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☆ Oil falls after U.S. Fed governor says no rush to cut interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

This picture taken on Jan.12, 2024 shows onshore oil pumps in Tutong district in Brunei. Oil prices fell on Friday after a U.S. Fed official said interest rate cuts should be delayed at least two more months. Higher interest rates for longer slow economic growth, which curbs oil demand. Waller also pushed back on the idea that the Fed risks sending the economy into recession if it waits too long to cut rates, saying the Fed can afford to "wait a little longer". Oil futures had settled higher on Thursday as hostilities continued in the Red Sea, with Iran-aligned Houthis stepping up attacks near Yemen to show support for Palestinians in the Gaza war.

Persons: Christopher Waller, Waller, Benjamin Netanyahu's Organizations: U.S, Fed, Brent, West Texas, . Federal, Israel Locations: Tutong district, Brunei, U.S, Red, Iran, Yemen, Gaza, Paris

☆ Saudi Arabia's futuristic megaprojects are so expensive that even its oil riches may not be enough
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Tom Porter | Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AdvertisementSaudi Arabia is borrowing to help fund an array of ambitious projects including the $500 billion Neom desert megacity, The Wall Street Journal reported. Under its ambitious ruler Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 project, Saudi Arabia is seeking to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels and become a global hub for technology and innovation. The Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is providing funding for cornerstone "gigaprojects" estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars apiece. He said Saudi Arabia may need to raise another $270 billion for the Public Investment Fund by 2030. AdvertisementThe International Monetary Fund said in October that the Saudis needed oil to be about $86 a barrel to fund its spending commitments.

Persons: Mohammed bin Salman's, Tim Callen, Brent, Karen Young Organizations: Street Journal, Public Investment Fund, Aramco, Gulf States Institute, Saudi, Bloomberg, Monetary Fund, US Energy Information Administration, Middle East Institute Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Washington, Diryah

☆ Saudi Arabia is reportedly borrowing to help fund its megaprojects as oil prices struggle
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Tom Porter | Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Saudi Arabia has started borrowing to fund megaprojects including Neom, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementSaudi Arabia is borrowing to help fund an array of ambitious projects including the $500 billion Neom desert megacity, The Wall Street Journal reported. Under its ambitious ruler Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 project, Saudi Arabia is seeking to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels and become a global hub for technology and innovation. The Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, is providing funding for cornerstone "gigaprojects" estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars apiece. He said Saudi Arabia may need to raise another $270 billion for the Public Investment Fund by 2030.

Persons: —, Mohammed bin Salman's, Tim Callen, Brent, Karen Young Organizations: Street Journal, Saudi, Service, Public Investment Fund, Aramco, Gulf States Institute, Bloomberg, Monetary Fund, US Energy Information Administration, Middle East Institute Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Washington, Diryah

☆ Oil down in thin trade as U.S. gears up for Presidents' Day
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A pump jack at an oil lot connected to the Petroleos del Peru SA Talara refinery in Piura, Peru, on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Oil prices edged down on Monday morning as markets digested comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials pointing to a more patient stance regarding potential interest rate cuts, in thin early trade on what is a public holiday in the United States. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was 35 cents, or 0.44%, lower at $78.84 at 0138 GMT. Markets are yet to see the direction of demand from China after that country returns from a week-long Lunar New Year holiday, while Presidents' Day in the United States is set to keep trade relatively muted. Higher rates keep up the cost of buying oil, providing for a bearish market trend.

Persons: Brent, Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin's Organizations: del, del Peru SA Talara, U.S . Federal, . West Texas, Yemen's, of, Petroleum, ANZ Research, International Energy Agency, ANZ, United Nations Security Council Locations: del Peru, Piura, Peru, U.S, United States, China, Gaza, Yemen's Iran, India, Algerian, Israel, Europe, Russia, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Moscow

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mostly higher in Asia after Chinese markets reopened Monday from a long Lunar New Year holiday. Markets will be closed Monday in the United States for President's Day. Elsewhere in Asia, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1% higher to 7,665.10 and the Kospi in Seoul picked up 1.2%, to 2,680.26. It also discouraged bets that a Fed move to relax conditions on the economy and financial markets could come even in May. Higher rates and yields make borrowing more expensive, slowing the economy and hurting prices for investments.

Persons: Hang Seng, Australia's Organizations: President's, Ocean, China Vanke, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, United States, China, Shanghai, Seoul, India

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares advanced in Asia on Friday, with Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index trading near a record high, 35 years after it peaked and then plunged with the collapse of Japan's financial bubble. U.S. futures were lower after stocks on Wall Street set a fresh record following some mixed reports on the economy. It has been hovering just below the record high of 38,915.87 that it set on Dec. 29, 1989, right before a plunge in share and property prices ushered in an era of slower, faltering growth. Taiwan's Taiex edged 0.2% lower a day after breaching a record high of 18,644.57 as major market mover TSMC, the world's biggest computer chip maker, surged nearly 8%. On Thursday, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 5,029.73, squeaking past its all-time high set last week.

Persons: Australia's, Shack, Wells Organizations: —, Nikkei, Nvidia, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, U.S, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Fed, CBRE, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, Hong, Seoul, India, Wall

☆ Oil prices roughly flat as unclear demand scenario weighed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices meandered on Friday as investors pondered slowing demand forecast by an influential group and weak U.S. retail sales data that sparked optimism about U.S. interest rate cuts. Oil prices meandered on Friday as investors pondered slowing demand forecast by an influential group and weak U.S. retail sales data that sparked optimism about U.S. interest rate cuts. The U.S. Commerce Department report showed retail sales dropped 0.8% in January, the biggest fall since February 2023. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales dipping 0.1%. OPEC on Tuesday stuck to its much steeper growth forecast at 2.25 million bpd.

Persons: Hiroyuki Kikukawa Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Reserve, U.S . Commerce Department, Reuters, NS, Nissan Securities, International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum Locations: U.S, Paris, East, Lebanon, Gaza

☆ Why oil prices aren’t soaring despite Middle East uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Oil prices spiked last month following US-led strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to repeated attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. One factor that could be keeping the cap on oil prices is waning demand. “Global oil demand growth is losing momentum,” said the agency in its February report. While global oil demand growth is slowing, supply has stayed relatively strong, potentially putting further downward pressure on oil prices. “Higher global oil supply this year, led by the United States, Brazil, Guyana and Canada, should more than eclipse the expected rise in world oil demand,” said the report.

Persons: Bell, ”, Donald Trump, Matt Egan, —, Trump, Jay Ritter, Read, Anna Bahney, Freddie Mac, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, Khater, Bob Broeksmit Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New, New York CNN, West Texas, Brent, International Energy Agency, “, shuttering, Federal, US, United Arab Emirates, White, Wall, Trump, Truth Social, Trump Media & Technology Group, Securities and Exchange, Trump Media, SEC, University of Florida, Mortgage Bankers Association Locations: New York, Russia, Ukraine, Yemen, Red, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Iraq, United States, Brazil, Guyana, Canada

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares rose in Asia on Thursday after Wall Street stocks recovered much of their sharp losses from a day before. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 climbed 1% to 5,000.62, clawing back more than two-thirds of its loss from Tuesday. It was the single strongest force lifting the S&P 500 index. Most companies in the S&P 500 have been topping analysts’ forecasts for the last three months of 2023. Hopes for stronger growth in 2024 from a solid economy have been another reason the S&P 500 has set 10 records already this year.

Persons: Australia's, Taiwan’s Taiex, India's Sensex, Russell, Lyft, Airbnb Organizations: Wall, Bank of Japan, Nikkei, Reserve, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Treasury, Nvidia, Technologies, Akamai Technologies, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, Seoul, Japan, Britain, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Italy, U.S

TOKYO (AP) — Shares declined Wednesday in Asia after disappointingly high U.S. inflation data sent stocks sliding on Wall Street and raised prospects that interest rates will remain elevated for longer. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index resumed trading after the Lunar New Year holiday, edging 0.7% higher to 15,861.77 after opening lower. High interest rates hurt all kinds of investments, and they tend to particularly hurt high-growth stocks like technology companies. Stocks of smaller companies fell even more because high rates could hurt them more than bigger rivals by making it more difficult to borrow cash. Yields jumped in the bond market as traders built up expectations for the Fed to keep rates high for longer.

Persons: Australia's, Korea's Kospi, Sensex, Tuesday’s, Russell, Alexandra Wilson, Elizondo, Carl Icahn Organizations: TOKYO, —, Nikkei, Federal Reserve, Labor Department, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Fed, Treasury, Goldman, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Wall, JetBlue Airways, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: Asia, Indonesia, Southeast, China, Bangkok, Goldman Sachs

That may relieve pressure on the central bank to alter its longstanding ultra-lax monetary policy and raise its benchmark interest rate from minus 0.1%. Inflation has been cooling enough that the Federal Reserve has hinted it may cut its main interest rate several times this year. Reports showing the U.S. economy and job market remain remarkably solid, along with some comments from Fed officials, have been forcing the delays. In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude rose 27 cents to $77.19 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 149.67 Japanese yen from 149.34 yen.

Persons: Germany's DAX, Australia's, Korea's Kospi, ” Yeap Jun Rong, that’s Organizations: TOKYO, CAC, FTSE, Dow Jones, Nikkei, Bank of Japan, IG, Federal Reserve, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: Asia, China , Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States

☆ Oil starts week lower after Israel says 'concluded' Gaza strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil prices fell in early Asian trade on Monday after Israel said it had "concluded" a series of strikes in southern Gaza, slightly easing concerns about supply from the Middle East. Geo-political risks including a feared broadening of the Israel-Palestinian conflict across the region and potential oil supply disruption in the Middle East pushed prices up by about 6% last week. The Israeli military said on Monday it had conducted a "series of strikes" on southern Gaza that have now "concluded," days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a ceasefire proposal from Hamas. While supply concerns in the Middle East remained relatively heightened, news from the U.S. eased some worries. Mainland China's financial markets are closed for the Lunar New Year holiday and will resume trade on Monday, Feb 19.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, Federal Reserve Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Asia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares were mixed on Monday, with most regional markets closed for holidays, while U.S. futures edged lower after the S&P 500 ended last week above 5,000. Thailand's SET was up 0.1% and in Jakarta, the benchmark gained 0.6% ahead of an election to be held on Wednesday. With mainland Chinese markets closed for the week for the Lunar New Year, there was a dearth of market moving news. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesOn Friday, the S&P 500 rose 0.6%, finishing above 5,000 for the first time, at 5,026.61. Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon were the three strongest forces lifting the S&P 500 after each rose by at least 1.6%.

Persons: Australia's, SET, ” Stephen Innes, Wall, they’ve, Cloudflare, it’s, Brent Organizations: Federal Reserve, Management, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Big Tech, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Bank of America, New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S Locations: BANGKOK, India, Jakarta, United States, Japan, U.S

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose nearly 0.1% to 36,897.42, slipping back from earlier gains that took it briefly to a 34-year high. In prior months, such a report may have hurt the stock market because of concerns that it would mean a longer wait for cuts to interest rates from the Federal Reserve. The latest set of earnings reports from big U.S. companies also kept the stock market mixed overall. It gave a forecast for expected profit across 2024 that fell short of analysts’. In other trading, benchmark U.S. crude lost 6 cents to $76.16 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Persons: Shinichi Uchida, Australia's, ”, Ryan Detrick, Ralph Lauren Organizations: TOKYO, Nikkei, Investors, Bank of Japan, SoftBank Group Corp, Nissan, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Carson Group, Federal Reserve, Walt Disney Co, Arm Holdings, PayPal, Global, New York Community Bancorp, Traders, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S . Locations: U.S, Asia, U.K

BANGKOK (AP) — Share were mostly higher in Asia on Thursday after the S&P 500 neared the 5,000 level for the first time. Hong Kong’s benchmark fell while Shanghai advanced after China replaced its top stock market regulator. Late Wednesday, China's top stock regulator was replaced by a former chairman of the Shanghai Stock Exchange as part of those efforts. On Thursday, the Shanghai Composite index gained 1.3% to 2,865.90 and the Shenzhen Components index in China's smaller main market also added 1.3%. The S&P 500 gained 0.8%, coming within a fraction of a point of the 5,000 level before ending the day at 4,995.06.

Persons: Wu Qing, Yi Huiman, Hang Seng, Australia's, SET, Snapchat Organizations: Shanghai Stock Exchange, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Communist Party, Nikkei, Ford, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, . New York Community Bancorp, Signature Bank, Ford Motor, Enphase Energy, CVS Health, Corp, Vans, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, Shanghai, China, Tokyo, Beijing, Shenzhen, Seoul, India, Wall

☆ Oil edges up with slim progress in Gaza peace talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A pump jack at an oil lot connected to the Petroleos del Peru SA Talara refinery in Piura, Peru, on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Oil prices rose on Thursday after Israel rejected a ceasefire offer from Hamas, as talks continued to try to end the Gaza conflict and wider Middle East tensions that have kept the market on edge since October. A Palestinian Hamas delegation led by senior official Khalil Al-Hayya was due to travel on Thursday to Cairo for ceasefire talks with Egypt and Qatar. On the demand side, a much stronger-than-expected drawdown in gasoline stocks in the U.S. reported on Wednesday continued to buoy the market. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported U.S. gasoline stocks fell by 3.15 million barrels last week compared with analysts' estimates for a build of 140,000 barrels.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Khalil Al, Hayya Organizations: del, del Peru SA Talara, Brent, . West Texas, Hamas, U.S . Energy Information Administration, ANZ Research Locations: del Peru, Piura, Peru, Gaza, Palestinian, Cairo, Egypt, Qatar, U.S

☆ JPMorgan says oil could rise to the high $80s by May
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Brent crude oil futures are poised to rise $10 a barrel over the next three months even without any geopolitical risk premium built in, according to JPMorgan's commodity analysts. That would put the global benchmark just below $90 a barrel by May based on Wednesday's settlement of $79.21. Oil prices are expected to rise as the market tightens due to falling global crude inventories, Kaneva wrote. Crude inventories are falling around the world as the economy remains resilient with the U.S., Europe and China maintaining stable growth, which is positive for oil demand, according to JPMorgan. "Near-term dynamics aside, our Brent outlook continues to project a tightening market with prices rising from here by another $10 by May," Kaneva told clients.

Persons: Natasha Kaneva, Kaneva Organizations: Brent, U.S, JPMorgan, OPEC Locations: Saudi Arabia, Russia, Europe, China

☆ Oil edges up on smaller US output growth estimates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A pump jack at an oil lot connected to the Petroleos del Peru SA Talara refinery in Piura, Peru, on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Oil prices ticked higher on Wednesday, as growth in U.S. oil production is expected to remain largely steady through 2025, easing worries of excess supply. The EIA also cut its forecast for domestic oil output growth in 2024 by 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 170,000 bpd, sharply lower than last year's output increase of 1.02 million bpd. U.S. government data on oil inventory will be released later on Wednesday. U.S. crude stocks are expected to have risen 1.9 million barrels in the last week as production recovered from a cold freeze and refiners started maintenance.

Organizations: del, del Peru SA Talara, Brent, U.S, West Texas, U.S . Energy Information Administration, EIA, Hamas, Traders Locations: del Peru, Piura, Peru, ., U.S, Israel, Gaza, Iranian, Suez, Asia, Europe

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly higher Wednesday, tracking gains on Wall Street, although Tokyo's benchmark slipped slightly. Those developments had pushed Chinese shares, including those in Hong Kong, sharply higher on Tuesday. The mostly small cap stocks traded in the southern Chinese market of Shenzhen were up 1.4%, and the CSI 1000, an index that tracks highly volatile “snowball derivatives" was up 4.2%. Wall Street drifted higher through a quiet Tuesday as the bond market calmed following some sharp swings. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury relaxed following its slingshot ride higher in recent days.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Seng, Australia's, Korea's Kospi, Brent Organizations: TOKYO, Hong, CSI, Nikkei, Toyota Motor Corp, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, Federal, GE Healthcare Technologies, Palantir Technologies, FMC, CVS Health, Walt Disney Co, PepsiCo, Treasury, U.S Locations: U.S, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Asia, Brazil

☆ Oil prices mostly flat as Blinken's Middle East visit assessed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

This image taken near Calgary, Alberta, where the oil industry is a major economic driver. Oil prices were little moved in early trading on Tuesday, as market participants assessed a visit to the Middle East by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss a ceasefire offer in the region. Brent crude futures were down 2 cents at $77.97 a barrel as of 00:01 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures edged down 3 cents to $72.75. The United States continued its campaign against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, whose attacks on shipping vessels have disrupted global oil trading routes. In Russia, two Ukrainian drones struck the largest oil refinery in the country's south on Saturday, a source in Kyiv told Reuters.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Saudi Arabia's Organizations: U.S, Brent, West Texas, United, Reuters Locations: Calgary , Alberta, East, Saudi, Rafah, Gaza, United States, Iran, Yemen, Russia, Ukrainian, Kyiv

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mixed Tuesday in Asia, where Chinese stocks surged after a government investment fund said it would step up stock purchases and a report said leader Xi Jinping was set to meet with officials to discuss the markets. The fund periodically steps up buying of shares in big state-owned banks and other companies to counter heavy selling pressure in the Chinese markets. On Monday, benchmarks in Shanghai and the smaller market in Shenzhen bounced between small gains and big losses, while share prices of state-run banks and other big companies rose. The Fed has yanked the federal funds rate to its highest level since 2001 to bring down high inflation. But there's also an upside for stocks from the U.S. economy's blasting through worries about a possible recession.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, Hong, Seng, Australia's, India's, Jerome Powell, there's Organizations: Bloomberg, CSI, Central Huijin Investment, Nikkei, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Institute for Supply, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent Locations: BANGKOK, Asia, Shanghai, Shenzhen, South Korea, Bangkok

☆ Oil prices steady on Gaza ceasefire talks even as US plans Middle East strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices stabilized in early Asian trading on Monday after sharp falls last week, amid continued attempts to reach a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestinian conflict even as the U.S. planned new strikes on Iran-backed groups. Brent crude futures inched up 8 cents to $77.41 a barrel by 0131 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were flat at $72.28 a barrel. However, investors remained wary of any escalation in the Middle East conflict, after the U.S. signaled further strikes on Iran-backed groups in the Middle East in response to a deadly attack on U.S. troops in Jordan. "Oil markets will likely respond by continuing to discount supply disruption risks in the Middle East," he said in a client note on Monday, adding that would likely keep Brent futures below $80 a barrel. Iran exported between 1.2 million and 1.6 million barrels per day of crude oil through most of 2023, representing 1%-1.5% of global oil supply.

Persons: Vivek Dhar, Brent Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, Commonwealth Bank, U.S . Department of Justice, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Ras Behar, Egypt, Israel, Iran, U.S, Jordan, The U.S, Yemen, China

Last week, Chinese stocks capped their worst week in five years. On Friday, Big Tech stocks once again carried Wall Street to a record, even though the majority of stocks fell due to renewed worries about risks of a hot economy. The Big Tech stocks, which are two of Wall Street’s most influential, also vaulted the Nasdaq composite up by 1.7%. But the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has less of an emphasis on tech, rose by a more modest 0.3% to 38.654.42. They’re both members of a small group of Big Tech stocks known as the “Magnificent Seven” responsible for the majority of Wall Street’s run to a record.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hang Seng, Australia’s, it’s, Stocks, Jerome Powell, They’re Organizations: China Securities Regulatory Commission, Nikkei, Big Tech, Meta, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Charter Communications, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, U.S, China, Hong, Asia

☆ Oil prices gain after OPEC+ maintains output cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An oil pump jack in Midland, Texas, US, on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Photographer: Sergio Flores/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesOil prices rose in early trade on Friday following a decision by OPEC+ to keep its oil output policy unchanged, clawing back some losses from the previous trading session triggered by unsubstantiated ceasefire reports between Israel and Hamas. Both contracts settled more than 2% lower on Thursday due to the unverified ceasefire reports between Israel and Hamas. On Thursday, two OPEC+ sources said the group has kept its oil output policy unchanged, and will decide in March whether or not to extend the voluntary oil production cuts in place for the first quarter. Lower interest rates would reduce consumer borrowing costs, which can boost economic growth and oil demand.

Persons: Sergio Flores, Brent, Yemen's, Jerome Powell Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, OPEC, U.S, West Texas, Hamas, of, Petroleum, ANZ Research, U.S . Federal Locations: Midland , Texas, Israel, Iran, Red, Russia, OPEC, U.S .

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Friday, helped by optimism about technology shares following a Wall Street rally led by big tech stocks. On Wall Street, U.S. stocks bounced back in a widespread rally following their worst day since September. Such data could give the Federal Reserve more of the evidence it wants of a slowdown in inflation before it will deliver the cuts to interest rates that investors crave. Traders are increasingly betting the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates in May, after pushing back expectations from March. High interest rates intentionally slow the economy, and they undercut prices for investments.

Persons: Australia's, Korea's Kospi, Merck, Etsy Organizations: TOKYO, Nikkei, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Microsoft, Big Tech, Apple, Meta, Facebook, Federal, crave, Elliott Investment Management, , New York Community Bancorp, Valley Bank, Signature Bank, New York Community Bancorp, Institute for Supply Management, Traders, Federal Reserve, Fed, New York Mercantile Exchange, Brent, U.S . Locations: Shanghai, U.S, ,

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