Oil prices continued their rally amid growing concerns that Ukrainian drone attacks could disrupt oil flows through Russia's two most important crude export hubs on the Baltic coast. Brent crude rose above $67 per barrel, after falling 1.7% on Thursday. The attacks have halted operations at Primorsk, the region's main oil loading port, and three pumping stations that deliver crude to the Ust-Luga hub, a source familiar with the situation said. This increased risk premium offsets the International Energy Agency's (IEA) projection for a record-breaking oil supply surplus next year. The IEA's...
Gold declined toward $3,280 per ounce on Friday, hitting its lowest level in four weeks, as fading geopolitical risks and easing fears of a prolonged trade conflict dented safe-haven demand. The US and China finalized the details of their London trade deal, which will implement the Geneva consensus. Under the agreement, China will approve export applications for controlled goods, while the US will lift various trade restrictions. This followed the White House downplaying the urgency of upcoming tariff deadlines, suggesting they could be extended and further easing trade...
Silver (XAG/USD) prices are trading lower after posting gains in the previous two sessions, trading around $36.50 per troy ounce during Asian hours on Friday (6/27). The decline in precious metals, including Silver, could be restrained by renewed concerns over the independence of the US Federal Reserve (Fed). US President Donald Trump called Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell "terrible" in The Hague on the sidelines of a NATO summit and said he has several potential successors in mind. "I know of three or four people I'm going to pick." Trump could undermine Powell's authority by...
Oil prices were headed for their biggest weekly drop since March 2023 on Friday, as the absence of significant supply disruptions from the Iran-Israel conflict caused the risk premium to evaporate. Brent crude futures were up 35 cents, or 0.52%, at $68.08 a barrel by 0429 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 40 cents, or 0.61%, at $65.64. That left both contracts on track for weekly declines of about 12%. The benchmarks are now back to levels before Israel started the conflict by firing missiles at Iranian military and nuclear targets on June 13. The week began with prices...
Gold fell on Friday and headed for a second weekly loss, as a slight rise in the dollar and an Israel-Iran truce weighed on prices, with markets eyeing U.S. inflation data for clues on the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory. Spot gold fell 1% to $3,292.19 an ounce by 0402 GMT. Bullion has fallen 2.2% so far this week. U.S. gold futures fell 1.3% to $3,305.20. The dollar (.DXY), opens a new tab, rose 0.2% against its rivals, making dollar-priced bullion more expensive for overseas buyers. The decline this week was driven by the Israel-Iran peace deal, said Brian Lan, managing...
The US Dollar Index (DXY), a measure of the US Dollar (USD) against a basket of six major currencies, held steady near 97.25, its lowest level in three-and-a-half years during the Asian session on Wednesday (6/27). US President Donald Trump is considering picking the next Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair early, fueling fresh bets on a US interest rate cut. Trump said he has a shortlist of potential Powell successors down to "three or four people," without naming the finalists. Concerns over the Fed's future independence could weaken the US Dollar (USD) against its rivals. "For now, expectations...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) weakened across the board during the Asian session on Friday (6/27) in reaction to data showing that consumer inflation in Tokyo slowed sharply in June. Moreover, Japanese Retail Sales posted growth for the 38th straight month, albeit at the slowest pace since February. This came on top of expectations that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) could delay an interest rate hike until Q1 2026, which, along with upbeat market sentiment, turned out to be the main factors weakening the safe-haven JPY. Moreover, uncertainty over the impact of US tariffs on the Japanese economy turned...
Oil prices edged up in early Asia amid positive sentiment driven by overnight gains on Wall Street. However, "supply tensions should again surpass their summer seasonal strength as under the surface, several bearish factors are gearing up for the end of the third quarter," Francesco Martoccia of Citi Research said in a research report. These factors include global refinery production set to fall by more than 1.5 million barrels per day between August and September, the analyst said. Front-month WTI crude futures were up 0.2% at $65.37/bbl; front-month Brent crude futures were up 0.2% at...
Gold fell slightly in early Asian trade, weighed by stronger-than-expected US data that could dampen hopes for a Fed rate cut. The number of people filing for unemployment benefits fell to a five-week low last week and durable goods orders posted their biggest increase in 11 years. The focus will likely be on the PCE inflation report due later in the day. Market participants are now looking to upcoming data for further direction, Exness' Krisada Yoonaisil said in an email. Meanwhile, concerns over the Fed's independence could fuel safe-haven demand, the financial market strategist added....
Gold (XAU/USD) is extending its decline on Wednesday for a second consecutive day as the US Dollar (USD) and US Treasury yields firm ahead of the release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)...
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....