China A-share coal sector rose in early trade; Yunmei Energy and Dayou Energy hit limit-up, while Heduan Intelligent, Zhengzhou Coal & Power, Liaoning Energy and Jinneng Technology also rallied.

EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook projects U.S. natural gas production averaging 123.9 Bcf/d in September, up from 123.7 Bcf/d in August, and 124.2 Bcf/d in October.

Iranian leaders see the run-up to the November U.S. midterms as a window to strengthen bargaining leverage; analysts say Tehran may not wait until after the election if diplomacy fails. Iran’s ballistic-missile strike on two U.S. warships represents a clear escalation after Tehran had previously avoided attacks on U.S. vessels to limit American casualties, analysts say. Washington then struck three Iranian oil tankers, sinking one. Analysts add both sides are testing and redrawing red lines and note Iran has demonstrated recent precision-strike capability — including a July attack on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed two U.S. soldiers — suggesting Tehran could increasingly target U.S. naval forces with greater accuracy.