South Korea Remains MSCI Emerging Market Despite Reform Progress 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Malaysia Central Bank Moves to Support Ringgit Amid Foreign Fund Outflows 
Oil Prices Drop as Strait of Hormuz Shipping Recovers 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil prices declined during Asian trading on Friday, putting both major benchmarks on course for a weekly loss of more than 4%, as signs of diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran reduced the geopolitical risk premium that had been propping up markets.
Brent crude futures for May delivery dropped 0.7% to $107.80 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate fell 0.8% to $93.72 per barrel as of early Friday morning. The pullback reflects growing investor confidence that a full-scale energy supply disruption may be avoided, at least in the near term.
Markets responded positively after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 10-day pause on potential strikes targeting Iran's energy infrastructure, citing ongoing negotiations at Tehran's request. Trump described the diplomatic talks as progressing well, fueling optimism around a possible breakthrough. Iranian officials, however, struck a more measured tone, keeping traders cautious about reading too much into early-stage discussions.
A key concern driving recent crude oil volatility has been the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint responsible for a significant share of global oil transit. Any disruption to this corridor could trigger sharp supply shocks, which explains why escalating U.S.-Iran-Israel tensions sent prices surging in prior weeks.
Despite the latest decline, crude oil prices remain considerably higher than pre-conflict levels, reflecting ongoing uncertainty in the region. Traders continue to weigh the possibility of renewed hostilities against diplomatic signals that suggest de-escalation may be underway.
With global energy markets remaining sensitive to geopolitical developments, oil price movements will likely continue to be driven by the pace of Iran nuclear negotiations, Middle East ceasefire prospects, and any shifts in U.S. foreign policy. Investors and analysts are watching closely for updates that could either stabilize or once again jolt crude markets in the days ahead.
