Brent crude reaches a five-month peak amid threats to Gulf oil supplies

Brent oil hits nearly six-month high at $116.72 a barrel

Brent settled on 23 October at its highest since 29 April. WTI also rose, leaving the two oil benchmarks with weekly gains of 6% and 2.3%, respectively, and higher reference prices for oil buyers.

Japanese investors sell foreign bonds for a fifth straight week

Japanese investors recorded a fifth consecutive week of net foreign-bond sales, taking this year’s long-term bond disposals to ¥5.18 trillion—the largest comparable total since 2022. Domestic banks have led the selling; life insurers have signalled plans to maintain or increase domestic bond purchases in the second half of the fiscal year.

Truck blockades largely end in southern Italy

Truck blockades have largely ended in southern Italy, France 24 with AFP reported on 24 October. The reopening gives suppliers access to businesses hit by empty supermarket shelves, airport fuel shortages and halted mozzarella production.

Philippines' central bank raises key rate half a point to 5.50%

The Philippine central bank raised its benchmark rate to 5.50% as September inflation reached 7.2% and second-quarter growth was the weakest since 2021. The bank says the move will make policy appropriately restrictive, with its next policy review scheduled for December 17.

South Korea’s central bank holds benchmark rate at 3.00%

The Bank of Korea held its benchmark rate at 3.00% on October 22 after two consecutive increases. It also raised its growth forecasts to 3.3% for 2026 and 2.9% for 2027, Reuters reported. Economists surveyed by Reuters forecast another rate increase at the bank’s November meeting.

US wage growth trails inflation, reducing purchasing power

US hourly wages rose 3% over a year while consumer prices increased 3.7%, Al Jazeera reports, reducing what average hourly pay could buy. Two workers described cutting discretionary spending or drawing on savings as their budgets tightened.

Armenia’s registered jobs rise about 4.9% year on year, prime minister says

Armenia’s registered job count rose by about 4.9% from September 2025, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reported. The State Revenue Committee put the September 2026 total at 845,438 and identified its basis: taxpayers’ income-tax and social-payment calculations, which count income-generating jobs rather than individual workers.

Canada’s federal and Ontario governments announce tariff support

Canada’s federal and Ontario governments have announced manufacturing support that Euronews values at $6.2 billion, without specifying the dollar currency. The sector allocations fall $700 million short of that total, while the plan commits funding to steelmakers and automakers over five years.

US Energy Department offers emergency heating-oil loans

The US Energy Department is offering reserve loans to try to contain prices amid diesel shortages. Separate government data show diesel and heating-oil stocks rose by 1.68 million barrels over the reported week. The proposed loans could provide additional fuel from the emergency reserve.

Japan’s lenders report rising corporate funding demand

Japan’s corporate funding-demand index rose from −1 to +3 in a central bank survey. The reading does not measure loan volumes or establish that credit is easy to obtain; the Bank of Japan says it will examine how earlier rate increases affect company funding.

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UK chancellor announces £2bn for new Energy Wealth Fund

UK chancellor John Healey has announced an Energy Wealth Fund with £2 billion in planned funding. The BBC reports that the money will come from the existing National Wealth Fund to support domestic green-energy investment.

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US government announces Microsoft’s suspension from a residency program

The US government announced Microsoft’s suspension from permanent labor certification on 8 October, blocking new and pending applications but not H-1B visas. The BBC reported on 21 October that companies had reduced their use of the process and analysts forecast limited business effects, while affected workers remained unable to advance their residency applications.