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 dollar index held at 98.6 on Monday after a modest gain last week, with trading expected to be quiet this week due to the Christmas holiday. Investor attention will mainly be on the second estimate of GDP for the third quarter, set for release on Tuesday, which may offer further insights into the economy's health and the Federal Reserve's interest rate path. Traders currently anticipate that the Fed could deliver two 25bps rate reductions next year, amid signs of easing inflation and a weakening labor market. Meanwhile, Fed Bank of Cleveland President Beth Hammack on Sunday said that...
Oil prices rose on Monday after officials said the U.S. had intercepted an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, raising fresh supply uncertainty. Brent crude futures gained 57 cents, or 0.9%, to $61.04 per barrel by 0751 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 55 cents, or 1.0%, to $57.07. "The market is waking up to the fact that the Trump administration is taking a hardline approach to the Venezuelan oil trade," said June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities. "Oil prices have thus been supported by this geopolitical news alongside...
Gold price (XAU/USD) rises to an all-time high near $4,400 during the early European trading hours on Monday. The precious metal gains momentum on the expectation of US Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate cuts after signs of softer US inflation and cooler jobs reports. Lower interest rates could reduce the opportunity cost of holding Gold, supporting the non-yielding precious metal. Additionally, persistent safe-haven demand amid the Israel-Iran conflict and the rise in US-Venezuela tensions might contribute to the yellow metal's upside. It's worth noting that traders seek assets that can...
Silver climbed more than 3% to above $69 per ounce on Monday, reaching a new record, driven by expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts and escalating geopolitical tensions. Recent US data point to moderating inflation and a softer labor market, giving the Fed more scope to ease policy, with markets pricing in two additional rate reductions next year. Lower interest rates tend to support non-yielding metals. Geopolitical developments, including intensified US sanctions on Venezuela and Ukraine's attack on a Russian-controlled oil tanker in the Mediterranean, have further reinforced...
Pound Rebounds, UK Data Determines GBP/USD strengthened after three consecutive days of declines. In Monday's Asian session, the pair traded around 1.3394, approaching the 1.3400 level, ahead of the release of UK Q3 GDP. This strengthening occurred as the pound sterling attempted to hold its ground ahead of important economic data. However, its movement remains volatile as the market has already priced in expectations for the direction of future interest rates. In the UK, the market is said to have fully priced in the Bank of England's (BoE) first interest rate cut in June 2026....
Gold prices rose slightly in the morning session in Asia, driven by geopolitical conditions that typically drive investors to seek safe-haven assets like gold. The latest trigger came from the US seizing a second oil tanker near Venezuela on Saturday. This action increased pressure on the government of President Nicolás Maduro. According to analyst Milad Azar of XTB MENA, geopolitical tensions remain a "key support pillar" for gold prices. He believes friction between the US and Venezuela has the potential to escalate. Azar also noted that tensions have not subsided in several other...
Silver prices rose to record levels as the market grew more confident that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates further next year, coupled with the escalating geopolitical situation. Gold also gained slightly, as these two factors typically drive investors to seek "safe haven" assets. Silver rose 0.5% to reach $67.4954 per ounce. This increase was supported by speculative inflows and still-tight supply following a major short squeeze in October. Silver trading activity also increased. Total silver futures trading volume in Shanghai surged earlier this month, approaching levels seen...
Oil prices rose after US President Donald Trump tightened the blockade on Venezuela. The US has already seized one tanker and is now pursuing another just weeks after the first seizure. Brent crude rose to near $61 per barrel after two consecutive weeks of decline. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) hovered around $57. On Saturday, the US Coast Guard boarded the Centuries tanker in the Caribbean. The vessel was carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude. At the same time, the US is also pursuing the Bella 1 tanker, which was heading to the Latin American...
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....