• OpenAI in talks for funding round above $1.2 trillion valuation
• Ethereum retests broken resistance near $2,470 as exchange supply keeps shrinking
• Triple good news for Solana, sell the fact for SOL price
• PBOC’s Pan signals shift away from China loan growth targets, looks to stabilise debt
• Staking and ETFs drain ether from exchanges, price impact unproven
• Australia: Westpac leading index signals softer but improving growth as RBA holds firm
• PBOC sets USD/ CNY central rate at 6.7628 (vs. estimate at 6.7148)
• Nikkei edged higher at open, then down. Kospi slips, as region awaits Fed decision
• Japan trade deficit widens as machinery orders unexpectedly fall
• Saudi-led coalition vows action after Houthi drone nears Mecca: “Red Line”.
• 3 things UBS’s daily note reveals about the market’s bigger picture
• Nikkei, S&P 500 charts cool into range as HSBC stays bullish on US, Japan equities
• HSBC stays bullish on global equities, favours US, Asia and cyclicals
• Vance says Iran war will shift to new phase within month
• Oil tanker costs to Asia surge as US-Iran war and supply risks persist
• Washington seeks cap on foreign parts in AI chips and servers
• Oil: Private survey of inventory shows a headline crude oil build vs. draw expected
• Wall Street closes lower as yields rise and crude oil surges
• AI Cybersecurity Stocks: Investing in AI Safety
• Clarity failure: What the BTC/USD chart is showing, and what to watch next
• Crypto bill fails key Senate vote as bitcoin slides on regulatory setback

Summary:

• Oil held near recent highs, with private API data showing inventory builds across crude, gasoline and distillates ahead of Wednesday’s official US government figures
• A Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a Houthi drone before it could enter restricted airspace around Mecca, calling security of the two holy mosques a “red line” and warning of further measures against the group
• Japan’s machinery orders fell short of forecasts in July while the August trade deficit widened more than expected, adding a cautious note to the growth and capex outlook; the yen briefly weakened before returning to little changed on the session
• Major FX traded subdued ahead of today’s Federal Open Market Committee decision, with a rate hike widely expected
• Japanese and South Korean equities traded in narrow, cautious ranges ahead of the FOMC outcome
• Crypto markets came under pressure after the US Senate failed to advance the Clarity Act on a cloture vote, leaving crypto oversight to continue under existing SEC and CFTC rulemaking rather than a unified federal framework; bitcoin extended losses on the result, an outcome markets had broadly anticipated

Oil prices held near their recent highs on Tuesday, with private survey data from the American Petroleum Institute showing inventory builds across crude, gasoline and distillates ahead of official US government figures due Wednesday morning.

In Middle East developments, a Saudi led coalition said it intercepted a Houthi drone before it could breach restricted airspace around Mecca. The coalition described security of the two holy mosques as a “red line” and said it would take the necessary measures against the group in response.

On the data front, Japan’s machinery orders fell short of forecasts in July, while the country’s August trade deficit widened more than expected as import growth continued to outpace exports. The figures added a cautious note to Japan’s growth and capital expenditure outlook. The yen lost some ground following the release before recovering to trade little changed on the session.

Major currencies traded in a subdued range ahead of today’s Federal Open Market Committee decision, with markets widely expecting a rate hike. Japanese and South Korean equities similarly traded in narrow, cautious ranges as investors awaited the outcome.

Crypto markets came under pressure following developments out of the United States on Tuesday. The Senate failed to advance the Clarity Act on a cloture vote, denying the crypto industry a unified federal regulatory framework and confirming that oversight will continue through existing SEC and CFTC rulemaking rather than statute. Bitcoin extended its losses on the result, though the outcome had been broadly anticipated by markets ahead of the vote.

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This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.