<p><span data-teams="true"><strong>GLOBAL: The US plans to send up to 10,000 more troops to the Middle East.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Chinese refiners halted oil exports beyond Hong Kong and Macau until further notice amid concern about domestic fuel availability.</strong></span></p>

<p><span data-teams="true"><strong>Market impact:&nbsp;Oil climbed on Middle East tensions and China's fuel export halt</strong>, while softer PCE inflation lowered Treasury yields and lifted stocks.</span></p>

<p><span data-teams="true"><strong>US President Donald Trump is weighing a resumption of strikes on Iran after the midterm elections</strong>, while Iran is preparing a stronger response should large-scale US attacks resume.</span></p>

<p><span data-teams="true"><strong>LOCAL: The Philippines’ Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 49.6 in September, signaling a contraction in factory activity amid weak demand, high oil prices, and strong foreign competition.</strong></span></p>

<p><span data-teams="true"><strong>Market impact:&nbsp;The PSEi and peso fell further</strong> as the Middle East conflict weighed on sentiment and the economic outlook.</span></p>

<p><span data-teams="true"><strong>Firms were less certain about the year-ahead outlook,</strong> citing concerns over pricing power against international competition.</span></p>