Oil prices stabilized on Thursday (February 12th), as the market reassigned a risk premium to US-Iran tensions despite US inventory data showing swelling domestic supplies. This movement confirms one thing: geopolitical headlines are still more "noise" than signals of a short-term surplus. As of 3:50 PM WIB, Brent was at $69.60/barrel (+0.29%) and WTI was at $64.83/barrel (+0.31%). The gains were moderate, but enough to keep prices near the psychological $70 level for Brent. From a geopolitical perspective, market focus is on the potential for escalation in the Middle East. Recent reports...
According to a report from the US Department of Labor (DOL) released on Thursday, the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment insurance rose to 208,000 for the week ending January 3. This latest figure was lower than the initial estimate (210,000) and higher than the previous week's figure of 200,000 (revised from 199,000). Furthermore, the 4-week moving average decreased by 7.25,000, bringing the total to 211.75,000 from the previous week's revised average. The report showed a seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate of 1.2%, with Continuing Jobless Claims...
The upcoming Supreme Court ruling on the legality of President Donald Trump's massive tariffs, which rocked markets in April, is one of the next major tests for US stocks and bonds. Equity markets have extended their rally into the new year, pushing the S&P 500 Index to a new record high. This rally, which has seen the benchmark index rise about 40% above its April low, has been fueled by the boom in artificial intelligence and Trump's decision to roll back some of his most stringent tariffs. Treasury bond yields have also fallen from their mid-2025 peaks as traders bet that the Federal...
The US seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, one of which was sailing under a Russian flag, as part of President Donald Trump's aggressive efforts to regulate oil flows in the Americas and force Venezuela's socialist government to become allies. After arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military raid Saturday in Caracas, the US stepped up its blockade of sanctioned vessels sailing to and from the South American nation, a member of the OPEC oil producing group. The White House also said it plans to lift some sanctions Trump imposed on...
European stock indices closed marginally lower on Wednesday as equities took a breather from their recent strong momentum, while investors continued to assess the outlook for the ECB's policy this year. The Eurozone's STOXX 50 and the pan-European STOXX 600 both inched down by 0.1% from their respective record highs in the previous session. The Eurozone's inflation rate slowed to 2% in December, as expected, and the core rate unexpectedly fell to maintain soft expectations that the ECB may still lower borrowing costs this year. The financial sector led the losses, with ING and BBVA losing...
Geopolitical issues have heated up again after statements and political signals from the United States sparked speculation about a possible US takeover of Greenland. Although no concrete action has been taken, the statement has prompted European countries, including France, to work with allies to develop contingency plans in case such an extreme scenario actually occurs. Greenland and US Strategic Interests Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory and NATO member, holds a strategic position in the Arctic region. This territory is crucial for missile defense systems, military routes, and...
Private employment rose less than economists expected in December, according to the ADP report. Private employment rose 41,000 (Estimate +50,000) in December, compared with a revised -29,000 in November, according to the ADP Research Institute and the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. Estimates ranged from +10,000 to +80,000, according to 20 economists. Goods-producing jobs fell 3,000. Services jobs rose 44,000. (alg) Source: Bloomberg
France is working with partners on a plan on how to respond should the United States act on its threat to take over Greenland, a minister said on Wednesday, as Europe sought to address U.S. President Donald Trump's ambitions in the region. A U.S. military seizure of Greenland from a longtime ally, Denmark, would send shock waves through the NATO alliance and deepen the divide between Trump and European leaders. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the subject would be raised at a meeting with the foreign ministers of Germany and Poland later in the day. "We want to take action, but we...
Gold rises in the early Asian trade. There's a broad commodities uptrend, driven by macro uncertainty, a weaker dollar, and persistent demand for "hard" assets, says Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst...
Oil extended declines after OPEC+ agreed to a bigger-than-expected production increase next month, raising concerns about oversupply just as US tariffs fan fears about the demand outlook.
Brent...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) weakened against its US counterpart and reversed part of Friday's recovery from the lowest level since July 23 following Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda's remarks....