The arbitrage window for U.S. crude sold in Asia is shrinking amid higher tanker rates and a climbing WTI price, Reuters has reported, citing traders. The publication cited LSEG data showing that Very Large Crude Carrier rates jumped to 12.5 million last week, which was the highest since March 2023. The rate increase resulted from increased demand for U.S. crude from Asian buyers that emerged during the summer. Since then, rates have eased somewhat to $12 million but remain elevated enough to sap appetite ...

Market Overview - Asian shares exhibited mixed trading patterns, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng increasing by 0.1% to 26,421.63, while the Shanghai Composite decreased by 0.1% to 3,866.37, amid concerns regarding China's economic performance [1] - The S&P 500 on Wall Street slightly declined by less than 0.1% from its all-time high, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 273 points (0.6%), and the Nasdaq composite rose by 0.4% [4] Economic Indicators - China's economy showed signs of continued decline in August, with key activity readings falling short of market expectations. Retail sales rose by only 3.4%, marking a 12-month low, down from 5.7% in July and 6.8% in June [2] - Analysts suggest that the slowdown in China's economy warrants additional short-term stimulus efforts to bolster growth [2] Trade and Tariff Impact - The shift in economic dynamics is evident as Beijing's reliance on exports has diminished due to U.S. tariffs disrupting supply chains, which has contributed to the economic slowdown [3] Bond and Energy Markets - In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.06% from 4.01%, indicating a recovery from earlier declines [5] - In energy trading, U.S. crude oil prices increased by 37 cents to $63.06 per barrel, while Brent crude rose by 36 cents to $67.35 per barrel [5] Currency Trading - The U.S. dollar slightly appreciated to 147.67 Japanese yen from 147.65 yen, while the euro remained stable at $1.1732 [6]