Brent crude futures are little changed near $77 a barrel having erased kneejerk opening gains seen after the US launched a series of weekend strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites. US equity futures have also recovered from their opening fall with S&P 500 contracts now up 0.2%. The Stoxx 600 falls 0.2% but again is off its worst levels. Construction, technology and energy stocks outperform in Europe. Chemicals and industrials lag. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index extends its climb to 0.5%. The Japanese yen and kiwi dollar are the weakest of the G-10 currencies,...
Silver prices are showing increasingly solid fundamentals in mid-2025, driven by a supply deficit, surging industrial demand, and investor interest in safe haven assets. This combination makes silver one of the precious metals with the most promising growth prospects this year. This year is the fifth consecutive year of a global silver supply deficit, with a projected shortfall of 117–149 million ounces. Although mining production has increased slightly, its growth has not been able to keep up with the high surge in demand. Silver is a key component in clean technology and future energy....
Gold eased on Monday as the dollar held firm, while market participants remained cautious, watching out for any potential Iranian retaliation to U.S. strikes on its nuclear sites. Spot gold was down 0.1% at $3,365.29 an ounc. U.S. gold futures fell 0.1% to $3,381.30. The dollar rose 0.6% against its peers, making gold more expensive for foreign buyers. Higher energy prices could potentially delay a Fed rate cut and strengthen the dollar, said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. "Continued and multiple geopolitical uncertainties will likely continue to underpin and...