The Japanese Yen (JPY) remained firmer against its peers for the third straight day, despite the lack of follow-through amid faltering expectations for a Bank of Japan (BOJ) rate hike. Widespread inflationary pressures in Japan keep the case for the next BOJ rate hike in January or March open. That said, some investors expect the BOJ to wait until April to seek confirmation that the strong wage momentum will continue into spring negotiations. This, in turn, is holding back JPY investors from placing aggressive bets. Further, the recent widening in the US-Japan yield differential,...
Silver prices fell to around $30.2 an ounce on Monday, reversing some of last week's gains, as the dollar strengthened following stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data. The data dampened expectations for further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year, and a stronger dollar makes dollar-denominated commodities like silver more expensive for buyers holding other currencies, dampening demand. Looking ahead, investors are focused on U.S. inflation data this week for further insight into the Fed's policy direction. Despite the recent pullback, silver jumped nearly 3% last week,...
Brent crude rose more than 2% to $81.50 a barrel on Monday (13/1), its highest in more than four months, as new U.S. sanctions on Russia's energy sector raised concerns about supply disruptions. The sanctions, the most extensive yet, target major exporters, insurers and more than 150 tankers, sending major buyers such as India and China scrambling for alternatives. The move has caused confusion, with Chinese refiners holding emergency meetings and Indian refiners bracing for months of potential disruptions. Early signs of disruptions include sanctioned tankers stuck off the coast of China,...