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 has signaled it will not relax its August 1 deadline for higher tariffs against the European Union as the bloc struggles to reach a deal on time. Over the weekend, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he was confident a trade deal with the EU could be reached, but cautioned that the deadline for the 30% base tariffs was fixed. "That's a tight deadline, so on August 1, the new tariffs will go into effect," Lutnick said Sunday on CBS News when asked about his EU tariff deadline. He did hint that negotiations could continue beyond that date, stating: "These are the two largest...
Indonesia's chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said Monday that a 19% tariff on Indonesian goods entering the United States could be implemented earlier than the August 1 deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. Airlangga noted that the timing of the tariff implementation depends on a joint statement expected soon between the two countries. The United States and Indonesia reached a trade deal last week that resulted in a reduction of the initially proposed U.S. tariff rate from 32% to 19%. Source: Investing.com
The U.S. has signaled it will not let up on its Aug. 1 deadline for higher tariffs on the European Union as the bloc fights to strike a deal in time. Over the weekend, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he was confident a trade deal could be struck with the European Union, but warned that the deadline for a baseline 30% tariff is fixed. "That's a hard deadline, so on August 1, the new tariff rates will come in," Lutnick said Sunday on CBS News when asked about the deadline for his EU tariffs. He did signal that talks could continue after this date, however, noting: "These are the...
Russia unleashed a renewed attack on Ukraine, targeting the country's central and western regions with drone and missiles as Kyiv's allies pledged increased air defense protection to help shield the war-ravaged nation. Sirens sounded for more than six hours as Russia fired drones, cruise- and ballistic missiles and the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, Ukraine's air defense force said Monday on Telegram. At least one person was killed in the capital, Kyiv, and another was hospitalized "with multiple wounds." Kyiv is shrouded in smoke from fires in several districts, including an apartment...
Iran has reached an agreement in principle to hold talks with the UK, France and Germany over its nuclear program, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The talks are expected to take place on Friday and will be at the deputy foreign minister level, according to Iran's state-run IRIB News. The discussions will be separate from the indirect talks with the US, the outlet reported. The three European countries, or E3, are parties to the original nuclear agreement, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which US President Donald Trump abandoned in...
Former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on members of the BRICS group of nations on Friday, warning the alliance would quickly collapse if it ever becomes a significant economic force. "When I heard about this group from BRICS, six countries, basically, I hit them very, very hard. And if they ever really form in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly," Trump said without specifying which nations he was referring to. The BRICS group currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and has recently expanded to include other nations. In addition to...
Federal Reserve Governor Chris Waller, an advocate for an immediate interest rate cut, said on Friday he would accept the job as head of the U.S. central bank if asked by President Donald Trump, but so far Trump has not contacted him about it. "In 2019 the president contacted me and said, 'Would you serve?' And I said yes," Waller told Bloomberg Television, referring to Trump's appointment of him to the Fed's Board of Governors. "If the president contacted me and said, 'I want you to serve,' I would do it. But he has not contacted me." Trump has launched a barrage of nearly daily criticism...
The case for a U.S. interest rate cut remains unresolved as Federal Reserve officials head into their policy meeting later this month, with data showing fresh signs of higher inflation and President Donald Trump intensifying his demands for lower borrowing costs. Trump appeared near the point of trying to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell this week, but backed off with a nod to the market disruption that would likely follow, and the U.S. central bank's policy rate outlook remains virtually unchanged despite the drama. Fed officials haven't mentioned raising rates, but headlines about an...
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....