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...
Oil extended a volatile run as investors assessed abrupt shifts in US trade policy, with futures returning to losses following a relief rally on Wednesday. Brent fell near $64 a barrel after a choppy session that saw prices hit a four-year low before ultimately posting the biggest one-day gain since October. With markets in turmoil, President Donald Trump announced a 90-day halt on higher tariffs against dozens of nations, but he also raised duties on China to 125%. "With a lot of uncertainty still existing, the prospect for a major rebound in crude is not...
Gold price (XAU/USD) is printing a stellar return on Thursday, moving around $3,120 at the time of writing. Since Tuesday morning, the precious metal has rallied nearly 5.00%. The main driver for the rally came from United States (US) President Donald Trump, who announced a 90-day pause to higher tariffs on 56 countries and the European Union, which will now be taxed at the 10% baseline rate. Trump also hiked levies on China to 125%, effective immediately, after the Asian country announced plans to retaliate with an 84% tariff on all US imports to take effect on Thursday. Those moves are...
The US dollar index dropped over 1% to 101.5 on Thursday, hitting a six-month low as softer inflation data and easing trade tensions weighed on the currency. Core CPI rose just 2.8% year-on-year — the slowest pace since March 2021 — easing fears that the ongoing tariff battle will severely harm the US economy. This came alongside President Trump's decision to suspend higher tariffs on most US trade partners for 90 days, though China still faces a steep 125% rate. The US continues to apply a 10% baseline tariff broadly, with exemptions for key sectors like semiconductors, pharma, and...
Brent crude oil futures dropped over 2% to below $64 per barrel on Thursday, after a 4.2% gain in the previous session, as escalated trade tensions between the US and China reignited demand concerns. President Trump increased tariffs on China to 125%, just a day after a 104% hike took effect. While he paused new tariffs on other countries for 90 days, the sharp escalation with China, the world's top oil importer, sparked worries about weaker fuel demand. China raised its tariffs on US goods to 84% and is expected to unveil stimulus measures to support sectors like housing and consumption....
Gold futures rise, benefiting from market uncertainty. Futures are up 1.6% at $3,127.20 a troy ounce, nearing its all-time record of $3,201.60 an ounce, set in early April. The precious metal was sharply sold off as investors liquidated positions to cover losses elsewhere after President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff announcements, but has since mounted a strong rally on the ensuing uncertainty. Trump hiked Chinese tariffs to 125% on Wednesday and announced a 90-day suspension of the so-called reciprocal tariffs for other countries, adding to the confusion and further boosting safe-haven...
The US Dollar Index (DXY), an index of the value of the US Dollar (USD) measured against a basket of six world currencies, trades in negative territory for the third consecutive day near 102.70, down 0.28% on the day. Investors will keep an eye on the US March Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation and weekly Initial Jobless Claims reports, which are due later on Thursday. The Greenback edges lower after US President Donald Trump ramped up his trade war against China while temporarily pausing tariffs on many other countries for 90 days. "It seems likely that the U.S. President blinked...
Silver prices rose above $31 per ounce on Thursday, extending gains for a second session as commodities rebounded after Trump's reversal on his reciprocal tariff policy. Trump dropped new tariff rates on imports from most US trade partners to 10% for 90 days to allow for trade negotiations. However, top consumer China remains subject to a steep 125% tariff amid continued tit-for-tat escalations between Washington and Beijing—maintaining a level of geopolitical and economic uncertainty that continues to support safe-haven demand. Meanwhile, minutes from the latest FOMC meeting revealed that...
USD/CHF pair loses ground to near 0.8530 during the early European session on Thursday. The US Dollar (USD) weakens against the Swiss Franc (CHF) amid the escalating trade tension between the US and China, the world's two largest economies. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on many new tariffs on trading partners to 10% to allow trade negotiations with those countries. However, US-China trade relations have reached a crisis level, with Trump raising tariffs to 125% on Chinese imports on Thursday, up from the 104% implemented just a day earlier. Escalating trade war between...
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....