EUR/USD remains steady during the North American session on Friday, poised to end the week with modest gains of over 0.18% as traders brace for the next week's monetary policy decision by the Federal Reserve (Fed). At the time of writing, the pair trades at 1.1736, virtually unchanged. Euro ends week modestly higher as soft US data cements rate cut bets, narrowing policy divergence with ECB US economic data continued to drive price action on Friday as Consumer Sentiment in September deteriorated, while inflation expectations remain above the Fed's 2% goal. This, and the payrolls revision...
Gold prices held firm on Thursday (05/06), supported by easing geopolitical tensions, dovish central bank signals and continued weakness in US labor market data, factors that continued to boost demand for safe-haven assets. After testing the key psychological level of $3,400 during the European session, prices eased slightly but remained elevated as markets digested positive developments. US President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he had a productive and positive 90-minute phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they discussed details of a recently concluded trade...
Oil prices rose 1% on Thursday, recovering from the previous day's decline as traders responded to news that U.S. and Chinese teams would meet soon, following a trade call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Brent crude futures were up 65 cents, or 1%, at $65.51 a barrel by 11:36 a.m. EDT (15:36 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 66 cents, or 1.05%, at $63.51 a barrel. "If we step back from the brink of a major trade war, that would raise expectations for oil demand in both the U.S. and China," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures...
Oil climbed as signs the US and China may be ironing out their trade differences helped allay concern with large OPEC+ output increases. Brent futures extended gains after China's official news agency reported that Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping spoke over the phone. Still, prices have been largely bound to a narrow price range near $65 a barrel since the middle of May. Gains were contained in equity markets as traders await US jobs data due on Friday. Saudi Arabia wants the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to continue to...
Markets are trading in relatively subdued fashion, leaving the USD soft overall but little changed on the session and holding near the past week's low, Scotiabank's Chief FX Strategist Shaun Osborne notes. USD soft but little changed "High beta FX is leading limited gains on the USD in the major currency space. Stocks are modestly higher in Europe after a mixed session in Asia. US equity futures are little changed. Bonds are mostly firmer but Treasurys are underperforming a little. Markets are short on incentives to move today—an ECB rate cut is largely discounted and US data reports this...
Gold futures rise as the U.S. dollar weakens and investors position themselves ahead of key U.S. economic data. Futures are up 0.6% at $3,420.80 a troy ounce. The precious metal has edged higher as the weaker dollar improves gold's comparative safe-haven aspects. U.S. Treasurys also began to slide in the previous session, further supporting gold, SP Angel analysts say in a note. The 10-year fell below 4.4% for the first time since early May, as weak ADP numbers raised concerns over the strength of the U.S. labor market, SP Angel says. Market attention now turns to Friday's nonfarm payroll...
Oil remained stuck near $65 a barrel as signs Saudi Arabia is seeking another big production increase at next month's OPEC+ meeting offset the outlook for summer demand. Brent futures posted a slight recovery Thursday, but prices have been largely bound to a narrow price range since the middle of May. Broader markets were also moslty flat as traders await US jobs data due on Friday. Saudi Arabia wants the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to continue to add at least 411,000 barrels a day of output in August and potentially September, according to...
Silver prices surged to $35.60 per ounce on Thursday, reaching their highest level since February 2012, as weak US economic data and a dovish Federal Reserve outlook fueled safe-haven demand ahead of Friday's non-farm payrolls report. Expectations for a Fed rate cut in September have intensified following a string of disappointing indicators. The latest ADP report showed just 37,000 private-sector jobs were added in May, the weakest monthly gain since March 2023, while the ISM Services PMI dropped to 49.9, signaling the sector's first contraction in nearly a year. Outside of economic...
'Slightly pessimistic and uncertain' was the characterisation of the US outlook expressed in the Fed's Beige Book released last night and ahead of the next FOMC meeting on 19 June. Yet business sentiment did not show any clear deterioration over prior Beige Books, and the report also noted that 'there were widespread reports of contacts expecting costs and prices to rise at a faster rate going forward'. This latter point is keeping the Fed resistant to growing political pressure to cut rates, ING's FX analyst Chris Turner notes. USD is susceptible to further downside "Softer US data has...
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....