- Oil prices, including Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate, remained above 105and105and96 a barrel respectively, as the Strait of Hormuz stayed closed.
- The closure is due to an ongoing naval standoff between the US and Iran, with both nations seizing ships and maintaining blockades in the vital waterway.
- Asian equity markets showed mixed results, with stocks in South Korea, China, and Hong Kong falling, while Nasdaq and S&P 500 futures saw advances.
- Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, warned that the world is facing 'the biggest energy security threat in history' due to significant oil supply disruptions.
- Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire for three weeks, while currency markets remained relatively calm ahead of key central bank decisions next week.
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