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By Sushil Kutty There’s this theory going around that the Congress, wherever it has fought elections in recent years, from Haryana to Maharashtra, and now Bihar in the offing, it fought with its INDIA bloc allies more than with the BJP, the party to beat if the INDIA Bloc has to oust Prime Minister Narendra […]

The article Congress Should Go The Whole Hog With Its Ally RJD In Coming Bihar Polls appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Oil prices are sliding as traders cite mounting unsold Middle Eastern crude and weakening demand from key importers. This shift raises prospects of a global oversupply even as OPEC+ debates its next policy move.

Estimates from trading houses place unsold crude cargoes for November loading in the Middle East between 6 million and 12 million barrels. These volumes represent a departure from usual patterns where discount-seeking buyers quickly absorb surplus cargoes. Market participants point to a combination of subdued Chinese demand and logistical bottlenecks as contributing factors.

Spot premiums on benchmark grades such as Oman, Dubai and Murban have plunged below $2 per barrel, reflecting the discounts sellers are forced to offer to entice buyers. One trading analyst noted that the drop in premiums signals heightened desperation amid a buyer’s market for Middle Eastern crude.

China, a traditional backstop for surplus exports, is showing signs of pulling back. In May, China recorded a crude surplus of 1.4 million barrels per day—indicating that imports significantly outpaced refinery throughput. That accumulated surplus suggests refiners are prioritising inventory building over active processing, perhaps in anticipation of future market volatility.

Iran adds another layer of complexity. Tanker-tracking firms estimate that between 23 million and 33 million barrels of Iranian crude are currently held in floating storage. While Iran’s oil minister has denied any unsold inventory, satellite and maritime data paint a different picture. Analysts say the discrepancy reflects the country’s use of ship-to-ship transfers and “ghost fleet” operations to obscure the origin and movement of crude, especially in shipments headed for China.

These movements coincide with a broader recalibration in OPEC+ strategy. Some member states, notably Iraq, have increased destination-free exports, signalling an intent to saturate markets and regain influence with trading partners. Iraq’s shipment of Basrah Medium crude is projected to rise significantly in the coming month, following a period in which pledged output increases by coalition members have lagged deliveries.

Many analysts believe that OPEC+ will proceed cautiously in its production decisions. A sudden output cut might stoke accusations of market manipulation, while continued supply expansion could exacerbate falling price trends. Ahead of its upcoming meeting, the group faces the dilemma of balancing the need to safeguard revenue against the risk of triggering a price collapse.

Meanwhile, U. S. domestic supply is contributing to uncertainty. The Energy Information Administration reports that U. S. output has strengthened marginally, offset by curtailed imports of Russian crude under tightened sanctions. But some industry observers warn that U. S. production may have peaked. One petroleum engineer pointed to a 12 percent decline in output from October 2024 to June 2025, citing state-level data that may undercut EIA projections.

Oil futures reflect growing anxiety. Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate have posted their steepest weekly drops since June, falling over 8 percent in some benchmarks amid concerns that global inventories will build significantly. Traders increasingly view OPEC’s next move as critical in determining whether markets stabilise or cede ground to excess supply.

In this environment, floating storage becomes a more active tool. The accumulation of oil held offshore is not just a symptom of imbalance but a way to temporally manage supply pressure. Floating oil reserves enable sellers to delay deliveries until market conditions improve—or until buyers return.

Refiners in Asia and Europe are approaching capacity constraints. Some are cutting processing rates or entering maintenance periods, reducing appetite for new crude. Because many surplus cargoes are being offered on destination-free terms, they face competition across regions—and the lack of clear demand is forcing suppliers to lengthen delivery offers or scale back premiums.

If the pricing squeeze deepens, some producers may respond by cutting output unilaterally. Others might seek to promote further cooperation on coordinated supply restraint, though such moves carry reputational risk if markets judge them as manipulative. Meanwhile, importers in developing markets—particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia—could benefit from cheaper crude. But those gains may not offset pressure on oil-producing economies that rely heavily on export revenue to fund budgets and social programmes.

Kuwait has issued $11.25 billion in sovereign bonds split across three maturities, marking its first successful US dollar debt sale since 2017 and signalling a renewed re-entry into global capital markets. The offering drew strong investor demand, allowing the country to secure attractive pricing even as it seeks to diversify its funding amid mounting fiscal pressures.

The issuance comprised $3.25 billion in three-year bonds at 40 basis points over US Treasuries, $3 billion in five-year bonds also at 40 bps, and $5 billion in ten-year bonds at 50 bps. Order books reached as high as $28 billion—roughly 2.5 times oversubscribed—enabling Kuwait to tighten guidance from initial levels. Over two-thirds of the allocations went to investors outside the Middle East and North Africa, with significant participation from the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom and Asia.

Acting Finance Minister Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem described the deal as “historic”, citing that it reflects “global markets’ confidence in Kuwait’s financial strength, prudent policies, and solid reserves.” He added that this issuance reinforces Kuwait’s reputation as a credible sovereign issuer while supporting the New Kuwait 2035 vision of economic transformation.

Analysts noted that the spreads achieved in this issuance are significantly tighter than Kuwait’s inaugural dollar bond sale in 2017, underscoring market optimism about its credit metrics and macro outlook. Its low debt burden—currently less than 10 percent of GDP—offers the space for measured borrowing, even while the International Monetary Fund projects that the ratio may rise toward 25 percent by 2030 as deficits widen.

The path to this issuance was opened in March with the passage of a long-delayed public debt law, which raised the borrowing ceiling from KD 10 billion to KD 30 billion and permitted longer maturities. That law had been stalled for years due to clashes between the appointed government and the elected parliament; in response, the emir dissolved parliament for up to four years, clearing the way for reform.

Kuwait is the latest Gulf sovereign to take advantage of favourable global interest rates and strong investor appetite, joining others such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in tapping dollar markets to address fiscal gaps and finance diversification programmes.

While the bond sale delivers fresh funding, questions remain about Kuwait’s strategy for deploying the proceeds. Its economy remains heavily dependent on hydrocarbon revenues, which accounted for nearly 90 percent of government income in the most recent fiscal year. Previous reporting indicates that proposed projects include infrastructure upgrades such as a new port and airport expansion, intended to generate non-oil revenue streams.

GlobalSource Partners had speculated earlier that Kuwait’s general deficit could rise to between 7 and 8 percent of GDP in the current year, with this issuance expected to cover a large portion of the shortfall. The country has also tapped local debt markets, issuing about $5 billion in domestic bonds before turning to international markets.

Vanguard, the formidable asset manager overseeing over $9 trillion in assets, is reported to be preparing to permit its U. S. brokerage clients access to crypto exchange-traded funds offered by third parties, marking a notable departure from its previously cautious stance.

According to insiders, the firm has initiated internal evaluations and external consultations as demand from clients for exposure to digital assets has intensified. The move would not involve Vanguard issuing its own crypto products, but rather offering access to selected ETFs managed by external providers.

Vanguard’s transformation of its policy comes amid evolving regulatory signals. The Securities and Exchange Commission has recently approved a generic listing standard designed to streamline the approval process for new ETFs, including those that track cryptocurrencies. That change is credited with spurring wider institutional interest in crypto products.

At the centre of speculation is Vanguard’s CEO, Salim Ramji, who played a pivotal role in the development of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF. While Ramji has publicly reiterated that Vanguard has no immediate plans to launch proprietary crypto products, his background has heightened expectations that the firm’s strategic direction may be shifting.

Industry observers note that Vanguard’s entry into the crypto ETF space could provoke competitive pressures. Firms such as BlackRock and Fidelity have already embraced digital asset offerings; BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF has attracted substantial inflows since its launch. This push by Vanguard suggests it is seeking to retain client engagement and not fall behind in the financial innovation race.

Despite momentum, significant uncertainties remain about the roadmap. There is currently no public timeline for the rollout, no confirmation on which crypto ETFs may be made available, and little clarity on eligibility criteria or platform integration. Some sources caution that regulatory, operational and compliance hurdles could delay or scale back the plans.

Sceptics argue that Vanguard’s caution is warranted. The inherent volatility of crypto markets, ongoing regulatory scrutiny, and custody risks for digital assets represent real challenges. For clients accustomed to Vanguard’s historically conservative and low-cost approach, the shift may raise questions about risk exposure and fee structures.

Still, proponents contend that the move is a logical evolution. With growing client appetite for digital exposure and a maturing ecosystem of regulated crypto products, access via established financial infrastructure may help reduce barriers and integrate crypto more deeply into mainstream investing.

Metaplanet has added 5,268 Bitcoin to its treasury, lifting its total holdings to 30,823 BTC—a stash now worth roughly $3.5 billion. The move marks another aggressive step in the company’s ambition to dominate corporate Bitcoin accumulation.

The Tokyo-listed firm disclosed the latest purchase via its analytics platform, citing an average cost per coin in the range of $116,800. With this transaction, Metaplanet fortifies its position among the largest public Bitcoin treasuries globally. The company has previously disclosed a 5,419-coin buy earlier in September.

Metaplanet’s strategy, initiated in 2024 when it shifted from hotel and media operations into a Bitcoin-heavy treasury model, has relied heavily on capital raises and issuance of equity linked instruments. In early September, shareholders green-lit a plan to issue up to 550 million new shares overseas—raising about ¥130.3 billion —with proceeds earmarked in part for further BTC accumulation. Eric Trump, who serves on Metaplanet’s advisory board, was present at the meeting and took part in a fireside chat session.

The company projects bold long-term goals: by 2026, it aims to reach 100,000 BTC, and by late 2027, to hold 210,000—about 1 percent of total Bitcoin supply.

Despite its crypto focus, Metaplanet’s stock performance has been volatile. Since mid-June, the share price has fallen sharply—losing over 50 percent—reflecting investor concern over dilution risk, weak revenue fundamentals, and compressed valuation premiums compared to its Bitcoin holdings.

Analysts caution that Metaplanet’s heavily leveraged approach leaves it vulnerable. Should Bitcoin’s price fall, the firm could see large mark‐to-market losses or face funding constraints if markets turn against inflows. Still, Metaplanet argues its “Bitcoin yield” metric—growth in BTC per share—aligns incentives for equity holders to back continued accumulation.

The company also is diversifying its strategy. It has launched a U. S.-based subsidiary in Miami to manage derivatives and income-generation business lines, and is developing digital platforms rooted in Bitcoin.

By Anjan Roy Donald Trump’s high fees for H1B visas are a serious headache for India, not just for the sake of its impact on India’s IT sector and services exports to USA. This is a huge worry for the overall security environment and strategic- diplomatic scenario for India. Among others, if China is able […]

The article China Is Making Every Effort To Attract Talent Thrown Out By America appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).