Oil prices are headed for a second weekly decline as concerns over a growing oversupply outweigh geopolitical risks to supply. Brent crude edged up to $60 a barrel on Friday but is still down about 2% for the week, while West Texas Intermediate is trading near $56 a barrel. Ukraine attacked an oil tanker linked to a shadowy Russian fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, a new escalation in a series of attacks on ships that help Moscow export oil. Despite these risks, nearly all of the world's largest traders see the market in oversupplied territory by early next year, with industrial giant...
Annual inflation in the United States (US), as measured by the change in the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, rose to 2.6% in June from 2.4% in May (revised from 2.3%), the US Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Thursday. This figure was above market expectations of 2.5%. The core PCE Price Index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 2.8% in the same period, matching May's increase and exceeding analysts' expectations of 2.7%. The PCE Price Index and the core PCE Price Index both rose 0.3% on a monthly basis. Other details from the report showed that...
According to a report from the US Department of Labor (DOL) released on Thursday, the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment insurance increased to 218,000 for the week ending July 26. The latest figure was lower than the initial estimate (224,000), while the previous week's figure was 217,000. The report showed a seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate of 1.3%. Furthermore, the four-week moving average decreased by 3.5,000, to 221,000 from the previous week's unrevised average. Furthermore, Continuing Jobless Claims remained at 1.946 million for the week ending...
President Donald Trump again criticized Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell after the central bank declined to cut interest rates, ending a brief easing of tensions. "jerome ‘late' powell is at it again!!! he is too late, and even too angry, too stupid, & too political, to be fed chairman," trump wrote on his social media platforms on thursday, slamming the bank for holding interest rates steady. and trump again criticized powell over the central bank renovation construction project that has angered the president and his allies over cost overruns, just a week after he toured the...
US President Donald Trump intensified his trade war with Canada a day before the August 1 tariff deadline. He said it would be "very difficult" to reach a deal with Canada after Canada expressed its support for Palestinian statehood. Trump will impose a 35% tariff on all Canadian goods not covered by the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement if the two countries do not reach a deal by the deadline. "Wow! Canada just announced its support for Palestinian statehood. That's going to make it very difficult for us to reach a Trade Deal with them," Trump said on Truth Social. Canadian Prime Minister...
US President Donald Trump announced a new trade deal with South Korea, stating that the United States (US) would charge a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The agreement includes a $350 billion commitment from South Korea toward US-owned and controlled investments. Key quotes The United States and South Korea have reached a full and complete trade deal. South Korea will provide $350 billion for U.S.-owned and controlled investments, selected by the U.S. President. South Korea will purchase $100 billion in LNG or other energy products from the U.S. An...
The United States has agreed a trade deal with South Korea that will subject South Korean imports to a 15% tariff rate, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday.South Korea will also invest $350 billion in the United States and purchase $100 billion in U.S. energy products, Trump said on Truth Social. "It is also agreed that South Korea will be completely OPEN TO TRADE with the United States, and that they will accept American product including Cars and Trucks, Agriculture, etc," Trump added
President Donald Trump said he would impose 25% tariffs on India starting August 1 and hinted at adding additional penalties on the country's energy purchases from Russia. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump said India has tariffs that are "among the highest in the world, and they have the most onerous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country." "Furthermore, they have always purchased the majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest energy buyer, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE,"...
The United States Gross Domestic Product grew at a 3% Annual Rate in the second quarter, according to the preliminary estimate from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on Wednesday. This figure follows a 0.5% contraction in the first quarter and is better than market expectations for a 2.4% expansion. Other details from the report show that the Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index rose 2.5% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter, compared to market expectations of 2.4%. Furthermore, the Gross Domestic Product Price Index rose 2% in Q2, down from the 3.8% increase...
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....