US crude futures settled at $102.48/bbl, up $6.43 (+6.69%).

MHA analyst Joe Nellis said the ECB’s expected further rate increase indicates inf pressure has become structural and that Europe and the global economy are no longer facing only short-term inf shocks. He noted euro-area rates remain below the UK and US but the gap is narrowing, which will squeeze households and firms. Nellis said the move appears necessary given Aug inf at 3.3% and oil back above $100/bbl. An orderly resolution of the Middle East conflict would ease some inf, but some longer-term effects would persist after hostilities end.

Apple at its autumn launch unveiled its first foldable iPhone Duo, adopting an eSIM-only design globally. At its 2026 partners conference China Unicom said domestic eSIM phone sales were 1 mln units in 1H 2026 and it expects H2 volume to rise 20-fold to exceed 20 mln units. After issuing 300k eSIM-specific benefits in 1H, China Unicom plans to distribute 8 mln such benefits in H2.