China Agrees to Buy 20 Million Tons of U.S. Coal 
Soybean Futures Slip as Traders Await Trump-Xi Trade Signals 
Fed’s Hammack Says Bond Yield Surge Is Not Driven by Inflation Fears 
Germany’s 2026 Growth Outlook Strengthens on Fiscal Spending 
Asian Stocks Fall as Surging Bond Yields Rattle Markets 
Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High as Yen Approaches 160 
U.S. Treasury Yields Surge as 30-Year Hits 22-Year High 
Canadian Dollar Faces Pressure as Fed-BoC Policy Gap Widens 
Gold Holds Near $4,275 as Rising Treasury Yields Fuel Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Japanese Yen Rebounds as Trump Flags Currency Weakness 
Australia Unemployment Hits Five-Year High Despite Strong Jobs Growth 
UK PM Burnham to Unveil Economic Vision at Labour Conference 
Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act 
European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High 
Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
Gold Prices Fall as Treasury Yields Rise on Fed Rate Hike Bets 
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Oil prices edged higher in Asian trading Friday, supported by renewed hopes for China-U.S. trade talks that may ease tensions between the world’s top two oil consumers. Brent crude futures rose 0.8% to $62.62 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 0.9% to $59.19 by 02:11 GMT. However, both benchmarks remain down between 5% and 7% for the week, marking a second straight week of losses amid ongoing demand concerns.
China's commerce ministry signaled openness to resuming trade negotiations, stressing that any talks must be sincere and contingent on the removal of U.S. tariffs. This followed reports of outreach from U.S. officials and growing signs of Washington’s willingness to deescalate the trade dispute. The prolonged trade war had previously weighed heavily on crude prices, with mutual tariffs exceeding 100% and raising fears of reduced global oil demand.
Further pressuring the market, weak economic indicators from both the U.S. and China this week fueled concerns over slowing growth and energy consumption. Analysts remain cautious ahead of the upcoming OPEC+ meeting on May 5, where the group is expected to announce production hikes. Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s key member, has reportedly indicated reluctance to maintain deeper supply cuts, while several member nations plan to increase output from June.
Despite bearish signals, U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of secondary sanctions on Iranian oil buyers and new sanctions on Tehran offered temporary support to prices. These geopolitical developments, coupled with the OPEC+ decision and trade negotiation progress, will be key drivers for oil markets in the near term.
