U.S. Treasury Secretary Besent: Countries May Receive April 2 Tariff Letters if Negotiations Are Not Sincere

According to information from Zhitong Finance APP, the latest earnings report released by U.S. airline giant Delta Air Lines (DAL.US) shows that the company's revenue continues to grow at a double-digit rate, but its profits fell slightly short of Wall Street analysts’ consensus expectations, and its full-year profit outlook has been notably downgraded. The third-quarter results released on October 9 indicate that premium travel and loyalty businesses remain resilient, but energy shocks have weakened the conversion of revenue growth into profit. After the latest results and outlook were announced, Delta’s share price fell by about 4% in pre-market trading as of Friday morning, reflecting the market’s concerns over the company’s profit delivery capabilities.

Shell will conduct new well workover and drilling operations at the Ormen Lange gas field to enhance oil and gas recovery efficiency. During this operational period, the field's total lifecycle is expected to yield an additional 3.5 billion standard cubic meters of natural gas.

(1) The US Dollar Index remained broadly stable near 102.1 on Friday, recording a weekly gain of nearly 0.2% and achieving its fourth consecutive weekly rise, with the dollar climbing to its highest level since April 2025. (2) The market continues to assess the evolving situation in the Middle East and analyze its potential ripple effects on international oil prices and inflation levels. The US has stated that it will not launch military strikes against Iran before the midterm elections, easing market concerns over further disruptions to energy supply and leading to a retreat in international oil prices. (3) Even though geopolitical risks have somewhat abated, the market continues to price in the expectation that the Federal Reserve will maintain higher interest rates for a longer period in order to curb persistent inflationary pressures. (4) Interest rate futures suggest there is about an 81% probability that the Federal Reserve will keep rates unchanged this month, with approximately a 69% chance of a 25-basis-point rate hike in December.

(1) The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note edged up slightly to 5.24% on Friday, following significant volatility on Thursday. This benchmark yield has retreated by 7 basis points from its highest level since 2002, as markets continue to assess the potential impact of Middle East developments on oil prices and inflation. (2) Crude oil prices have declined due to related statements, but the market still prices in expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain higher interest rates for an extended period to curb persistent inflationary pressures. (3) Interest rate futures indicate that the market estimates an approximately 82% probability that the Federal Reserve will keep rates unchanged this month, with a nearly 67% chance of a 25-basis-point rate hike in December. Over the week, the 10-year Treasury yield has declined by about 6 basis points overall. (4) This week, auctions for both 10-year and 30-year US Treasuries received strong demand, indicating that even after previous sell-offs, investors are still willing to allocate funds to long-term US sovereign bonds.