Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
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.
