Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Oil prices rose modestly in Asian trading, rebounding from a five-month low as hopes for a U.S.-Russia summit over the Ukraine conflict faded. The collapse of these diplomatic talks signaled ongoing geopolitical instability, which often bolsters crude prices due to supply risk concerns.
Brent crude futures for December delivery climbed 0.3% to $61.53 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures rose 0.4% to $57.47 per barrel as of 00:51 GMT. Both benchmarks had dropped earlier in the week, weighed down by renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and China. However, positive economic growth data from China and conciliatory remarks from U.S. officials helped stabilize sentiment and lent support to oil markets.
The planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was indefinitely postponed after Moscow refused to agree to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump stated that meeting Putin would be “a waste of time,” dampening expectations of a breakthrough. Russia continues to insist that Ukraine surrender territory as a condition for peace—an offer Kyiv firmly rejects. Reports indicate Trump’s recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was tense, though Zelensky described it publicly as productive, claiming Trump had agreed to support a ceasefire along current front lines.
Adding further optimism, data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed a drawdown of 2.98 million barrels in U.S. crude inventories for the week ending October 18. This follows a 3.5 million-barrel build the previous week. The decline eased fears of oversupply and weak demand that have weighed on prices in recent weeks.
Market watchers now await official U.S. government inventory data, expected later Wednesday, for confirmation of the API’s findings. Any further signs of tightening supply could help sustain the recent recovery in oil prices.
