A Bloomberg gauge for the dollar is headed for its worst week since June, and US Treasury bonds are rising as traders await data due early next month to confirm expectations of further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in 2026. With trading subdued due to the holiday this week and markets in the UK closed on Friday, investors' attention is largely focused on key US economic reports expected in the first few weeks of January. The December jobs report and consumer inflation figures, in particular, will help determine the Fed's next move after officials lowered borrowing costs this month for...
Oil prices dipped in sluggish post-Christmas trading as investors assessed progress in long-stalled Ukraine peace talks, which could lead to a deal that would allow more Russian oil into a global market grappling with oversupply. West Texas Intermediate crude fell slightly on Friday to around $58 a barrel, though still on track for its biggest weekly gain since late October, while Brent crude hovered below $62. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he hoped to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday about ending Russia's war, adding that the framework of his...
Gold, silver, and platinum surged to all-time highs, extending a historic year-end rally for precious metals, supported by rising geopolitical tensions, a weaker U.S. dollar, and thin market liquidity. Spot gold prices rose as much as 1.2% to a peak above $4,530 an ounce on Friday. Spot silver for immediate delivery rose for the fifth consecutive session, climbing as much as 5% to surpass $75 an ounce. Tensions in Venezuela, where the U.S. has blocked oil tankers and increased pressure on the government of Nicolás Maduro, have added to the appeal of precious metals as a safe-haven asset....