Oil pushed lower for a second session as the market weighed a looming glut and the possibility for an end to hostilities in Gaza, which could siphon some of the war premium out of prices. West Texas Intermediate slipped toward $63 a barrel after tumbling 3.5% on Monday, the biggest drop since late June. Brent closed near $68. The OPEC+ alliance meets on Sunday and is likely to agree to raise output in November, though at a modest rate similar to that for October. The US and Israel, meanwhile, agreed to a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, but the prospects for...
Gold edges lower in early Asian trade on a likely technical correction. Front-month Comex gold for October settled 1.2% higher at a fresh record high on Monday. However, gold's decline may be limited after overnight talks at the White House failed to make any breakthrough to avoid a government shutdown, which may support safe-haven demand for the precious metal. Political uncertainty in Washington adds to gold's appeal, XTB MENA's Hani Abuagla says in an email. Persistent inflows and steady central bank buying have reinforced the precious metal's recent rally, the senior market analyst...
The U.S. dollar was on the back foot on Tuesday in cautious trading as investors braced for a possible U.S. government shutdown that would halt economic data releases including the crucial jobs report later this week. Government funding will expire at midnight on Tuesday unless Republicans and Democrats agree to a last-minute temporary spending deal, with President Donald Trump and his opponents making little progress at a White House meeting. The payrolls report, crucial for decision-making by policymakers at the Federal Reserve, is scheduled for Friday, and a delay could leave the...