Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Oil prices held firm in early Tuesday trading, supported by concerns over potential supply disruptions from Russia after Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries. Brent crude futures inched up 4 cents to $67.48 a barrel at 0000 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 2 cents to $63.32. Both benchmarks had gained in the previous session, with Brent settling 45 cents higher at $67.44 and WTI up 61 cents at $63.30.
Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure in an effort to weaken Moscow’s war capacity, heightening fears of supply shortages from a country that produces more than 10% of global crude. “Heightened fears of supply disruptions from Russia” are lending support to prices, noted IG market analyst Tony Sycamore.
Adding to the geopolitical risk, Israel launched a ground offensive in Gaza City on Monday, raising fresh concerns over Middle Eastern supply security.
On the economic front, investors are awaiting the U.S. Federal Reserve’s September 16–17 meeting, where a rate cut is widely expected. Lower interest rates could boost economic activity and fuel demand. The U.S. dollar index slipped to a one-week low, further supporting oil prices as a weaker dollar makes crude cheaper for buyers using other currencies.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ruled out additional tariffs on Chinese goods to pressure Beijing into reducing Russian oil purchases unless Europe imposed similar duties on China and India. In a separate development, Washington and Beijing reached a framework deal to transition TikTok to U.S. ownership, a rare sign of easing trade tensions. Past improvements in U.S.-China relations have boosted global risk sentiment and supported demand outlooks.
At under 300 words, the article highlights the interplay of geopolitical tensions, central bank policy, and currency shifts in shaping crude oil market sentiment.
