Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Brent crude futures edged higher in early Asian trading on Monday, rising 0.6% as geopolitical tensions escalated. The uptick came after the United States vowed to continue military strikes against Yemen’s Houthis until they halt attacks on commercial shipping routes.
The recent U.S. airstrikes, the largest Middle East military operation since President Donald Trump took office, have already resulted in at least 53 casualties, according to Yemen’s Houthi-run health ministry. A U.S. official told Reuters that the campaign could extend for weeks as Washington seeks to protect global trade routes.
The Houthi-led disruptions have significantly impacted global commerce, forcing the U.S. military into costly operations to intercept missiles and drones targeting shipping vessels. As a result, Brent crude prices saw a 40-cent increase, trading at $70.98 per barrel at 2208 GMT on Monday.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a crucial region for oil supply, has raised concerns over potential supply chain disruptions. Investors and analysts are closely monitoring the situation, as prolonged instability could push crude prices even higher in the coming weeks.
Oil traders remain cautious as geopolitical risks grow, with the possibility of extended U.S. military actions fueling uncertainty in global markets. Market analysts anticipate further fluctuations in oil prices depending on the conflict’s progression and its broader impact on energy security.
With rising tensions in the Red Sea region, the oil market remains volatile, and energy traders are bracing for potential price swings driven by further developments in U.S. military operations and Houthi responses. The coming days will be critical in determining the extent of the disruption and its effect on global crude prices.
