Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Oil prices edged lower during Asian trading on Tuesday as investors remained focused on expectations of a global oil supply glut in 2026, while closely monitoring developments in Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations. The potential for increased global crude supply continued to outweigh concerns around geopolitical disruptions, keeping oil markets under pressure.
Brent crude futures for February declined 0.5% to $60.28 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 0.4% to $56.42 per barrel. The modest losses came as traders largely shrugged off rising tensions involving Venezuela, despite the United States increasing its scrutiny of the country’s oil exports. Washington recently seized a tanker transporting Venezuelan crude, yet markets showed limited reaction, suggesting supply concerns elsewhere are more influential.
A major focus for oil traders remains the U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine. Any meaningful progress toward ending the nearly four-year conflict could eventually lead to a relaxation of U.S. and Western sanctions on Russian oil. Such a move would likely free up additional Russian crude exports, adding to global supply and reinforcing fears of oversupply next year. While U.S. officials have hinted at some diplomatic progress, including Ukraine’s willingness to reconsider NATO ambitions, critical issues such as territorial concessions remain unresolved, and Moscow has offered little indication of an imminent agreement.
Beyond geopolitics, oil markets are also bracing for key U.S. economic data releases later this week, including nonfarm payrolls and consumer inflation figures. These indicators are expected to provide further insight into the health of the U.S. economy and the future path of interest rates, both of which can influence energy demand and commodity prices.
Meanwhile, forecasts from major industry bodies such as OPEC and the International Energy Agency continue to point toward rising oil supplies and slower demand growth in 2026. This outlook has overshadowed escalating U.S.-Venezuela tensions, including reports of a cyberattack on Venezuela’s state oil firm PDVSA and rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting possible land operations. For now, concerns over long-term supply dynamics remain the dominant force shaping oil price movements.
