormuz Security Risks Escalate 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
European Stocks Hold Steady as Consumer Shares Rise, AI Tech Selloff Weighs on Markets 
US Launches New Iran Strikes as Strait of Hormuz Conflict Escalates, Oil Prices Rise 
Asian Currencies Slip as Stronger US Dollar, Iran Tensions Pressure Regional FX 
China 618 Smartphone Sales Drop 13% as Higher Prices Hurt Demand, Huawei Gains Market Share 
Asian Stocks Slip as AI Chip Valuation Fears, Rising Oil Prices Weigh on Markets 
Nasdaq Futures Slide as AI Chip Stocks Sink Despite Samsung Earnings; SpaceX Debuts in Nasdaq-100 
Asia Stocks Fall as Samsung Earnings Fail to Ease AI Valuation Concerns 
The euro area trade surplus decreased in October to the lowest level in eight months, as exports fell and imports rose.
The seasonally adjusted trade surplus shrank to EUR 19.7 billion in October from EUR 24.4 billion in September, which was revised down from EUR 24.5 billion reported earlier, preliminary figures from Eurostat showed Friday.
Economists had expected a surplus of EUR 24.5 billion for October. The latest surplus was the lowest since February, when it totaled the same. Exports dropped 0.3 percent over the month, while imports grew by 2.9 percent.
On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus fell to EUR 20.1 billion in October from EUR 23.2 billion in the same month of 2015. Both exports and imports slid by 5.0 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively in October from a year ago.
Meanwhile, EUR/USD traded at 1.04, up 0.38 percent, while at 12:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly Euro Strength Index remained neutral at 31.05 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex
