UKMTO received a report of an incident in the Strait of Hormuz: a tanker was struck on the port side by an unidentified object; all crew are safe.

Axios reports two US officials and one Israeli official say the US did not ask Israel to carry out strikes on Iran before Israel’s Oct. 27 election. Earlier media reports said the US had urged Israel in recent weeks to strike Iran ahead of Oct. 27 to avoid US direct military action that could affect the Nov. 3 US midterm elections.

Australia's home auction clearance rate slipped below 50% for a second straight week after the Reserve Bank of Australia raised rates to a 15-year high, weighing on buyer demand. Cotality data show 1,781 properties went to auction across six state capitals last week, with a 48.8% clearance rate versus 45.4% the prior week. National house prices in September fell back to year-ago levels; higher borrowing costs and May budget tax changes that limit investor concessions have damped demand. Sydney prices are down nearly 9% from the February peak. Auctions, common in Sydney and Melbourne, normally see lower clearance rates in downturns as seller price expectations diverge from market levels.