Stephen innes

Shares were mixed in Asia on Monday, with Chinese benchmarks leading decliners. The air strikes on Syria appeared to be having scant impact on trading, and oil prices fell back. Eyes were on Chinese GDP data due on Tuesday.KEEPING SCORE: Japan's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.3 percent to 21,835.53, but Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 2 percent to 30,201.64 and the Shanghai Composite index sank 1.5 percent to 3,110.65. South Korea's Kospi edged 0.1 percent higher to 2,457.49 and Australia's S&P ASX 200 picked up 0.2 percent to 5,841.30. Shares fell in Taiwan and Singapore and rose in Indonesia.MIDDLE EAST: The leaders of Russia, Iran and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon said Sunday that Western airstrikes on their ally Syria, targeting its chemical weapons program, have complicated prospects for a political settlement to the country's seven-year conflict. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his use of the phrase "Mission Accomplished" to describe the U.S.-led missile … [Read more...] about Asian shares meander following US-led air strikes on Syria

By Henning Gloystein SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices were stable on Monday, weighed down by rising supply from OPEC and the United States but supported by concerns that falling Iranian output will tighten markets once U.S. sanctions bite from November. International Brent crude oil futures <LCOc1> were at $77.67 per barrel at 0651 GMT, up 3 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures <CLc1> were at $69.73 per barrel, down 7 cents from their last settlement. Output from the producer cartel of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose by 220,000 barrels per day (bpd) between July and August, to a 2018-high of 32.79 million bpd, a Reuters survey found. Output was boosted by a recovery in Libyan production and as Iraq's southern exports hit a record. Meanwhile, U.S. drillers added oil rigs for the first time in three weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes reported on Friday, increasing the rig count by 2 units to 862. … [Read more...] about Oil prices steady as OPEC supplies weigh but Iran sanctions loom

By Henning Gloystein SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Thursday, lifted by looming U.S. sanctions against major crude exporter Iran. Brent crude futures <LCOc1> were at $82.04 per barrel at 0104 GMT, up by 70 cents, or 0.9 percent from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures <CLc1> were at $72.35 a barrel, up 78 cents, or 1.1 percent from their last settlement. Traders said oil markets were tightening ahead of Washington's planned sanctions on Iran's petroleum industry from Nov. 4. At its 2018 peak, Iran exported around 3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, equivalent to 3 percent of global consumption, and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has little spare capacity to make up for an expected shortfall in Iranian exports. Reflecting expectations of lower supply from the Middle East, Oman crude futures <1OQc1> on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange touched their highest in four years on Wednesday, briefly … [Read more...] about Oil prices rise ahead of U.S. sanctions against Iran

World stock markets sank Thursday, extending losses from Wall Street, as investors worried that higher interest rates will dent company earnings and a trade war will crimp global business. European shares sank after Asia closed sharply lower, auguring another drop in the U.S., which saw its major indexes tumble on Wednesday. Investors will be looking ahead to U.S. inflation data later in the day. A high reading could fuel expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep raising its interest rates at a steady pace, reining in the easy money policy that had fueled stock markets in recent years. "Equity markets were pulverized today," with investors in "full out retreat," analyst Stephen Innes of OANDA said in a commentary. The "latest sneeze" from Wall Street "could morph into a global markets pandemic," he added. Dow Jones Industrial Average Largest Daily Point Loss Date Close Points change % Change Feb. 5, 2018 24,345.75 −1,175.21 −4.60 Oct. 10, 2018 24,345.75 … [Read more...] about Wall Street Set to Fall Again After Sell-Off Spreads Worldwide

By Koustav SamantaSINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices edged up on Monday amid a fall in drilling activity in the United States, but lingering concerns about weaker economic growth in major economies kept a lid on gains.gi U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures <CLc1> were at $51.35 per barrel at 0010 GMT, up 0.3 percent, or 15 cents, from their last settlement.International Brent crude oil futures <LCOc1> had yet to trade."Despite OPEC and Russia agreeing to reduce oil production by a further 1.2 million barrels per day at the recent OPEC meeting, prices have fallen as the market awaits evidence that the cuts will balance the market," ANZ Bank said on Monday."Even a fall in the rig count couldn't dispel these concerns."U.S. drillers cut four oil rigs in the week to Dec. 14, pulling the total count to the lowest since mid-October at 873, General Electric Co's <GE.N> Baker Hughes energy services firm said on Friday. <RIG-OL-USA-BHI>The Organisation of … [Read more...] about U.S. oil prices inch up, but global economic concerns weigh