S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Japan Targets 1%+ Real Economic Growth With ¥370 Trillion Investment Plan 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
Oil prices hit a near three-month low in Asian trading on Tuesday as fears of economic disruptions from U.S. trade tariffs and rising OPEC+ production weighed on the market. Brent crude futures fell 0.8% to $71.07 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 0.7% to $67.64 per barrel.
Investor sentiment weakened after U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%, with additional 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico set to take effect. The move sparked concerns about slowing global trade, potentially dampening oil demand, especially from China, the world’s top oil importer. Market jitters were further fueled by expectations of retaliatory measures from China, intensifying the trade conflict.
Adding to the pressure, OPEC+ confirmed it will proceed with its planned oil production increase in April, despite Trump’s push to stabilize prices. The cartel’s output hike, estimated at 138,000 barrels per day, is relatively small compared to the 5.8 million bpd cuts since 2022 but still signals looser supply conditions. This comes at a time when global oil demand is already softening due to economic slowdowns and inflation concerns.
Despite rising geopolitical tensions, including an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war and the U.S. halting military aid to Ukraine, oil markets largely overlooked these risks. The focus remains on trade uncertainties and increasing supply, which could keep prices under pressure in the near term.
With trade wars intensifying and OPEC+ supply set to rise, oil markets face heightened volatility, keeping investors cautious.
