Oil prices held steady on the first trading day of 2026 after recording their steepest annual decline since 2020. WTI held above $57/barrel (around $57.45 in Singapore morning), while Brent closed around $60.85/barrel. The market now awaits the OPEC+ meeting on January 4, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, which is expected to continue its November decision to restrain supply increases.Geopolitically, the Trump administration is tightening pressure on Venezuelan oil exports through sanctions on companies in Hong Kong and China, as well as on ships attempting to evade the measures; there was...
Silver prices fell in trading today, January 2, 2026, after strengthening earlier in the year. This decline was triggered by a strengthening US dollar and market concerns about a global economic slowdown, which temporarily dampened investor interest in industrial metals like silver. Furthermore, demand from the technology and energy sectors was observed to be declining, adding to price pressure. Analysts say that silver now faces a major test in early 2026, and investors will be waiting for economic signals and central bank policies to determine the direction of this metal's movement....
Gold prices weakened slightly, around 0.21% in the latest trading session, hovering around $4,487. This pressure arose as investors began holding positions while awaiting the direction of US interest rate policy and economic data. Although the decline was relatively small, this movement indicates the market is in a consolidation phase after previously high volatility.Analysts believe gold's weakening was driven more by investor caution, rather than a major shift in sentiment. As long as global uncertainty and expectations of interest rate cuts persist, gold remains attractive as a hedge....