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...
The US economy expanded in the third quarter at the fastest pace in two years, bolstered by resilient consumer and business spending and calmer trade policies. Inflation-adjusted gross domestic product, which measures the value of goods and services produced in the US, increased at a 4.3% annualized pace, a Bureau of Economic Analysis report showed Tuesday. That followed 3.8% growth in the prior period that was also bolstered by households. The BEA was originally due to publish an advance estimate of GDP on Oct. 30 but the report was canceled due to the government shutdown....
The renewed tensions in Venezuela have begun to draw attention from global market participants, primarily due to the potential disruption to global oil supplies. As the country with the world's largest oil reserves, every political and geopolitical dynamic in Venezuela often has a direct impact on global energy price movements. The main market concern centers on the possibility of disruptions to Venezuelan oil production and exports, either due to domestic instability or the potential for a re-tightening of international sanctions. This situation risks tightening global oil supplies,...
The U.S. economy likely grew at a brisk clip in the third quarter, driven by solid consumer spending and business investment, but momentum appears to have since faded amid the rising cost of living and recent government shutdown. The Commerce Department's initial estimate of third-quarter gross domestic product on Tuesday is also expected to show the economy was supported by lower imports, which helped to curb the trade deficit. Much of the anticipated acceleration in consumer spending was the result of a rush to buy electric vehicles before the September 30 expiration of tax credits. The...
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States may store and possibly sell oil seized off the coast of Venezuela in recent weeks, as Reuters reported on Monday. Trump added that the US would also store the seized vessels. "Maybe we'll sell it, maybe we'll keep it," Trump said, adding that the oil might also be used to replenish the United States' strategic reserves. (alg) Source: FXstreet
President Vladimir Putin said he is willing to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine, despite rejecting changes sought by Kyiv and Europe to the U.S. peace plan drafted with Moscow. Putin said he has "practically agreed" to the proposals to end the war outlined in summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska in August. "To say that we reject something is simply incorrect and has no basis in fact," he said Friday at his annual televised press conference in Moscow. "This issue is entirely on the side of our Western opponents, so to speak, primarily the leaders" of Ukraine and...
Japan's annual inflation rate edged down to 2.9% in November 2025 from October's 3-month high of 3.0%. Core inflation stood at 3.0%, keeping the same pace as in October and aligning with estimates. Monthly, the CPI rose 0.4%, matching October's reading and staying at its highest in eight months. Source: Trading Economi
Goldman Sachs sees gold prices climbing 14% to $4,900 per ounce by December 2026 in its base case, it said in a note on Thursday, while citing upside risks to this view due to a potential broadening of diversification to private investors. In a note in which the bank discussed its views on commodities for 2026, Goldman Sachs said it expects structurally high central bank demand and cyclical support from U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cuts to lift the price of gold. It continues to recommend long exposure in the yellow metal. Spot gold was trading at $4,334.93 per ounce at 1824 GMT on...
The BRICS group of countries is increasingly being considered as an alternative for global diplomacy and cooperation amidst increasing tariff and protectionist policies from the United States. A number of developing countries view BRICS as a platform to strengthen trade, investment, and financial cooperation without over-reliance on a Western-dominated system. US tariff pressure is pushing many countries to seek a more balanced economic and political path. Through BRICS, member countries are seeking to expand the use of local currencies, strengthen supply chains, and enhance solidarity...
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....