Gold prices weakened in early December, dragged down by investor caution ahead of the Federal Reserve's looming interest rate decision. Amid speculation that the Fed was ready to cut rates again this month, market participants opted to hold back, keeping gold's movements limited. Pressure from the mixed US dollar also prevented gold from posting significant gains. Despite showing some strength in the previous month, gold is now moving defensively due to ongoing global uncertainty. US economic data released in the next few days—including inflation, consumer spending, and signs of a weakening...
The Australian Dollar (AUD) came under pressure against the US Dollar (USD) on Monday (11/18). However, the decline in the AUD/USD pair could be limited due to aggressive comments from Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock on Thursday. Bullock emphasized that interest rates are currently quite tight and will not change until the central bank is confident about the inflation outlook. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Australian government bond eased slightly to around 4.66%, down from a one-year high. Recent data showed a slowdown in employment growth in October, while...
Oil prices edged up on Monday after fighting between Russia and Ukraine intensified over the weekend, although concerns about fuel demand in China, the world's second-largest consumer, and forecasts of a global oil surplus weighed on markets. Brent crude futures gained 29 cents, or 0.4%, to $71.33 a barrel by 0502 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $67.20 a barrel, up 18 cents, or 0.3%. Russia unleashed its largest air strike on Ukraine in almost three months on Sunday, causing severe damage to Ukraine's power system. In a significant reversal of Washington's...
Gold rose near $2,600 per ounce on Monday, rebounding from its biggest weekly drop since 2021, as the rally in the US dollar paused. Latest data in the US showed retail sales rose more than expected in October, underscoring the economy's resilience. Comments from some Federal Reserve officials last week also added uncertainty regarding the timing and extent of potential rate cuts. Still, markets are currently pricing in around 65% chance of a 25bps rate cut in December. Investors are now focused on upcoming remarks from other Fed policymakers this week, seeking clearer guidance on the...
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. Ueda did not signal a December interest rate hike, which seemed to disappoint investors and weighed on the JPY. Moreover, a generally positive risk tone was seen as another factor that dented demand for the JPY as a safe-haven. However, speculations that the Japanese authorities might intervene in the forex market to support the domestic currency kept JPY bears from placing aggressive bets. This,...
The Australian dollar (AUD) extended its gains for the second straight session on Monday, supported by hawkish comments from Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Michele Bullock on Thursday. Bullock stressed that interest rates are currently tight enough and will remain unchanged until the central bank is confident about the inflation outlook. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Australian government bond eased slightly to around 4.66%, down from a one-year high. Recent data showed a slowdown in employment growth in October, while the unemployment rate remained stable, highlighting the...
Oil held a weekly decline on concerns over plentiful supply and the outlook for demand in China, the world's biggest crude importer. Brent crude traded below $71 a barrel after falling 3.8% last week, while West Texas Intermediate was near $67. The prospect of a supply glut next year and a stronger dollar has weighed on prices, while monthly figures showed another drop in apparent oil demand in China during October. Oil has swung between gains and losses since mid-October, with hostilities in the Middle East at times raising fears of an escalation and potential disruption to...
Gold rises in the early Asian trade in a likely technical recovery. Gold ended Friday's trading with largest weekly price drop since the Covid lockdown in March 2020. Recently, Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized there's no hurry to cut rates, pointing to U.S. economy's "notable" performance, says Pepperstone's Quasar Elizundia in an email. The shift in Fed rate-cut expectations and U.S. dollar strength have pressured the precious metal, the research strategist adds. Spot gold is 0.4% higher at $2,572.17/oz. Source: Marketwatch
Oil futures settled at their lowest in over two months Friday with expectations for a supply surplus next year, strength in the U.S. dollar, and continued worries over demand from China - the world's largest crude importer - prompting prices to post a loss for the week. West Texas Intermediate crude for December delivery fell $1.68, or nearly 2.5%, to settle at $67.02 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices based on the front month contract settled at their lowest since Sept. 10 and logged a weekly fall of 4.8%, according to Dow Jones Market Data. January Brent crude, the...
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....