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 US dollar index fluctuated near a two-month low around 98.3 on Friday and appeared poised for a third consecutive week of decline. This weakness came after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates as expected, but with a less aggressive tone than the market had hoped. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell signaled that additional rate hikes were almost certainly unlikely, and official projections indicated only one cut next year. The Fed also announced plans to purchase short-term Treasury debt to maintain market liquidity. This move kept US bond yields low and automatically added pressure on the...
The Japanese yen (JPY) remains under pressure and is trending slightly lower against the US dollar in the Asian session on Friday. Investors are concerned about Japan's increasingly strained financial situation due to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's massive spending plans, while economic growth remains sluggish. At the same time, the current risk-on market environment is making the yen less competitive as a safe-haven asset. However, the yen appears to be holding back from falling further due to growing speculation that the Bank of Japan (BoJ) could raise interest rates as early as next...
Silver prices are still moving at high levels today, holding near record levels after a sharp rally in recent weeks. The main sentiment stems from expectations of further monetary easing in the US after the Fed cut interest rates again. Lower interest rates make non-yielding assets like silver and gold more attractive, especially amid inflation concerns and a weakening US dollar. From a fundamental perspective, silver benefits from two sources of demand: as a precious metal and as an industrial metal. Physical demand from solar panels, electric vehicles, and electronics remains strong,...
Brent oil prices are trending lower today after closing down around 1.5% to around $61 per barrel last night, pressured by market focus on progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks and concerns about fuel demand in the US. Investors believe that if peace is achieved, some of Russia's oil supplies currently held back by sanctions could flow back into the global market, adding to future supply pressure. Data-wise, the EIA report showed a significant increase in US gasoline and distillate stocks, indicating subdued fuel demand and putting pressure on refinery margins. At the same time, the Fed...
Gold prices are holding steady today after rising for three consecutive days, supported by expectations of further monetary easing in the United States. Bullion is trading slightly around $4,280 per ounce, after gaining 1.2% in the previous session. The Fed recently cut interest rates and opened up the possibility of additional cuts next year, while the swaps market is even betting on two cuts by 2026, although the central bank has only signaled one. This low interest rate environment is a significant factor in reviving interest in the precious metal. The supporting factors for gold don't...
Silver climbed above $61 per ounce, extending a record rally as markets digested the Fed's 25 basis point cut and parsed Chair Powell's remarks which markets read as relatively dovish even as committee guidance remained cautious. The cut itself was largely priced in, but Powell's comments and a softer dollar lowered the opportunity cost of holding metal. At the same time the physical market has tightened materially which amplifies the policy impulse. ETF inflows and spot buying have surged this year and funds added large tonnes last week, while official and retail demand in Asia and India...
Gold prices surged tonight due to a combination of dovish sentiment from the Fed and market concerns about the future economic outlook. Following the interest rate cut and signals that the Fed is no longer aggressive about raising interest rates, US bond yields tended to fall, lowering the opportunity cost of holding gold. At the same time, the US dollar is less strong than before, making the dollar-denominated precious metal feel cheaper to global buyers. The result: an influx of buying into gold, pushing prices through key psychological levels in the evening session. In addition to...
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil was trading around $57.70 at the time of writing on Thursday, down 1.80% on the day. Crude oil remained under pressure as signs of progress emerged in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a development that reduced the risk premium previously embedded in oil prices. US President Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he had until Christmas to accept a proposal that could end the war, according to the Telegraph. Meanwhile, Zelensky confirmed that he was finalizing a revised peace...
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....