Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Oil prices edged higher on Thursday, breaking a three-day losing streak and rebounding from 16-week lows, as investors weighed the possibility of tighter sanctions on Russian crude. However, optimism was capped by expectations of increased supply from an OPEC+ output boost starting next month.
Brent crude futures rose 15 cents, or 0.2%, to $65.50 a barrel by 0116 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $61.92 a barrel. Both benchmarks had dropped about 1% on Wednesday, with Brent closing at its lowest level since June 5 and WTI since May 30.
Analysts noted that buying interest resurfaced as WTI approached the $60 support level. Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist at Nissan Securities Investment, said geopolitical tensions and speculation over stricter restrictions on Russian oil flows provided some support.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers announced plans to intensify pressure on Russia by targeting buyers of Russian crude and entities aiding in sanctions evasion. Adding to this, the U.S. is set to provide Ukraine with intelligence to aid long-range missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, potentially disrupting refineries and pipelines critical to Moscow’s oil revenues, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Despite these bullish factors, broader concerns weighed on markets. Fears of a U.S. government shutdown raised worries over global economic growth. Meanwhile, OPEC+ may agree to boost oil production by up to 500,000 barrels per day in November, triple the increase set for October, as Saudi Arabia seeks to recapture market share. This comes at a time when both U.S. and Asian demand show signs of slowing.
On the supply front, U.S. crude inventories increased by 1.8 million barrels last week to 416.5 million, above market expectations of a 1 million-barrel rise, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Gasoline and distillate stockpiles also grew as refining activity weakened, signaling softer demand.
The oil market remains caught between geopolitical risks that could tighten supply and the reality of growing inventories and potential OPEC+ output increases that may pressure prices further.
