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 prices rebounded on Friday after falling more than 1% in the previous session, partly as the prospect of an end to the Ukraine war that could bring more Russian energy supplies back to Western markets faded. Brent crude futures were up 54 cents, or 0.77%, at $70.42 a barrel by 1055 GMT, after closing 1.5% lower in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $67.13 a barrel, up 58 cents, or 0.87%, after closing down 1.7% on Thursday. Prices are expected to end the week more or less flat from Friday, when Brent closed at $70.36 and WTI at $67.04. "Brent has...
Gold prices have topped $3,000 an ounce for the first time, driven higher by massive central bank spending, fragile economies around the world and President Donald Trump's efforts to rewrite the rules of global trade by imposing tariffs on strategic allies and rivals. Bullion prices rose as much as 0.4% to $3,001.20 an ounce on Friday. The move through the psychological $3,000 level underscores gold's centuries-long role as a store of value in turbulent times and as a gauge of fear in markets. In the past quarter-century, prices have risen 10-fold, even outperforming the S&P 500, the...
Here's what you need to know on Friday, March 14: The US Dollar (USD) held steady in European morning trading on Friday (3/14), with the USD Index holding in positive territory near 104.00 after posting modest gains for two straight days. The US economic docket will feature the University of Michigan's preliminary Consumer Sentiment Index data for March ahead of the weekend. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced late Thursday that he plans to vote to keep the government open as the chamber prepares to debate a stopgap GOP bill to continue funding the government on Friday. US...
Silver (XAG/USD) prices extended its upward momentum for the fourth straight day, trading around $33.90 per troy ounce during European trading hours on Friday (3/14). The precious metal benefited from rising safe-haven demand amid escalating global trade tensions. Market concerns escalated after US President Donald Trump threatened 200% tariffs on European wine, champagne and other spirits in response to the EU's 50% tariffs on American whiskey. Silver, a non-interest-bearing asset, gained support from rising expectations of a Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate cut following weak US...
Gold hit an all-time high on Friday, boosted by uncertainty over U.S. tariffs, trade tensions and growing expectations of monetary easing by the Federal Reserve. Spot gold fell 0.1% to $2,984.71 an ounce by 0701 GMT. Earlier in the session, safe-haven bullion hit a record high of $2,993.80 and held near the key $3,000 milestone. Bullion is on track for a second straight weekly gain, up 2.5% so far. U.S. gold futures rose 0.2% to $2,997.50. "The market's risk-off stance reflects investors' expectations that trade tensions are likely to worsen before easing, and is turning to safe-haven...
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the US Dollar (USD) against six major currencies, extends its winning streak for a third consecutive day amid improved Treasury yields. The DXY is trading near 104.00 with 2- and 10-year yields on US Treasury bonds standing at 3.96% and 4.29%, respectively, during Asian hours on Friday. The Greenback strengthened after better-than-expected jobless claims and weaker-than-anticipated Producer Price Index (PPI) data released on Thursday. Traders now await the preliminary Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for March, set for release in the North American...
Gold price (XAU/USD) extends its consolidative price move near the all-time peak touched the Asian session on Friday. Positive comments out of the White House and from Canadian officials, along with reports that there will be enough Democratic votes to avoid a US government shutdown, boost investors' confidence. This is evident from a generally positive tone around the equity markets, which, along with some follow-through US Dollar (USD) buying for the third straight day, acts as a headwind for the safe-haven precious metal. However, the growing market acceptance that the Federal Reserve...
Oil prices rebounded on Friday to recover some of their more than 1% losses in the previous session, partly due to diminishing prospects of a quick end to the Ukraine war that could bring back more Russian energy supplies. Brent crude futures rose 46 cents, or 0.7%, to $70.34 a barrel by 0406 GMT after settling 1.5% lower in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $67.03 a barrel, up 48 cents, or 0.7%, after closing down 1.7% on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow supported a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine in principle,...
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....