Iraq plans to increase its oil output and export capacity in 2019, with a focus on its southern oilfields, and is close to reaching a deal with international companies, Oil Minister Thamer Ghadhban said on Tuesday. Source: Reuters
The Bank of Korea’s rate cut today is a mere reversal of a 25 basis point hike in November 2018 rather than a real policy stimulus for the economy, which is close to or already in recession. We believe this is just the beginning of the easing cycle. Source ING
Japan logged a goods trade deficit of ¥888.8 billion ($8.2 billion) in the first half of 2019, weighed down by sluggish exports to other Asian countries amid intensifying trade tensions between the United States and China, government data showed Thursday. Source Japan Times
The US deficit is projected to surpass $1tn in 2019, the largest it’s been outside of the four-year period following the Great Recession. Source Independent
