Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Decision; Aussie Dollar Edges Higher 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Silver Prices Surge to New Record Above $60 as Supply Concerns and Fed Expectations Boost Demand 
Stocks Slip as Investors Brace for Fed Decision and JPMorgan Warning Weighs on Markets 
Asian Markets Slip as Investors Brace for Fed Rate Cut and Global Policy Decisions 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Australia’s Business Conditions Ease in November as Capacity Constraints Persist 
Wall Street Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Decision; Nvidia Gains on China Chip Sales Approval 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Global Markets Steady as Yen Holds Firm After Japan Earthquake Amid Central Bank Focus 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Oil prices climbed in Asian trading on Thursday after the United States seized a sanctioned crude tanker off the coast of Venezuela, escalating concerns about potential supply disruptions. The incident added fresh geopolitical tension to an already sensitive market, supporting both Brent and WTI crude benchmarks.
As of 21:38 ET (02:38 GMT), February Brent futures rose 0.4% to $62.44 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 0.5%, trading at $58.78 per barrel. The upward movement followed media reports confirming that a vessel identified as the Skipper was intercepted near Venezuelan waters in a joint operation involving the U.S. Coast Guard, FBI, and Homeland Security. President Donald Trump later described the tanker as the “largest ever” seized under U.S. sanctions enforcement. The action highlights the ongoing risks facing Venezuelan oil exports and has injected a renewed supply-risk premium into global crude markets.
Further supporting prices, the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report showed a larger-than-expected draw in commercial crude inventories. Stockpiles fell by 1.812 million barrels, surpassing forecasts of a 1.1 million-barrel decline. The draw suggests slightly tighter supply conditions, even as gasoline and distillate inventories increased due to seasonal demand shifts.
Market sentiment was also influenced by the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points, marking the third cut of the cycle and bringing the target range to 3.5%–3.75%. Although the move sparked internal dissent within the central bank, the resulting weaker U.S. dollar and lower borrowing costs helped improve the outlook for commodity demand, including crude oil.
Overall, the combination of geopolitical tensions, tightening U.S. crude supplies, and a supportive monetary policy environment continues to drive volatility—and potential upside—in global oil prices.
