Gold fell as optimism that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month was shaken by continued uncertainty over economic data, following the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Expectations for a Fed rate cut declined as the week progressed, with Fed officials showing little confidence in reducing borrowing costs. Higher interest rates typically make non-yielding bullion relatively less attractive to investors. Traders are now divided on the likelihood of a December rate cut, having previously expected a quarter-point cut less than a month ago. Attention now turns to...
Oil prices rose nearly 2% on Friday (November 14th), driven by supply concerns after the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk halted oil exports following a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot in Russia's key energy hub. Brent crude futures rose $1.04, or 1.65%, to $64.05 a barrel at 14:28 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.15, or 1.96%, to $59.84 a barrel. The contracts were more or less stable this week. At those levels, Brent was headed for a weekly gain of about 0.7% and WTI was up slightly by 0.15%. Friday's attack damaged a ship at the port, an apartment block, and an...
Gold prices fell 3% on Friday (November 14th) due to a broader market sell-off, triggered by hawkish remarks from US Federal Reserve officials, which dimmed hopes of a December interest rate cut. Spot gold prices fell 1.9% to $4,092.72 an ounce, as of 2:33 PM ET (19:33 GMT), after falling more than 3% earlier in the session. However, bullion is up 2.3% so far this week. US gold futures for December delivery closed 2.4% lower at $4,094.20. "The notion that we're going to see a smaller chance of a Fed rate cut in December is what's weakening the gold and silver markets," said David Meger,...