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 hovered around 103.7 on Monday, hovering close to five-month lows as trade uncertainties and mounting economic concerns in the US weighed on the currency. Data released on Friday showed that US consumer confidence dropped to an over two-year low in March and inflation expectations soared as President Donald Trump's escalating tariffs stoked economic concerns. Investors now await US retail sales data on Monday to gain insight on consumption trends. Markets also looked ahead to the latest Federal Reserve policy decision on Wednesday, where it is widely expected to hold...
The Australian Dollar (AUD) remains steady against the US Dollar (USD) following the release of China's economic data on Monday. Additionally, the AUD/USD pair gained ground as the US Dollar (USD) edges lower ahead of Retail Sales data release later in the North American session. China's retail sales grew by 4% year-over-year in January-February, improving from December's 3.7% increase. Meanwhile, industrial production rose 5.9% YoY during the same period, exceeding the 5.3% forecast but slightly lower than the previous reading of 6.2%. The AUD could gain ground as China unveiled a special...
Gold edges higher in the early Asian session, underpinned by ongoing global trade tensions. "Tariff concerns that risk higher inflation and slower economic growth are spurring demand for safe-haven assets like gold," ING's Ewa Manthey says in a research report. "We see uncertainty over trade and tariffs continuing to buoy gold prices - and if trade tensions intensify and we see more retaliatory measures, safe-haven demand for gold will continue," the commodities strategist adds. Spot gold is 0.2% higher at $2,989.79/oz. Source: Marketwatch
Oil rose for a second day after China, the world's biggest importer, said it would take steps to revive consumption by boosting incomes. Brent crude climbed above $71 a barrel after advancing 1% on Friday, with West Texas Intermediate near $68. Beijing will also give details on policies to stabilize stock and real estate markets, lift wages and boost the nation's birth rate, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. Crude has fallen more than 10% from this year's high in January, as US President Donald Trump's escalating trade war, an OPEC+ decision to increase supply...
The Pound Sterling (GBP) registers back-to-back bearish days, dropping some 0.14% on Friday against the Greenback after economic data from the United Kingdom (UK) revealed that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted. Despite this, GBP/USD is trading above the 1.2900 figure, poised to finish the day near this level.GBP/USD pressured after UK GDP miss while rising US inflation expectations complicate Fed's next moveRecently, data from the University of Michigan (UoM) showed that Consumer Sentiment in March deteriorated, from 64.7 to 57.9, below forecast of 63.1. Notably, inflation...
Oil prices rebounded by 1% on Friday to end the week nearly unchanged as investors weighed the diminishing prospects of a quick end to the Ukraine war that could bring back more Russian energy supplies to Western markets. Brent crude futures settled 70 cents, or 1%, higher at $70.58 a barrel, after falling 1.5% in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) (CLc1) closed at $67.18 a barrel, up 63 cents, or 1%, after losing 1.7% on Thursday. Both benchmarks ended the week little changed from last Friday, when Brent settled at $70.36 and WTI at $67.04. "Brent oil has...
Gold broke through the key $3,000 barrier on Friday for the first time as investors piled on to a historic rally in the safe-haven asset to seek cover from economic uncertainty sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war. Spot gold hit an all-time high of $3,004.86 earlier in the session, before easing 0.1% to $2,986.26 as of 02:01 p.m. ET (1801 GMT) on profit taking. U.S. gold futures settled 0.3% higher at $3,001.10. Gold's surge past the $3,000 milestone was driven by "beleaguered investors seeking the ultimate safe-haven asset given Trump's tumult on stock markets," said Tai...
Gold (XAU/USD) prices had earlier hit an all-time high of $3,004, before falling back below $3,000, still posting a weekly gain of over 2.5% for now at the time of writing on Friday (3/14). The inflow and additional demand for Bullion came after US President Donald Trump retaliated against European tariffs, saying he would impose a 200% tariff on wine and champagne from the region. This has spooked market participants into believing that all bets are off and that US President Trump will not back down or ease his stance on tariffs, raising more concerns about growth and demand for riskier...
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....