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...
Markets are focused on US macro data and Federal Reserve (Fed) communications, with November's Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data expected to show weak job growth and a higher unemployment rate. Weaker data or a dovish Fed signal could revive expectations of a March interest rate cut, while Thursday's European Central Bank (ECB) meeting remains the main external risk for short US Dollar (USD) positions, notes ING FX analyst Chris Turner. Fed speakers could reinforce the dovish bias "In terms of US domestic news this week, the focus will be on major data releases and key Fed speeches. The...
Silver (XAG/USD) prices have gained more than $2 so far on Monday (December 15th), reaching an intraday high near $63.80 and approaching a new record high of $63.65, after bouncing off a low below the $61.00 mark on Friday. The precious metal traded on a firm note on Monday, driven by a cautious market mood following weak data from China and renewed concerns about the country's property sector amid news that state-owned developer China Vanke is on the verge of bankruptcy. Furthermore, US President Trump has named former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as the most suitable person to replace...
Gold rose 1% on Monday (December 15) and held near a seven-week high, supported by a weaker dollar, expectations of interest rate cuts, and safe-haven buying due to geopolitical tensions, while silver rose but remained below Friday's record high. Spot gold prices rose 1% to $4,343.96 an ounce at 0949 GMT. Bullion hit its highest level since October 21 on Friday. US gold futures rose 1.2% to $4,377.80 an ounce. The US dollar held near a two-month low hit last week, making dollar-denominated gold more affordable for overseas buyers, while the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond...
Oil prices held steady on Monday (December 15th) as investors balanced supply disruptions related to escalating U.S.-Venezuela tensions with oversupply concerns and the impact of a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal. Brent crude futures rose 15 cents, or 0.25%, to $61.27 per barrel, as of 0924 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $57.59 per barrel, also up 15 cents, or 0.26%. Both contracts fell more than 4% in the previous week, weighed down by expectations of a global oil surplus in 2026. "The decline in oil prices and the lows reached for the month across the major...
Silver prices are currently holding steady around US$62/ounce after a wild week last week: briefly setting a record, then being hit by profit-taking. Spot price data shows XAG/USD hovering around US$62 within a narrow daily range, indicating the market is awaiting a new trigger. From a macro perspective, the most "lifting" factor for silver right now is the direction of US interest rates. The Fed has indeed cut interest rates, but there are internal disagreements, so the market is becoming more cautious about betting on further easing in 2026. If expectations of lower interest rates...
Gold prices halted their rise after a four-day rally, as comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) officials raised doubts about whether the US would cut interest rates again next year. On Monday, gold was stable at around US$4,305/ounce, after rising 2.6% last week. Although the Fed did cut interest rates on Wednesday, three policymakers apparently rejected the decision. The market is signaling that the next easing move could be more difficult and contentious, especially as 2026 approaches, when internal Fed views appear divided. The two officials who voted against it—Austan Goolsbee (Chicago)...
Oil prices remain stable near their lowest level in almost two months, as the market is more concerned about oversupply than the impact of geopolitical tensions. Brent held around US$61/barrel after closing at its lowest level since October 20, while WTI remains below US$58/barrel. The main pressure comes from expectations of a widening supply surplus: OPEC+ and other producers continue to pump more oil, while consumption growth is expected to remain sluggish. This situation means oil prices are expected to remain on a downward path for the year. However, geopolitics is also preventing...
The US dollar remains sluggish after experiencing intense pressure following the Fed's decision to cut interest rates by 25 bps. The US Dollar Index (DXY) remains in the lower zone and is trending lower weekly, as market participants assess the Fed's policy stance as being more dovish. Expectations of further interest rate cuts have diminished the dollar's appeal as a high-yielding asset, leading to more capital flows into other assets such as gold, silver, and some riskier currencies. Nevertheless, in the very short term, the dollar attempted a slight rebound in the US session as US bond...
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....