South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Oil prices rose in early Asian trading Friday, heading for a second straight week of gains as fresh U.S. sanctions on Iran and new OPEC+ output cuts fueled concerns over tightening global supply.
Brent crude futures gained 0.6% to $72.40 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 0.6% to $68.52 by 0026 GMT. Both benchmarks are poised to climb about 2% this week—marking their largest weekly gains since early 2025.
The U.S. Treasury introduced new Iran-related sanctions on Thursday, targeting an independent Chinese refiner and other entities involved in moving Iranian crude to China. This marked Washington’s fourth round of sanctions since February, when President Donald Trump renewed his "maximum pressure" campaign aimed at cutting Iran’s oil exports to zero.
Analysts at ANZ Bank expect a potential reduction of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in Iranian oil exports. Vessel tracker Kpler estimated Iran’s February exports at over 1.8 million bpd but warned that data could be revised due to vessels masking their activities to avoid detection.
Oil prices also found support from a new OPEC+ plan requiring seven members to cut output further. These monthly reductions, ranging from 189,000 bpd to 435,000 bpd, will continue through June 2026. The move is designed to offset previous overproduction and counterbalance an upcoming 138,000 bpd supply increase from April by eight OPEC+ members.
The coordinated actions from OPEC+ and mounting geopolitical tensions are reinforcing bullish sentiment in the oil market, keeping investors alert to potential supply shocks amid ongoing global uncertainties.
