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 continued to fall in on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine and as markets braced for U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China to take effect. Brent futures fell 54 cents, or 0.75%, to $71.08 a barrel by 0149 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 36 cents, or 0.53%, to $68.01. The pause to all U.S. military aid to Ukraine confirmed by a White House official on Monday followed Trump's Oval Office clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week. The market has viewed the growing distance between the White House...
USD/CHF remains under pressure for the second consecutive day, hovering around 0.8960 during Tuesday's Asian session. The pair may decline further as the safe-haven Swiss Franc (CHF) strengthens amid escalating risk-off sentiment driven by growing concerns over a global tariff war. On Monday, the White House confirmed that President Trump signed an order raising tariffs on Chinese imports to 20%, while similar measures for Mexico and Canada are still pending. Trump also reiterated that reciprocal tariffs will take effect on April 2 for countries imposing duties on US goods. In response,...
Gold steadied around $2,880 per ounce on Tuesday, with investors assessing the economic outlook as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to impose tariffs on key trade partners. On Monday, Trump confirmed that 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada would start later today, along with a doubling of China levies to 20%.He also reiterated that reciprocal tariffs would take effect on April 2 on countries that impose duties on U.S. products. These reignited fears of a global trade war that already showed signs of rising inflation and slowing economic growth — both of which support gold's...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) attracts some follow-through buying for the second straight day on Tuesday and moves back closer to a multi-month peak touched against its American counterpart last week. The hawkish sentiment surrounding the Bank of Japan's (BoJ) policy outlook continues to underpin the JPY. Moreover, concerns about the potential economic fallout from US President Donald Trump's tariff policies temper investors' appetite for riskier assets and further benefit the safe-haven JPY. Adding to this, Trump's threat to Japan over currency depreciation, along with subdued US Dollar (USD)...
The dollar index remained around 106.5 on Tuesday, after losing nearly 1% in the previous session, pressured by a strengthening euro and sterling amid growing hopes for a Ukraine peace deal. European leaders, led by the UK and France, pledged increased fiscal spending and announced plans to present a Ukraine peace proposal to the US. Concerns about the US economy and expectations of further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve also weighed on the dollar. The latest ISM report showed that US manufacturing slowed more than expected in February, driven by easing demand, slower production,...
EUR/USD continues its upward momentum for the second consecutive session, trading around 1.0490 during Asian hours on Tuesday. The Euro (EUR) is benefiting from improved market sentiment as hopes for a potential Ukraine peace deal reduce demand for safe-haven assets. European leaders, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have agreed to draft a structured peace plan to be presented to the United States (US), bolstering risk appetite. According to Bloomberg, citing a defense official on Monday, the United States has halted all ongoing military...
The Australian Dollar (AUD) retreats against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday, giving up recent gains. The AUD/USD pair remains under pressure following the release of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Meeting Minutes and Retail Sales data. The RBA's February Meeting Minutes highlighted downside risks to the economy. While the Board acknowledged the labor market's strength as a key reason to maintain rates, it noted that the current tightness was inconsistent with a 2.5% inflation target. Ultimately, the Board saw a stronger case for cutting rates. Australia's Retail Sales, a key...
WTI crude oil futures fell toward $68 per barrel on Tuesday, hovering near a three-month low after OPEC+ signaled plans to revive halted production amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to lower prices. OPEC and its allies said it will proceed with unwinding 2.2 million barrels per day in output cuts starting April 1, following repeated delays. Crude prices also retreated amid concerns that U.S. tariffs could hurt global growth and reduce energy demand. Trump confirmed on Monday that 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada will take effect later today, alongside a second round...
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....