Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Oil prices fell to a three-week low in Asian trade on Thursday, extending recent losses as concerns over a potential global supply glut grew following OPEC+’s revised forecast of a surplus in 2026. The dip also came as a stronger U.S. dollar and muted optimism over the end of the U.S. government shutdown weighed on crude markets.
Brent crude futures for January dropped 0.3% to $62.54 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures slipped 0.3% to $58.31 per barrel by 20:37 ET (01:37 GMT). Both benchmarks recorded sharp declines of around 3.5% to 4% in the previous session.
OPEC’s latest monthly report revealed that the organization now expects a small surplus in oil supply by 2026, driven by higher production from both OPEC members and non-OPEC producers. The group also revised down its global demand forecast for the same year to 43 million barrels per day (bpd), implying a modest oversupply of around 20,000 bpd if current production levels persist. This outlook aligns OPEC more closely with the International Energy Agency (IEA), which has projected a larger surplus. The IEA is expected to release its monthly oil market report later Thursday.
Despite OPEC’s plans to halt further production increases in the first quarter of 2026, its steady output growth throughout this year has heightened market fears of oversupply. Traders now worry that rising inventories could pressure prices further into next year.
Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill ending the country’s longest-ever government shutdown, with President Donald Trump expected to sign it into law. The move provides some relief for fuel demand concerns, as government operations resume and key economic data releases restart, offering renewed clarity for the world’s largest oil consumer.
