El petróleo extiende ganancias por segundo día mientras los mercados asiáticos muestran resultados mixtos

Los precios del crudo mantienen su racha alcista—impulsados por tensiones geopolíticas y recortes de producción de la OPEP+.

Mercados asiáticos divergen: Tokio sube, Shanghái cae. Los inversores navegan entre datos económicos contradictorios y señales inflacionarias persistentes.

Los traders de energía aprovechan el momentum—aunque los analistas advierten sobre la volatilidad en un mercado hipersensible a los titulares.

Mientras tanto, los bancos centrales asiáticos observan de cerca—nadie quiere otro episodio de pánico inflacionario. Clásico: los mismos que predijeron el fin del petróleo en 2020 ahora compran futuros como si no hubiera mañana.

Asian markets move in different directions

Asian markets, on the other hand, didn’t follow a clear direction. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 dropped 0.6% to 42,610.17 after a private survey showed factory activity was below the break-even line for a second month in August. 

Elsewhere, the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong was 0.2% lower and reached 25,104.61, whereas the Shanghai Composite inched up 0.1% to 3,771.10. 

Australia remained the outlier. The S&P/ASX 200 advanced 1.1% to reach 9,019.10, crossing 9,000, propelled by stronger economic readings and upbeat corporate results. The South Korean Kospi gained 0.4% to reach 3,141.74 after paring part of its early rise. 

Oil prices edged up for a second straight session

Energy markets extended a recent rebound as inventory data pointed to tight U.S. supplies. Oil prices firmed for another session, challenging the perception that a global surplus will emerge later in 2025. 

Brent crude was priced above $67 per barrel, building on a 1.6% advance on Wednesday, though prices remained locked in a narrow band that has held for over 2 weeks amid thin summer volumes.

U.S. crude in storage fell by 6 million barrels in the previous week, the largest draw since mid-June, according to government figures. Gasoline stockpiles declined for the 5th straight week, reinforcing signs that, despite talk of a later-year surplus, global inventories remain unusually low. Demand for jet fuel also stayed very strong.

Even with the recent uptick, oil is down over 10% since the start of the year. Traders remain wary that U.S. trade policies could slow global growth just as OPEC+ members restore previously idled output, fueling concerns that supply could outpace consumption once summer demand fades. Market participants are also tracking efforts toward a cease-fire in Ukraine, which could lead to fewer limits on crude shipments from Russia.

Since August 4, Brent has traded within a $65 to $70 range. A note of caution came from the key U.S. storage hub in Oklahoma, where crude inventories rose consecutively for the 7th week, Energy Information Administration data showed Wednesday. 

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