investingLive Asia-Pacific market news: Yen, Nikkei firmer

Goldman: Persian Gulf oil exports back at 2025 average after doubling in September USD/JPY slips to around 156.4 as half-year-end flows and Fed comments weigh China official manufacturing PMI returns to growth at 50.1, non-manufacturing 50.2 RatingDog China manufacturing PMI 52.1 tops forecast, services 51.6 also beats Australia August CPI 4.0% as fuel jumps, trimmed mean below forecast at 0.2% m/m PBOC sets USD/ CNY mid-point today at 6.7351 (vs. estimate at 6.7025) ANZ survey: NZ business confidence eases to +52 as oil rise hits late responses Japan August factory output falls 1.7% against forecast rise, retail sales slow ICYMI: BlackRock says AI agents could be an overlooked source of crypto demand Oil: OPEC+ seen holding November quotas steady at Sunday meeting, delegates say Westpac sees RBA hiking again in November after 25bp move to 4.6% yesterday Citi sees Starship flight as step toward $900 SpaceX target US-Iran talks stall as Qatar mediation yields little, raising risk of renewed combat Boeing shares rise on $20 billion Navy fighter win as Northrop Grumman slips Trump, tech leaders sign voluntary "morally binding" AI accord at White House Fed officials lean hawkish, though Williams sees no urgency for another hike Summary: Oil extended some of Tuesday's losses after several downside catalysts, including a report that Trump backs easing Russia sanctions for the release of political prisoners and a US offer of up to 40 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Gold made a small gain. On the other hand, Axios reported that Qatari mediation this week produced little progress between the US and Iran, and that US officials think Trump could order a return to major combat after the midterms. Japan's August industrial output fell 1.7% m/m against a forecast rise of 1.7%, and retail sales slowed to 2.7% y/y against 3.3% expected. USD/JPY fell from around 157.5 to around 156.4 on Japanese half-year-end flows. Australian CPI rose 4.0% y/y in August as exp