LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) - Portfolio investors became slightly less bearish last week as the next policy-setting meeting of OPEC⁺ ministers neared and inventories of refined fuels remained well below the long-term seasonal average.Hedge funds and other money managers purchased the equivalent of 43 million barrels in the six most important petroleum futures and options contracts over the seven days ending on May 23.Net purchases were the first in five weeks, after funds sold the equivalent of 249 million barrels between April 18 and May 16, according to data from...
May 29 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever.Optimism and relief are likely to be the dominant emotions for investors on Monday, giving markets in Asia a lift as lawmakers in Washington reached a tentative agreement on the U.S. debt ceiling, thus removing the risk of a catastrophic default.Trading and market liquidity in Asia will be lighter than usual, however, with U.S. and UK markets closed for holidays, opening up the potential for outsized market moves.If so, they are likely to be outsized...