Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Oil prices slipped in Asian trading early Tuesday as investors weighed geopolitical risks and the possibility of tighter sanctions on Russian energy exports. Brent crude futures for November delivery fell 0.3% to $66.36 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 0.3% to $62.10. Both benchmarks also ended slightly lower on Monday after Iraq announced higher oil exports under its OPEC+ quota, sparking concerns of oversupply.
Geopolitical tensions remain a major factor. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza intensified, forcing hospital closures and drawing global condemnation. At the United Nations, a coalition of nations pushed for official recognition of a Palestinian state, heightening Middle East uncertainty. The region remains critical, supplying around one-third of global crude oil.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has escalated drone attacks on Russian energy facilities, damaging refineries and disrupting terminal operations earlier this month. These strikes exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s export infrastructure, raising doubts about whether it can sustain current output levels.
On the sanctions front, the European Union is finalizing a new package targeting Russia’s energy trade. The measures are expected to restrict liquefied natural gas imports and penalize intermediaries in third countries aiding Russian exports. Washington is also urging allies to impose higher tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods due to their continued purchases of Russian crude. If enforced, these steps could disrupt global supply chains and energy flows.
Despite these supply-side risks, demand concerns continue to weigh on oil markets, limiting price gains. Investors remain cautious, balancing the threat of tighter supplies against persistent uncertainty about global economic growth.
