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Markets steadied as oil prices rose after OPEC+ paused planned output hikes, while U.S. futures inched higher on cautious optimism.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand and Cambodia began withdrawing heavy weapons from their disputed border, signaling de-escalation.

And in Gaza, Hamas handed over three more hostage bodies as cease-fire talks resumed.

Together, those moves highlight a day of uneasy progress on global stability and supply risk.

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Crude ticked up after producers paused early-2026 hikes, easing supply fears but keeping traders on edge.

The move follows three straight monthly declines in prices amid record U.S. output and weak Asian manufacturing data.

Analysts said the pause reflects surplus concerns and geopolitical risks to Russian flows.

Why it matters: steadier oil could temper inflation pressures, but any supply shock would quickly test this fragile balance.

Bangkok said both sides have begun pulling back heavy weapons and coordinating de-mining along contested stretches.

The plan outlines phased withdrawals and continued talks on border markers.

The neighbors fought deadly skirmishes in July before agreeing to de-escalate.

Why it matters: reductions in artillery and rockets lower the risk of miscalculation and reopen space for cross-border commerce.

Hamas transferred three more hostage bodies as ministers convened to discuss a cease-fire path.

Israel said operations would continue against militants while aid groups pressed for access.

The exchanges come amid fragile truces and accusations of violations.

Why it matters: incremental transfers keep diplomacy alive, but public pressure over hostages and civilian harm could reshape timelines.

The White House signaled it will not send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine “for now,” as Kyiv targets Russian oil infrastructure with drones.

The decision underscores a narrower U.S. munitions posture while allies weigh air-defense gaps.

British prosecutors charged a 32-year-old with attempted murder after a train stabbing that wounded 11; officials said the case is not being treated as terrorism.

Police boosted rail security as the most seriously injured victim remained critical but stable.

Global resource disputes between investors and governments hit a 10-year high, reflecting strains over mining, energy, and environmental rules.

The trend raises costs and uncertainty for long-horizon projects.

A fintech backed by David Cote is set to buy Husky Technologies for $5 billion, per a report on a pending announcement.

The structure includes a large PIPE to fund the plastics-machinery purchase.

A MUFG-backed vehicle raised an initial $600 million to support adaptation projects, targeting $1.5 billion.

At least 70% of capital will go to climate resilience rather than mitigation.

Global shares and U.S. futures nudged up as investors digested earnings and AI-driven gains, with Asia’s chips leading a broader advance. Traders focused on mega-cap results and November rate expectations.

Crude inched higher after producers halted planned increases, with Brent near the mid-$60s. Analysts said the decision answers oversupply fears while keeping optionality if demand rebounds.

Market pages showed Brent near $65 and gold above $4,000 as the FTSE hovered near records on a calm open. Investors watched energy and private-credit headlines for signals on risk appetite.

Researchers described a toolkit that converts cell-surface marker combinations into custom protein functions, enabling precise control of cell interactions.

The approach could refine therapies by targeting only specific cellular “zip codes.”

A UK team said a new structural-variant method delivered diagnoses to 145 families, catching complex variants often missed in clinics.

The study appears in Nature Communications and may speed rare-disease answers.

Buffalo leaned on defense and three Josh Allen touchdowns to beat Kansas City 28–21, handing the Chiefs another uneven outing before their bye.

The win steadied the AFC race entering Week 10.

Chicago survived a late surge to edge Cincinnati on a final-minute touchdown, highlighting rookie QB Caleb Williams’ poise.

The shootout featured lead changes and more than 80 combined points.

Domestic theaters logged the weakest Halloween frame in decades as new releases struggled.

The slump extends a soft October despite pockets of genre strength.

A Blumhouse sequel led weekend charts as industry trackers noted mixed momentum heading into November.

Analysts said affordable scares remain a bright spot amid big-budget misses.

Producers opted to pause planned increases in early 2026, a modest tweak with outsized signaling power.

After a three-month slide in prices and forecasts warning of surplus, the group is buying time.

The decision preserves spare capacity and flexibility while acknowledging that inventories could build if demand underperforms.

It also reduces the risk that another leg down in crude unnerves energy exporters or curbs investment.

The backdrop: U.S. production sits near records and Asia’s manufacturing gauges have softened, pressuring benchmarks.

Earlier bank surveys projected Brent averages in the high-$60s for 2025, with downside skew if growth stumbles.

On the geopolitical front, drone strikes on Russian oil assets and Middle East flare-ups add a risk premium that can reverse quickly.

Those cross-currents make small, reversible moves attractive to the alliance.

For consumers, a stable mid-$60s Brent blunts some inflation pressures at the pump and in freight while supporting refiners’ margins.

For central banks, lower energy volatility helps disentangle services inflation from commodity shocks, informing decisions on the pace of rate cuts.

For equities, oil’s path influences sector leadership: energy lags if crude drifts, but balance-sheet-disciplined majors can still generate cash at these levels.

What to watch: weekly U.S. inventory data, refining runs into winter, and any slippage in member compliance.

Keep an eye on FT’s market dashboard for moves in oil, gold, and the dollar as traders test whether the pause holds or morphs into deeper curbs.

• A live blog tallied Asia-led gains as chip stocks lifted regional benchmarks before Europe’s open.

• A climate finance vehicle backed by MUFG closed first-close commitments aimed at adaptation, with multilateral investors on board.

• A late-night thriller saw the Bears–Bengals game log video-review highs as lead changes stacked up in the fourth quarter.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team