Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific.
West Texas Intermediate traded above $80 a barrel after adding more than 11% in the previous three sessions, as the US continued its attacks on Iran in a bid to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Gasoil prices, however, were a touch weaker in the previous session.
Equity-index futures pointed to declines in Japan and South Korea, while those for Hong Kong and Australia indicated gains. Earlier, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 fell 0.3%, while a US semiconductor gauge pared some of its losses to finish down more than 2%. For a look at the markets we spoke to Ross Mayfield, Investment Strategist at Baird.
For a look at trade across the world, we bring you a special interview, Bloomberg's David Gura sat down with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss the section 301 investigation on Brazil, the trade surplus with Switzerland, and more.