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 Australian Dollar (AUD) recovered its daily losses against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday (6/17). However, the AUD/USD pair faced challenges as traders remained cautious amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. However, the risk-sensitive AUD/USD pair gained on optimism after Iran reportedly asked multiple countries, including Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, to urge US President Donald Trump to use his influence with Israel for an immediate ceasefire, according to Reuters. Additionally, risk sentiment improved as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed with Trump that their countries...
Oil prices rose on Tuesday amid concerns that the Iran-Israel conflict could escalate, raising the risk of further unrest and potential disruptions to oil supplies from the key Middle East producing region. Brent crude futures rose 34 cents, or 0.5%, to $73.57 a barrel by 0340 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 29 cents, or 0.4%, to $72.06. Both contracts rose more than 2% earlier in the session. Oil prices fell more than 1% on Monday amid hopes that the conflict would ease after media reports that Iran was seeking to end hostilities. However, concerns grew after U.S....
Gold rose on Tuesday as rising geopolitical uncertainty stemming from the Israel-Iran row and U.S. President Donald Trump's call to evacuate Tehran prompted investors to seek safe-haven assets. Spot gold was up 0.4% at $3,396.67 an ounce, by 0239 GMT, after falling more than 1% on Monday. U.S. gold futures were steady at $3,416.30. "Market sentiment continues to fluctuate between escalation and de-escalation regarding events in the Middle East, and it is this shift in sentiment back and forth that is driving gold prices either side of the $3,400 level," said Tim Waterer, chief market...
The dollar firmed slightly on Tuesday, though most currencies held tight ranges as investors remained concerned about ongoing tensions in the Middle East and awaited an upcoming central bank decision. The Bank of Japan concludes its two-day monetary policy meeting on Tuesday, where it is widely expected to keep interest rates steady and consider tapering bond purchases slowly starting next fiscal year. Ahead of the outcome, the yen firmed slightly to 144.70 per dollar, reversing some of its decline from the previous session. "Markets are now refocusing their attention on the usual...
Gold edged up in early Asian trading amid ongoing geopolitical tensions that typically boost the precious metal's appeal as a safe haven. Israel attacked buildings belonging to Iran's state-owned media company in Tehran. The attacks came despite Tehran sending a message through intermediaries calling for a return to nuclear talks if the U.S. stays out of the conflict. "The geopolitical backdrop remains highly volatile," Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and FOREX.com, said in an email. "The Israeli attack on Iran has injected a clear risk premium across commodities," the...
Oil prices slipped $1 per barrel on Monday in volatile trading after reports that Iran is seeking an end to hostilities with Israel, raising the possibility of a truce and easing fears of a disruption to crude supplies from the region. Brent crude futures settled $1, or 1.35%, lower to $73.23 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell $1.21, or 1.66%, to $71.77 per barrel. Iran has asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman to press U.S. President Donald Trump to use his influence on Israel for an immediate ceasefire in return for Tehran's flexibility in talks about its nuclear...
The Swiss Franc (CHF) is holding steady against the US Dollar (USD) on Monday, even as the US Dollar Index (DXY) slips back below 98.00, with traders brace for a relatively calm start to a week full of central bank decisions and the context of an escalating war between Israel and Iran.. The USD/CHF pair is hovering around 0.8106 during the European session, holding within a narrow range between 0.8100 and 0.8130 after bouncing back from Friday's dip to a two-month low near 0.8056. Market participants remain cautious, keeping positions light ahead of this week's key interest-rate decisions...
The Australian Dollar (AUD) strengthened against the US Dollar (USD) on Monday, buoyed by improved risk sentiment amid easing geopolitical tensions. Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate that Iran is signaling openness to negotiations with the United States (US), prompting optimism about a potential de-escalation in the recent Israel-Iran tensions. Diplomatic efforts are gaining momentum as international stakeholders, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Nations, continue to urge restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation. Additionally, economic data...
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....