MONEY MASTER

Oil prices extended losses on Friday, heading for their  third consecutive monthly decline , as a  stronger US dollar  and  ample global supply  outweighed concerns about sanctions on Russian crude. Market Snapshot Brent crude:  US$64.67/bbl (–0.5%) WTI crude:  US$60.22/bbl (–0.6%) Monthly performance:  Both benchmarks down about  3% in October Analysts said the  Federal Reserve’s cautious tone  on further rate cuts strengthened the dollar, dampening investor appetite for commodities priced in the greenback. “A stronger USD weighed on investor appetite across the commodities complex,” ANZ analysts noted. Supply Outpaces Demand Oil markets remain under pressure from  rising production by major producers , including  OPEC+  members and the  United States , with supply growth expected to  outpace demand  this year. OPEC+  is leaning toward a  modest output boost in December , according to sources...

Asian markets retreated on Friday after recent highs, as investors took profits and adopted a cautious stance ahead of a high-stakes week filled with  geopolitical risks, key economic data, and major central bank decisions . Market Snapshot: Asia Pulls Back Japan’s Topix  fell  0.7%  after hitting a record high earlier in the week Nikkei  eased  0.5%  from a one-year peak Hang Seng  dropped  0.5% ,  mainland China  slid  0.2% ,  Australia  slipped  0.5% Meanwhile, the  US dollar strengthened , and the  yen weakened  as: US economic data came in firm Japanese political uncertainty  grew amid reports that PM Shigeru Ishiba might resign Global Markets Still Optimistic S&P 500 futures +0.2% , after Alphabet’s strong earnings pushed the index to a fresh record Nasdaq also hit a new high MSCI World Index  dipped  0.1%  but remains near record levels, eyeing a  1.3% weekly gai...