Korea Sees Brain Drain Of AI Talent Amid Low Wage Premium: BOK

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Economic

Summary:

Korea has recorded a net outflow of talent in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector as the wage premium for AI professionals remains the lowest among major advanced economies, the central bank said Friday.

SK hynix's high bandwidth memory HBM3E is displayed at the SK AI Summit 2025 exhibition in Seoul, Nov. 3. Yonhap

The country recorded a net outflow of AI talent every year from 2010 through 2024, excluding 2020, and the number of Korean AI professionals working overseas increased steadily to reach about 11,000 last year, according to a report by the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The figure accounted for about 16 percent of the country's total AI workforce, about 6 percentage points higher than the average share of workers overseas in other fields, the report showed.

In terms of the overall number of AI professionals, Korea also lagged far behind major nations.

Koreans with skills in big data, cloud computing, deep learning and related fields stood at around 57,000 in 2024, well below that of the United States, which had around 780,000 AI professionals, as well as Britain with 110,000 and France with 70,000.

The report noted that the wage premium earned by domestic AI professionals ranked near the bottom among major developed nations.

AI professionals in Korea earned an average of just 6 percent more than non-AI workers last year, compared with a 25 percent premium in the U.S., 18 percent in Canada, and 15 percent in Britain, France and Australia.

"Our analysis suggests a link between compensation and overseas job mobility in the AI sector," said Oh Sam-il, head of the BOK's employment research team.

"The low wage premium is due partly to Korea's rigid wage structure and underdeveloped performance-based pay system, and such factors put the country at a disadvantage in the global competition for AI talent."

Source: Koreatimes

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Adam

Economic

Futures linked to the main U.S. stock indices point broadly higher ahead of the unveiling of a closely-watched, albeit delayed, inflation measure. Along with these numbers, traders will also be keeping tabs on a more timely indicator of American consumer sentiment. Netflix has reportedly entered exclusive talks to buy key assets of Warner Bros Discovery -- a purchase that has the potential to create a Hollywood behemoth.

Futures mostly rise

U.S. stock futures were marginally higher on Friday, with investors awaiting a key inflation indicator that could factor into the Federal Reserve’s much-anticipated interest rate decision next week.

By 03:03 ET (08:03 GMT), the Dow futures contract had risen by 27 points, or 0.1%, S&P 500 futures had climbed by 17 points, or 0.2%, and Nasdaq 100 futures had increased by 116 points, or 0.5%.

The main averages were mixed in the prior session. The benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite both advanced, while the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged.

Traders were weighing a drop in weekly first-time claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. to the lowest level since 2022, while a report from the Chicago Fed estimated that the unemployment rate had remained unchanged around 4.4% in November.

A dearth of fresh, front-line official data due to the recently-ended U.S. government shutdown has forced markets and policymakers alike to rely on secondary figures to paint a picture of the labor market. Labor is a central motivating influence on the Fed’s rate trajectory, as the central bank is tasked with calibrating borrowing costs to help ensure maximum employment.

PCE price index ahead

The Fed’s other main goal -- price stability -- has faded somewhat into the background as much of the conversation of past weeks has swirled around weakening job growth.

But inflation will once again step into the limelight on Friday, when the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index is released. The central bank often refers to some sections of this report when trying to assess the state of price gains in the world’s largest economy.

Excluding food and energy, the underlying, or "core," PCE price index is seen holding at 2.9% in the 12 months to September and 0.2% month-on-month. Crucially, analysts have noted, the September dating of the numbers -- reflecting the delay caused by the federal government shutdown -- could dampen their immediacy.

Still, given the postponed release of the monthly nonfarm payrolls report until later this month, the PCE index -- as well as readings of personal income and spending -- will provide some of the final major data points Fed officials will have before they convene for an all-important policy meeting on December 9-10. Expectations have been high that the Fed will slash rates by 25 basis points, as they did in October and September, in a bid to prop up the labor market.

University of Michigan sentiment indicator due out

Beyond PCE, the economic calendar will feature the latest survey of consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan.

Analysts at ING said this indicator will be "more timely" than the PCE index, and is anticipated to show a slight recovery compared to past months. This could offer up a sign of at least moderate cheer among American households with the holiday shopping season in full swing.

In early November, the gauge slumped to near a 3-1/2-year low, as consumers across the political spectrum fretted over the impact of the government shutdown on the broader economy. The data also underscored an emerging feature of the U.S. economy: higher-income Americans appear to be continuing to thrive despite wider uncertainty, while lower-income individuals are struggling.

Those with sizeable stock holdings were also especially upbeat last month, which the University of Michigan said was due to "strength in stock markets."

Netflix in exclusive talks with Warner Bros Discovery - reports

Netflix has entered into exclusive negotiations to purchase Warner Bros Discovery’s film and television studios as well as its prized streaming assets, media reports have said.

The streaming giant reportedly offered $28 per share for those portions of the long-time Hollywood stalwart, whose brands include HBO and DC Comics.

Should the transaction be finalized, it would transform Netflix into a media powerhouse with control over one of the most valuable content libraries in the entertainment industry. Among Warner Bros’ many possessions are the mega-popular franchises "Game of Thrones" and "Harry Potter," along with intellectual property rights over premium properties.

Warner Bros received a second round of bids from Netflix, Paramount Skydance and Comcast earlier this week, after the three unveiled preliminary buyout plans, reports said.

Netflix and Warner Bros are anticipated to announce a deal imminently, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Shares of Warner Bros were higher in extended hours trading on Friday, while Netflix inched down slightly.

Oil steadies

Elsewhere, oil prices took a breather after a rise in the preceding session, as stalled diplomatic progress over the Ukraine war and firm expectations for a Fed rate cut swayed sentiment.

Brent futures were last mostly unchanged at $63.25 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures dipped 0.1% to $59.59 per barrel.

Both contracts jumped nearly 1% on Thursday, and while Brent was mostly flat this week, WTI was on track for a 1.5% weekly gain -- a second straight week of increase.

The lack of progress in U.S.-Russia talks to end the Ukraine war has dampened hopes that energy sanctions on Russian crude could be eased soon, keeping a risk premium in the market.

Source: investing

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Warren Takunda

Economic

AUD/USD is set for an eleventh consecutive positive daily close; I can't find a run of similar strength going back to 2020, and I'm sure if I had more time in a day I could pinpoint the last time this was achieved.

Nevertheless, the message is clear: this is a strong breakout and the Aussie is finally living up to expectations.

There are numerous currency analysts and market participants who have been betting on the Aussie dollar owing to superior fundamentals but have been frustrated by its failure to lift.

As we enter year-end, it looks like the stars are aligning for that move.

AUD/USD moves to 0.6635 ahead of the weekend, having plumbed the lows of a multi-month range at 0.6420 just two weeks ago. Australian Dollar's Remarkable Surge_1

That AUD strength is reflected elsewhere, with GBP/AUD rolling over to 2.0100. GBP has actually been an outperformer of late, and GBP/AUD's fall is testament to the fact it's the AUD which is G10's 'one to beat'.

EUR/AUD is an interesting one as the recent fall sees it probing the bottom of the long-running 2025 range at 1.76, a breakdown here surely confirms the AUD is showing its mettle. Australian Dollar's Remarkable Surge_2

The driver behind Aussie's gains is the shift in the country's interest rate outlook: from thinking the Reserve Bank of Australia would lower rates further, we're now facing the prospect of interest rate rises next year.

A Reuters poll shows economists now expect the RBA to hold its cash rate at 3.60% through 2026, whereas in November the poll showed at least one quarter-point cut for next year.

"Investors' bets of another rate cut faded after the latest monthly CPI data revealed that inflation rose to 3.2%, above the RBA’s 2-3% target range, and should the RBA maintain a hawkish stance at next week’s gathering, the Australian dollar is likely to continue marching north," says Charalampos Pissouros, Senior Market Analyst at Trading Point.

ANZ is one major Aussie bank that has shifted its expectations, now anticipating the cash rate to remain at 3.60% for an "extended" period, marking a significant shift from earlier forecasts that assumed additional easing in 2026.

The bank says recent inflation pressures, steadier economic growth and a labour market moving into balance mean the RBA is unlikely to deliver further cuts.

But at the same time, ANZ says it is “difficult to see a rate hike in 2026”, pointing to the rise in unemployment over the past year and conflicting signals across demand indicators.

Although confidence in further Australian dollar upside is building, one seasoned analyst is cautious of hype.

"This speculation is overdone," says Jane Foley, Senior FX Strategist at Rabobank in London.

She argues headwinds remain:

"China is Australia’s largest export partner, and it is possible that China’s attempts to tackle deflation and industrial overcapacity will create headwinds for Australia’s economy," says Foley.

On the RBA story, she points out that central bank rate hiking expectations are not unique:

"The RBA is not the only G10 central bank that has been caught up in market speculation regarding the risks of a rate hike in 2026."

Rabobank continues to forecast "only a modest push higher in AUD/USD to 0.69 on a 12-month view."

Source: Poundsterlinglive

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Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

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Michelle

Commodity

Gold and metals market financial analyst Jesse Columbo believes that a major market move might be brewing, and that gold could reach record prices once again.

In a recent analysis on the state of the gold market, Columbo pointed out $5,200 as gold's next goal, having already registered several all-time high prices this year.

Columbo states that the recent price breakout that gold experienced on November 28 is part of the evidence leading to this new price goal. He explained that this move is the third of its kind happening this year, and that if prices follow their previous behavior, it could reach this number.

Nonetheless, Columbo is even more bullish about gold long-term, as he believes there is a configuration of tailwinds that will propel gold to new highs, having recently explained that gold's bull market is still in its early stages.

The Fed's long-awaited decision on interest rates might also become another catalyst for a hypothetical price hike, as gold traditionally performs well during low-interest periods as a non-interest-yielding asset.

The expectation of a quarter-point rate cut is widespread, meaning that if the Federal Reserve fails to deliver, prices might decrease temporarily.

Phillip Streible, chief metal strategist at Chicago's Blue Line Futures, pondered on this outcome. Talking to Sputnik, he stated:

The overwhelming expectation for December is that there will be another Fed rate cut. If that doesn't happen, be prepared for downside that could even exclude December as a winning month.

Even so, most firms predict gold will keep rising in 2026 and beyond, as central banks and investors are expected to maintain growing demand for the metal as an inflation and uncertainty hedge with no clear substitute.

Source: CoinGecko

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Adam

Stocks

MARKET WRAPS Stocks:

European shares were on the rise as investors awaited eurozone employment and GDP data, as well as an update on U.S. inflation.

Friday's U.S. data focus is on September PCE inflation , the Fed's preferred gauge of inflation, which was delayed by the longest U.S. government shutdown.

The central bank is widely expected to cut its short-term target rate on Dec. 10, and the PCE will likely be the last reading out before the Fed's decision.

The Fed could pause rate cuts after its next meeting, with the path for its monetary policy in the second half of 2026 remaining highly uncertain, T. Rowe Price's Blerina Uruci said.

"My biggest disagreement with the market is the pricing of cuts in the first half of 2026 , which I think is too dovish," Uruci added.

Eurozone wage and final estimate third-quarter GDP data are also expected on Friday.

"The data will give us the first full picture of wage developments in the third quarter," Danske said. The data are very important for the European Central Bank outlook since services inflation is what currently keeps inflation from falling below target, it added.

Macquarie's base case for the ECB is to stay on hold over the forecast horizon, albeit with risks toward further rate cuts.

Shares on the Move

U.K. miners rose in early European trading after a bumper week for commodities. Cautious buying ahead of next week's Federal Reserve interest rate decision and geopolitical tensions are a catalyst for miners, Interactive Investor said.

U.S. Markets:

Stock futures were up with all eyes turning to the key PCE report, as it could provide further clues on the Fed's rate-cut path.

Labor market data provided conflicting readings on Thursday, with weekly jobless claims hitting a three-year low .

Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal project the PCE index accelerated slightly in September.

Forex:

The euro edged higher. The cost for eurozone bond investors to hedge their U.S. investments against the risk of a weaker dollar is tumbling and this should boost the euro, ING said.

These hedging costs will probably fall further as the Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates again, it added.

The dollar fell ahead of the PCE release.

Sterling rose, with its current rally reflecting a short squeeze as traders close earlier bets against the currency taken ahead of last week's U.K. budget, ING said.

Bonds:

Bund yields were little changed on the day but could continue edging higher, Jefferies said. The bank expects some bearish pressure on Bunds--pushing yields higher--in the coming weeks, even though yields will likely keep within a tight range.

Ten-year eurozone government bond yields were expected to see some upward pressure from rising Treasury yields in 2026, Macquarie said.

Treasury yields traded lower, reversing some of Thursday's increases that were driven by better-than-expected jobless claims data.

Treasury yields seemed likely to remain constrained in a narrow range to start the new year as the U.S. economy continues to expand, said Federated Hermes.

Energy:

Oil prices were on track for weekly gains, buoyed by diminishing prospects of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal in the short term and growing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.

"Conflict-related risk premia are providing an offset to the oversupply that has been building in 4Q 2025 and which we expect to spill over into the new year," BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said.

Metals:

Gold prices rose on a softer U.S. dollar.

"Gold managed to hold its ground, after the latest U.S jobs data did little to sway expectations of a Fed interest rate cut next week, " ANZ said.

The latest U.S. jobs data did little to sway expectations of a Fed rate cut next week, with applications for unemployment benefits hitting their lowest in more than three years, ANZ added.

Gold is likely to sustain its strong trend-like rally in 2026, UOB said. "The case for gold as a safe haven to diversify one's portfolio remains strong," it added.

Copper

Copper gained in early trade. The metal has gained more than 7% since the start of November and is up 30% since 2025 began, likely on ongoing supply disruptions , ANZ said.

Iron

Iron ore prices were lower in early trade, weighed by weak demand and strong supply. Demand for iron ore is getting more subdued while its supply remains at a high place , which have pressured prices, Baocheng Futures said.

EMEA HEADLINES

German Factory Orders Rise Again

German manufacturing orders rose again in October, driven by an uptick in domestic demand and signaling continued resilience in the factory sector amid trade uncertainty.

Total orders rose 1.5% on month, accelerating further after a 1.1% jump in September, statistics agency Destatis said Friday. A consensus of economists polled by The Wall Street Journal expected a rise of 0.5%.

Equinor Makes North Sea Gas Discoveries

Equinor made two new discoveries of gas and condensate in the North Sea, the Norwegian energy major's largest discoveries so far this year.

Initial estimates indicate the reservoirs could contain 30 million to 110 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent, the company said Friday.

Swiss Re Targets Higher Profit in 2026, Sets Out Buyback Program

Swiss Re forecast higher net profit for 2026 and said it would launch a buyback program of $500 million.

The Zurich-based reinsurer said Friday that it expects to achieve net profit of $4.5 billion in 2026. For the current year, it targets net profit of more than $4.4 billion.

European Leaders Warn Zelensky to Be Wary in U.S. High-Speed Push for Peace

BERLIN-In recent days, European leaders have delivered a stark warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: Don't give in to Russian demands without ironclad security commitments from the U.S.

The message reflects European leaders' growing wariness of Washington's high-speed effort to reach a peace deal that has left them on the sidelines.

GLOBAL NEWS

Why investors see Friday's inflation report as a gut check of vibes on the economy

U.S. stocks have clawed their way back to the doorstep of record territory after a volatile month on Wall Street, but persistent inflation worries and souring consumer sentiment are keeping investors uneasy ahead of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting of the year.

That's why Friday's release of the September report for the Fed's preferred inflation gauge - the personal consumption expenditures price index - comes at a crucial time for investors. The hope is that the new PCE report, while delayed, will provide a hard-data reality check that will either confirm the downbeat economic mood or prove, once again, that the vibes are all wrong.

German Factory Orders Rise Again

German manufacturing orders rose again in October, driven by an uptick in domestic demand and signaling continued resilience in the factory sector amid trade uncertainty.

India Central Bank Delivers Rate Cut to Boost Economy

India's central bank cut its key policy rate, snapping a two-meeting run of pauses as cooling inflation creates room to lend the economy more support against tariff risks.

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday voted unanimously to lower its policy repo rate to 5.25% from 5.50%. The RBI also voted to keep its monetary policy stance at neutral.

European Leaders Warn Zelensky to Be Wary in U.S. High-Speed Push for Peace

BERLIN-In recent days, European leaders have delivered a stark warning to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: Don't give in to Russian demands without ironclad security commitments from the U.S.

The message reflects European leaders' growing wariness of Washington's high-speed effort to reach a peace deal that has left them on the sidelines.

Israel's Latest Military Tech: Tested in Gaza, Wanted by the West

TEL AVIV-Israel is leveraging the war in Gaza to market its latest military technology.

U.S. and European buyers are lining up.

Prominent Anti-Hamas Militia Leader Killed in Gaza

The head of the most prominent anti-Hamas militia backed by Israel in Gaza has been killed, removing a key figure in a policy to build up armed alternatives to the militant group.

Yasser Abu Shabab, the young leader of a militia called the Popular Force, which holds sway in a small slice of territory in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, was shot and killed while intervening in a Palestinian clan dispute, his militia said late Thursday.

A Sprawling Fraud Scandal Puts Minnesota's Somali Community in the Spotlight

Massive fraud blamed on dozens of Minnesota residents of Somali descent has jumped to national attention, with House Republicans launching an investigation into how pervasive corruption in the state's social-services system was allowed to fester under Democratic Gov. Tim Walz's administration.

The probe by the GOP-led House Oversight Committee deepens scrutiny of the scandal in Minnesota, where federal prosecutors say the fraud exceeded $1 billion and that dozens of people bilked taxpayers by setting up scam social-services companies. Close to 60 defendants have been convicted, and federal prosecutors last week charged the 78th person in a prong of the cases that authorities called "the largest Covid-19 fraud scheme in the country."

Source: morningstar

Risk Warnings and Disclaimers

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Adam

Stocks

Economic

Asia Market Wrap - Asian Stocks Grind Lower

Asian stock markets went down today because the previous day ended poorly on Wall Street, especially for tech companies and US government bonds (Treasuries). Investors are now nervously waiting for important US inflation data that will be released later today (Friday).

The overall Asian stock index fell by up to 0.7% but is still on track to finish with a gain for the second week in a row.

Leading the losses across the region were Japanese stocks, which saw a significant drop after a strong gain the day before; the Nikkei 225 index fell 1.5% and is expected to close the week mostly unchanged.

Meanwhile, the broader index of Asian stocks outside of Japan was down a slight 0.1% but is still set for a 0.5% gain for the week.

On the data front, household spending in Japan fell in October, and it was the fastest drop in almost two years. This suggests that rising prices (inflation) are severely reducing how much money people feel comfortable spending.

As a result, the interest rate (or yield) on the 10-year Japanese government bond rose to 1.94% early in Asian trading, reaching its highest level since the middle of 2007, indicating that the cost of borrowing money for the government is going up significantly.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered its key repo rate by 25 bps to 5.25% during its December 2025 meeting, in line with market forecasts amid confidence in a softer inflation outlook. The RBI has now cut rates by a total of 125 bps since the beginning of the year, bringing the repo rate to its lowest level since July 2022.

German Factory Orders Rise

New orders for German factories increased by 1.5% in October 2025 compared to September, which was better than the expected 0.5% rise, though it was slower than the 2.0% jump seen the month before.

This increase marked the second month in a row for growth, mainly driven by a massive 87.1% surge in orders for large transportation equipment like aircraft and ships, along with an 11.9% rise in metal production.

However, not all areas did well, as orders for electrical equipment dropped significantly by 16.2%. Looking at the details, orders for capital goods (like machinery) rose 4.9%, but orders for intermediate goods (used in production) and consumer goods both declined.

The overall increase was fueled entirely by the domestic market, which saw a 9.9% surge in orders, completely offsetting the 4.0% fall in foreign demand, which was particularly weak outside the Euro area. If you remove the effect of large, one-off contracts, total orders only rose by 0.5%.

Over the last three months, total factory orders saw a small decline, but excluding the effect of those large, erratic contracts, orders actually grew by 2.0%, suggesting the underlying demand for German manufactured goods remains steady.

European Session - European Shares Steady

European stock markets were stable on Friday after three straight days of increases, keeping them on track for a weekly gain as investors look ahead to key US inflation figures.

The main pan-European STOXX 600 index was up slightly by 0.1%, with Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 also seeing modest gains.

The main event is the US Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) report due later today, which is highly anticipated because it could influence whether the U.S. central bank, the Federal Reserve, decides to cut interest rates soon. Recent economic data and comments from some Fed officials have already led investors to expect an interest rate cut as early as next week.

In terms of market sectors, basic resources were the top performers, rising 1.3% after copper prices hit a new high, and industrial stocks also saw their fourth straight day of gains. Separately, the investment bank Citigroup set a positive forecast for the main European index by 2026 and upgraded several sectors, including autos and industrials, based on expected financial benefits.

Among individual company moves, Swiss Re fell 5.3% after its 2026 targets disappointed analysts, while Ocado surged 12.7% after the company announced it would receive a one-time $350 million payment from U.S. grocer Kroger for closing some planned warehouse facilities.

On the FX front, the US dollar remained weak on Friday, staying near its lowest level in five weeks compared to other major currencies.

The dollar was especially weak against the Japanese yen, which was boosted to a nearly three-week high because investors expect the Bank of Japan to raise its interest rates later this month. The dollar index, which tracks the dollar's value against six other currencies, fell 0.2% and is heading toward a 0.6% decline for the week overall.

In contrast, other currencies saw gains: the euro rose 0.1%, moving back toward its three-week high; the British pound gained 0.2%, approaching a six-week peak; and the Australian dollar advanced 0.3%, reaching its strongest point in over two months.

The Swiss franc also saw a small gain against the dollar.

Currency Power Balance

Gold price rallied again overnight pushing back above the $4230/oz handle before a pullback. The precious metal has traded in a tight range this week with a breakout likely to be forthcoming post today's PCE data.

If not the range could persist heading into next week's FOMC meeting barring any major geopolitical developments.

Economic Calendar and Final Thoughts

The European session will be quiet today with Euro Area GDP data the highlight.

Attention will turn to the US session where the main event is the US Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) report due later today, which is highly anticipated because it could influence whether the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, decides to cut interest rates soon.

Recent economic data and comments from some Fed officials have already led investors to expect an interest rate cut as early as next week.

There are also a bunch of medium impact data releases such as the University of Michigan sentiment and revised Durable Goods data.

I do not expect huge volatility from any of these events but given the lack of volatility this week, I am hoping for a bit more from today. Let us see what happens.

Markets Today: Asian & European Shares Mixed as German Factory Orders Rise. US PCE Data Remains the Focus_2

Chart of the Day - DAX Index

From a technical standpoint, the FTSE 100 has held above the 100-day MA since last Thursday afternoon.

This could be seen as a sign of bullish momentum with a potential breakout coming soon.

However, the longer price remains rangebound, this will increase investor angst and a potential pullback may materialize.

For now though, a bullish move appears more favorable as the index continues to grind higher.

Immediate support rests at 9686, 9661 and 9610 respectively.

A move higher may encounter some resistance at 9750, 9800 and 9850.

FTSE 100 Index Four-Hour Chart, December 5. 2025

Source: marketpulse

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Glendon

Commodity

Economic

Russian President Vladimir Putin has underlined Moscow's willingness to provide "uninterrupted shipments of fuel" to India, as the U.S. pressures New Delhi to give up importing their oil.

Putin made the offer during a joint address with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, part of his first visit to the country since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which triggered widespread sanctions.

The sanctions forced Russia to seek new customers for its exports. India has become the second biggest buyer of Russian crude oil, after China, with a report Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air showing India bought 38% of Russian crude exports in October.

In October, President Donald Trump sanctioned two of Russia's largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. This followed a tariff of 25% on India for buying Russian oil in August. But India has to walk a tightrope because it has close ties to the U.S. while also relying on Russia for fuel and access to military hardware.

Putin questioned U.S. pressure on India in an interview to an Indian television channel on Thursday.

The United States still buys nuclear fuel from Russia for its own nuclear power plants, Putin said in the interview, adding: "If the U.S. has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn't India have the same privilege?"

While Trump has acknowledged that India has cut back its Russian oil imports, experts told CNBC that this may be a temporary trend.

Apart from crude oil, Russia's Rosatom is also delivering reactors and reportedly fuel for India's Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu, which has a combined capacity of 6000MW.

India and Russia have an energy partnership, the Russian president said, adding that Moscow had been is reliable supplier of "oil, gas, coal and everything that is required for the development of India's energy".

Last month, India announced a "historic deal" with Washington, in which Indian state-owned oil companies signed a one-year deal to import around 2.2 million tonnes per annum of liquefied petroleum gas from the U.S.