Oil executives expect WTI near $88 by year-end, below current prices, Dallas Fed survey showsICYMI: BOJ opinions and tankan both point to more rate hikes after September's moveAustralia's August trade surplus shrinks to A$495M as data center equipment imports surgeAustralia: RBA dice que la mayoría de los hipotecados mantienen su capital incluso si los precios de la vivienda caen otro 20%Australia: RBA says most mortgage holders keep equity even if house prices fall another 20%Three themes TD Cowen says will shape the next phase of institutional Bitcoin adoptionTrump announces $200 billion South Korean investment in US nuclear, LNG and gas powerGold options volume flat in September as price ends about 9% below August peak, CME saysJapan manufacturing PMI slips to 54.1, a six-month low, as new order growth slowsRubio orders Iranian delegation out of New York after talks stall, Axios reportsJapanese firms expect consumer prices to rise 2.6% a year from now, down from 2.7%BOJ opinions show members open to faster hikes if inflation risks overshooting 2% targetHype Alert! RedCoin named, but HSBC stablecoin is not yet live and no launch date is setAustralia manufacturing PMI falls to 49.6 as new orders drop for first time since JuneMorgan Stanley's Gower sees $4,000 as a strong floor for gold, cites three supportsBofA warns a loss of confidence in AI could magnify losses across marketsFed's Kashkari says inflation is still too high, pencils in one more hike this yearHow three hedge fund strategies work in a high-rate world, according to UBSFranklin Templeton's Zahn favours German and Spanish bonds, sees growth slowing in EuropeinvestingLive Americas FX news wrap 30 Sept: Softer PCE fails to hold yields down; Dow ends September at June lowsWhat China's Golden Week closures mean for the yuan, futures and Asian liquidityUS stocks close mixed; Dow trades to lowest level since June.Micron beats on revenue and EPS, guides first-quarter revenue well above estimatesSummaryAxios reported that US Secretary of State Rubio ordered Iran's UN delegation, including Foreign Minister Araghchi, to leave New York after talks stalled. Qatari mediators are still working on a compromise.Oil was little changed in quiet trade, with no apparent progress on US-Iran talks.Gold moved up from lows around $4,140.The BOJ's September Summary of Opinions showed a hawkish tilt, with some members open to faster hikes. A couple favoured holding because CPI was below 2%. The full minutes are due on 5 November.The yen weakened sharply, with analysts saying the opinions largely confirmed what the market already expected.The tankan showed big manufacturers at +24 (forecast +25, June +22) and big non-manufacturers at +35 (forecast +36).Fed's Kashkari said inflation is still too high at around 3% and has pencilled in one more hike this year and another in 2027.Australia's manufacturing PMI fell to 49.6 from 52.0, with output falling at the sharpest pace in 21 months.The Nikkei 225 rose 2.5% and the KOSPI 0.9% after Micron's results and Trump's plan for South Korea to invest $200 billion in US energy projects.Oil prices were little changed in quiet trade, with no apparent progress on US-Iran talks. Axios reported that US Secretary of State Rubio ordered Iran's United Nations delegation, including Foreign Minister Araghchi, to leave New York after talks stalled. The report described the move as a highly unusual diplomatic rebuke. Qatari mediators were said to be continuing work on a compromise proposal. Gold moved higher from lows around 4,140.In Japan, the Bank of Japan's Summary of Opinions from its September meeting pointed to a shift in policy phase. Some members said rate hikes may need to speed up if prices overshoot 2%, and that the policy rate should move closer to its goal relatively soon. A couple of members argued for holding because CPI remained below 2%. Members also highlighted oil and import prices as upside risks to inflation, and the government has asked the Bank to examine the cumulative effects of past hikes. The summary is anonymous and reflects individual views rather than a decision. The full minutes of the September meeting are due on 5 November.The yen weakened sharply. Analysts said the BoJ opinions largely confirmed what the market already expected, namely that the BOJ debated further hikes and the scope for a faster pace after September. Some analysts also said Japan's patchy business mood reduces pressure on the Bank for an immediate hike. The September tankan showed big manufacturers' sentiment at +24, against a forecast of +25 and +22 in June. Big non-manufacturers came in at +35, against a forecast of +36. Firms expect consumer prices to rise an average 2.6% a year from now, versus 2.7% in the prior survey.In the US, Fed's Kashkari said inflation is still too high at around 3% and that the economy is resilient, with consumers still spending. He added that the neutral rate may be higher than thought. He said he has pencilled in one more rate hike this year and another in 2027.Australia's S&P Global manufacturing PMI fell to 49.6 in September from 52.0 in August. Output fell at the sharpest pace in 21 months, new orders dropped for the first time since June and headcounts fell for the first time in five months. Oil, raw material and freight costs remained elevated, and supplier delays lengthened as the Middle East war disrupted shipping.Asian equities were firmer. The Nikkei 225 rose 2.5%, led by chip-related stocks after strong earnings from Micron. The KOSPI gained 0.9% on tech-related buying. Trump also unveiled plans for South Korea to invest $200 billion in energy projects in the US. Micron reported fourth-quarter revenue of around $54 billion and adjusted EPS near $33, both above estimates. It guided first-quarter revenue to $60 billion to $63 billion, well above forecasts, but guided gross margin below expectations. This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.