S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Malaysia Central Bank Moves to Support Ringgit Amid Foreign Fund Outflows 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Gold Falls Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Prices 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Micron Earnings 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
Global oil prices remained largely unchanged on Monday as markets balanced growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East against a sudden influx of Iranian crude hitting global supply chains. Brent crude futures slipped marginally to $112.11 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate hovered around $98.17 — widening the Brent-WTI spread beyond $14 per barrel, its largest gap in years.
Market analysts attributed the brief dip to thin trading volumes and short-term profit-taking rather than any fundamental shift in outlook. Michael McCarthy, CEO of Moomoo Australia, noted that underlying momentum still points upward, with a potential retest of the $120 price level remaining a realistic possibility in the near term.
Tensions escalated sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iranian power plants unless Tehran fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf responded with warnings that energy infrastructure across the Middle East could face irreversible damage if Iranian facilities were struck. Energy Aspects founder Amrita Sen cautioned that both sides appear locked in a dangerous cycle of escalation, with Gulf energy infrastructure at serious risk.
The ongoing conflict has already taken a severe toll on regional energy output. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint responsible for roughly 20% of global oil and LNG flows — has nearly ground to a halt. Analysts estimate current supply disruptions are costing global markets between 7 and 10 million barrels per day. Iraq has declared force majeure across foreign-operated oilfields, with Basra production plunging from 3.3 million to just 900,000 barrels per day.
In response to tightening supply, Washington temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian crude held at sea. Indian refiners have already moved to resume purchases, with other Asian buyers also exploring similar options to offset the growing shortfall.
