The U.S. dollar fell sharply against major peers on Friday after crucial monthly jobs data showed that American employers hired fewer workers than expected, which affirms weakening labor market conditions and likely guarantees a Federal Reserve interest rate cut. Labor Department data showed that nonfarm payrolls increased by only 22,000 jobs last month, far short of the 75,000 positions estimated by economists polled by Reuters. The dollar fell across the board following the report. It weakened 0.70% to 147.44 against the Japanese yen , but was still on track for the second straight week...
Gold prices were steady in early Asian trading on Wednesday (12/18) as markets awaited the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, with a rate cut widely expected. The future direction of monetary policy remains uncertain, especially given potential inflationary pressures, FlowCommunity's Ruben Ferreira wrote in a note. Upcoming policy decisions from other major central banks such as the Bank of Japan are among the factors that could influence the precious metal's trajectory in the coming months, Ferreira said. Gold typically has an inverse relationship to interest rates, with higher...
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices were trading around $69.70 on Wednesday (12/18). WTI prices moved lower amid fresh concerns about Chinese demand. Investors remained cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision on Wednesday. Disappointing Chinese Retail Sales raised concerns about weakening consumer spending in China, the world's largest oil importer. "The bearish momentum generated by the Chinese data has crushed speculators' hopes of breaking out of the upper two-month range," said Robert Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho...
The bullish momentum behind the Euro evaporated on Tuesday, dragging the pair back below the 1.0500 level as traders prepare for the Federal Reserve's (Fed) final interest rate decision in 2024. European data was relatively light this week, forcing Fiber traders to navigate a slew of US data. The Euro market largely ignored the appearances of several European Central Bank (ECB) officials earlier in the week, and despite December's European PMI figures beating expectations. The pan-EU Services PMI survey figures remained in contraction as concerns over a deepening economic slowdown in Europe...
Gold price dropped to a new weekly low of $2,633 on Tuesday following the release of strong Retail Sales data in the United States. This weighed on investors' expectations of the Federal Reserve (Fed), which is expected to adopt a gradual approach to easing in 2025. At the time of writing, the XAU/USD trades at $2,637, down 0.57%.The Fed has begun its two-day meeting in Washington, DC, and is expected to lower interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) on Wednesday. The markets have already priced in the decision, but participants are looking for the Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) and...
The US Dollar (USD) suffered a setback on Tuesday heading into the US trading session with the US Retail Sales figures taking the spotlight. Coming in at 0.7%, beating the 0.5% estimate for November, the reading was less impressive than the US Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) on Monday. Even a revision to the previous reading to 0.5%, from 0.4% failed to cheer traders and add to their US Dollar positions. Instead, the US Dollar began to pare back some of its gains on the day. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is set to cut its policy interest rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday –...
EUR/USD dipped below the psychological resistance of 1.0500 on Tuesday. The major currency pair remained fragile as the US Dollar (USD) strengthened on expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will take a slightly hawkish stance after cutting its key lending rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.25%-4.50% on Wednesday. According to the CME FedWatch tool, traders have priced in a 25 bps rate cut for Wednesday's policy meeting. The data also showed that the Fed is expected to leave rates unchanged at its January meeting. Analysts at Macquarie said that the Fed's stance could shift "slightly...
The AUD/USD pair fell to a yearly low around 0.6340 during the European session on Tuesday. The Aussie pair weakened as the US Dollar (USD) moved higher amid strong expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) could signal a more gradual policy easing approach at its policy meeting on Wednesday after cutting interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.25%-4.50%. Source: FXStreet
Oil prices fell on Tuesday as Chinese economic data renewed demand concerns, while investors remained cautious ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. Brent crude futures were down 32 cents at $73.59 a barrel by 0949 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 44 cents at $70.27 a barrel. Prices were "weighed down by profit-taking after last week's 6% rally and a batch of disappointing Chinese economic data yesterday," said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore. Prices fell from multi-week highs on Monday on unexpectedly weak consumer spending data from...
Gold (XAU/USD) is extending its decline on Wednesday for a second consecutive day as the US Dollar (USD) and US Treasury yields firm ahead of the release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)...
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....