Business and finance news from the Asia-Pacific.

Volatility in oil prices continue to dominate the markets. The International Energy Agency proposed biggest-ever release of oil reserves the Wall Street Journal reported. Brent crude initially declined. then swung between gains and losses following WSJ report; stocks rose. Earlier in the day, the oil market was buffeted by confusion over whether the US Navy escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed that was the case in a post on social media. Later, however, the post on X was deleted. Then in a briefing with reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US did not escort any oil tanker through the Strait. For more on what this means for the dollar, we spoke to David Finnerty, Bloomberg's FX and Rates Strategist.

And for more analysis on the oil story, we heard from Vandana Hari, Vanda Insights Founder. She spoke to Bloomberg's Haidi Stroud-Watts and Avril Hong.