Market Talks covering the impact of U.S. Politics and White House policies on companies and markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

0257 ET - Bitcoin remains elevated above $81,000 after reaching a two-and-a-half-week high overnight. Bitcoin is supported by stronger exchange traded fund inflows, positive regulatory developments and investors closing earlier bets against the cryptocurrency, Zaye Capital Markets analyst Naeem Aslam says in a note. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has introduced a five-year exemption for platforms that facilitate trading tokenized stocks and other securities through blockchain technology. This could strengthen confidence in the wider blockchain ecosystem by reducing uncertainty around how institutional products and trading venues will operate, Aslam says. A more constructive U.S. tone ahead of talks with China could also improve risk appetite, he says. Bitcoin rises 0.5% to $81,520 after reaching as high as $82,050 overnight, LSEG data show. (renae.dyer@wsj.com)

0237 ET - Oil prices fall 2% in early European trading as concerns eased over disruptions to Saudi pipeline flows and hopes grew for diplomatic talks between President Trump and Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York this week. Brent crude is down 2.1% to $101.70 a barrel, while the front-month WTI contract slides 2.2% to $98.11 a barrel. "Nevertheless, the market is still focused on the longer-term fallout from the attacks by the Houthi militant group on Saudi Arabia," analysts at ANZ Research say. "The broadening of the Middle East conflict also increases the odds of the conflict persisting for the foreseeable future, and keeping oil supply from the Persian Gulf constrained." According to data provider Kpler, Saudi Arabia's efforts to reroute oil exports are pushing ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman close to their limits, putting pressure on local support services. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)

0217 ET - U.S. Treasury yields fall in European trading as Brent oil prices slip toward $100 a barrel on a tentative improvement in the geopolitical outlook. "The immediate weakness [in oil] reflects a partial unwinding of the geopolitical risk premium rather than a collapse in underlying demand," Zaye Capital Markets' Naeem Aslam says in a note. President Trump's latest comments suggesting progress with China and leaving room for diplomacy around Iran have reduced some fear of an imminent supply shock, while stronger regional crude flows are also easing pressure on physical markets, he says. The two-year Treasury yield falls 0.8 basis points to 4.735%, while the 10-year Treasury yield drops 2.9 basis points to 4.966%, according to Tradeweb. (emese.bartha@wsj.com)

0206 ET - Both China and the U.S. are likely to seek to "maintain relative stability" in their relations, although a broad bilateral agreement appears unlikely, according to Goldman Sachs in a research note. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and China's economic czar, He Lifeng, will likely discuss artificial intelligence, trade and rare earths before the official meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, GS says. "With the Iran war having escalated in recent weeks...the Iran war is likely to be discussed by Presidents Trump and Xi as well," the bank adds. (tracy.qu@wsj.com)

2217 ET - Malaysia's near-term inflation pressures are expected to pick up as higher oil prices feed through to fuel-related costs, but headline inflation is likely to remain around 1.9%-2.0% in September, CIMB analysts Chew Khai Yen and Michelle Chia say in a note. The broader inflation outlook could remain benign, with softer core inflation pointing to contained underlying price pressures, they add. This supports CIMB's view that Bank Negara Malaysia will maintain the overnight policy rate at 2.75% at its November monetary policy meeting. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

2033 ET - Asian currencies consolidate against the dollar in early trade. Markets will scrutinize a meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this week for signals on the future direction of U.S.-China relations, MUFG Bank analysts say in a report. Economic and trade issues are likely to dominate discussions, while technology and artificial-intelligence-related restrictions are expected to remain key areas of contention. "Any constructive post-meeting statement would support Chinese assets and regional supply-chain beneficiaries," they say. The dollar is little changed at 156.87 yen and 6.6943 offshore Chinese yuan, while the Australian dollar edges 0.1% higher to US$0.7125, LSEG data show.