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 (DXY), which measures the US Dollar (USD) against a basket of six major currencies, is remaining below 99.50 during the early European hours on Friday. The Greenback remains subdued amid growing concerns over the economic impact of tariffs on the United States (US). Market participants are closely monitoring developments in US trade negotiations, although trading activity is expected to be subdued due to the Good Friday holiday. However, the US Dollar gained some support after hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who cautioned that a sluggish...
USD/CHF edged lower during Asian trading hours on Friday (4/18), hovering around 0.8180, after posting gains in the previous session. The currency pair came under pressure as the US dollar weakened amid growing concerns over the economic impact of US tariffs. Market activity remained subdued due to the Good Friday holiday. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned that persistent inflation coupled with a slowing economy could jeopardize the Fed's dual mandate, raising the specter of stagflation. Sentiment was further dented after former President Trump criticized Powell's recent...
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude benchmark, was trading around $63.50 during the Asian session on Friday (4/18). WTI prices rose to a two-week high amid hopes for a trade deal between the United States and the European Union and new US sanctions on Iran. Trading volumes are likely to be light on Good Friday. US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Washington, signaling hopes for a resolution to the trade dispute that has strained US-European relations. "We're not going to have much trouble making a deal with Europe or anybody else, because we...
Gold prices (XAU/USD) held steady on Friday (4/18) after falling from an all-time high of $3,358 as investors booked profits during the long Easter holiday. Significant uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports into the US and ongoing geopolitical tensions could support gold prices, which are known as safe-haven assets. On the other hand, Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell was hawkish, reducing the chances of a Fed rate cut in June. This, in turn, could lift the Greenback and weigh on USD-denominated commodity prices. Powell said that a weak economy and high...
The EUR/USD pair attracted some buyers near 1.1370 during the early Asian session on Friday (4/18). Concerns over the economic impact of tariffs continued to drag the US Dollar (USD) lower against the Euro (EUR). Traders will be closely monitoring developments surrounding the US trade talks. Trading volumes are likely to be thin on Good Friday. The European Central Bank (ECB) cut interest rates for the third time this year on Thursday, bringing its main rate to 2.25% in response to slowing growth and US President Donald Trump's tariffs. ECB President Christine Lagarde said during a press...
Oil prices settled more than 3% higher on Thursday, supported by hopes for a trade deal between the United States and the European Union and new U.S. sanctions to curb Iranian oil exports, which continued to elevate supply concerns. Brent crude futures settled $2.11, or 3.2%, higher to $67.96 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $2.21, or 3.54%, at $64.68 a barrel. For the week, both Brent and WTI gained about 5%, their first weekly gain in three weeks. Thursday is the last settlement day of the week ahead of the Easter holidays and trade volumes are expected to be...
Gold eased off a record high mid-afternoon on Thursday but stayed above the US$3,300 mark as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats continue to support safe-haven demand. Gold for June delivery was last seen down US$18.10 to US$3,328.30 per ounce after closing at a record US$3,346.40 on Wednesday. The price of the metal has climbed 26% since the start of the year as the U.S. tariff battles threaten to slow global growth while roiling global trade flows, sending investors to gold as a store of value. The World Trade Organization on Wednesday lowered its forecast for 2025 global trade...
Gold prices eased on Thursday after a sharp rise in the previous session as investors booked profits ahead of a long weekend, although softer dollar and escalating U.S.-China trade tensions kept bullion above the $3,300 per ounce level. Spot gold slipped 0.5% to $3,326.51 an ounce as of 08:58 a.m. ET (1258 GMT), after touching a record high of $3,357.40 earlier in the session. Bullion has gained nearly 3% this week. U.S. gold futures were down 0.2% at $3,339.90. "Gold may have a short-term pullback given its spectacular surge this week and ahead of a rare long weekend in the markets,"...
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....