Oil prices were steady at start of week as traders weighed the impact of higher U.S. tariffs and an upcoming increase in OPEC+ supply. Brent traded above $72 a barrel after rising 2.2% last week, while West Texas Intermediate neared $68. Donald Trump's wave of retaliatory levies on April 2 is set to be more targeted, aides say, than the barrage the U.S. president has sometimes threatened. Global markets have been gripped by uncertainty and volatility as Trump has unleashed trade wars on multiple fronts, with U.S. levies met with retaliation from other countries including China. The new...
Gold edged up in early Asian trading on March 24, supported by geopolitical tensions. The Pentagon is sending another aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, a U.S. official said, as tensions rise in the region following the resumption of Israeli attacks on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The precious metal is increasingly sought after as a safe haven, not least because of geopolitical tensions, Commerzbank Research commodity analysts said in a research report. "As long as this is the case, the downside potential for gold is likely to remain limited," they added. Spot gold was up 0.1%...
The US dollar index remained firm above 104 on Monday as investors awaited further clarity on President Donald Trump's trade policies ahead of the April 2 deadline for his reciprocal tariffs. Trump suggested on Friday that there could be "flexibility" in the plan, while weekend reports indicated that the tariffs may be narrower in scope, potentially sparing some industries. The dollar has faced pressure for much of the year, as tariffs are expected to weigh on US economic growth. However, it rebounded last week after the Federal Reserve reaffirmed that it is in no rush to cut interest...