China's Shanghai Composite Index opened down 2.71 points (-0.08%) at 3,605.39 on Wednesday, Nov. 4; Shenzhen Composite Index opened up 18.81 points (+0.17%) at 10,895.80; CSI 300 Index opened down 1.52 points (-0.04%) at 4,007.35; ChiNext Index opened up 7.81 points (+0.33%) at 2,399.46; China Sci-Tech Innovation 50 (STAR 50) Index opened up 1.06 points (+0.09%) at 1,152.34.

QatarEnergy is expected to become the world’s largest buyer of U.S. liquefied natural gas, the Financial Times reports. Reduced exports amid the Middle East war have prompted Qatar to seek alternative supply. In late October QatarEnergy signed two agreements to add 7 mtpa of U.S. LNG available for sale to international customers. Combined with its 70% stake in the Golden Pass LNG project in Texas, QatarEnergy expects to control about 23.7 mtpa of U.S. LNG by 2033. Wood Mackenzie says that would make it the largest U.S. LNG buyer.

U.S. equity futures pared losses; Nasdaq-100 futures down 1.58%, S&P 500 futures down 0.93%, Dow Jones futures down 0.57%.