Thought Of The Week Fed Minutes, OPEC+ Stalemate, China’s Clampdown After Federal Reserve surprised markets with a hawkish pivot last month, investors were anxiously scrutinizing the meeting minutes this week for any possible clues regarding the timing of the tapering of asset purchases. While monetary policy signals were clear – target range for benchmark policy rate unchanged at 0-0.25%, it remains vague in communicating a timeline for scaling back asset purchases as “the committee’s standard of substantial further progress was generally seen as not having yet been met.” The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield fell as low as 1.25%, its lowest point since February. Oil prices fell for a third day on Thursday with Saudi Arabia and UAE still at impasse, while Russia steps in to mediate and hoping to rescue the OPEC+ deal. However, oil market is looking beyond the oil supply deficit in August and expecting the OPEC+  ...