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...
Gold (XAU/USD) started the week on a relatively positive note, with the US dollar (USD) weighed down by a slight decline in US Treasury yields and weaker-than-expected US manufacturing figures. However, the precious metal remains close to recent lows after a 2.5% sell-off late last week. US Treasury yields fell on Monday after a sharp rally last week, taking some of the recent bullish pressure off the US dollar. Investors appear cautious about placing directional US dollar bets as they prepare for the all-important Federal Reserve (Fed) monetary policy decision on Wednesday. The market is...
Crude Oil is testing vital support around $70.00, after selling pressure emerged on the back of Chinese Retail Sales data for November which dampened hopes for a speedy recovery in the region. The 3% growth was far below consensus and the situation is set to deteriorate further as tanker rates on key routes to China are falling to the lowest level this year, pointing to even more sluggish demand ahead. Source: FXStreet
Silver Prices (XAG/USD) are trading in a mild positive bias on Monday, trimming some losses after the rejection from levels above $32.00 last week. A mild retreat in US Treasury yields is supporting precious metals on Monday but the overall picture shows the pair vulnerable. The daily chart reveals a sharp reversal pattern last week, which triggered a more than 4% sell-off in the last half of the week. Upside attempts are looking feeble so far, with previous support at $30.85 likely to challenge bulls. Source: Fxstreet
EUR/USD surrendered intraday gains and returned below the psychological 1.0500 level in the European session on Monday as a large number of European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers, including President Christine Lagarde, have supported further policy easing and a gradual move towards the neutral interest rate, which they expect to be around 2%. "Will cut interest rates further if incoming data confirm that disinflation is on track," Lagarde said at the Annual Economic Conference in the European session on Monday. Lagarde's dovish remarks on the policy outlook were supported by the...
Gold edged higher ahead of the Federal Reserve's final interest rate decision of the year, with traders also weighing the outlook for 2025 policy. The bullion's gains followed a 2.6% decline in the previous two sessions on the back of mixed U.S. data last week — including rising wholesale inflation and higher-than-expected jobless claims. The Fed is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points at its meeting on Wednesday, and swaps traders are pricing in a total of three quarter-point cuts over the next 12 months. Lower interest rates are usually positive for gold, since it doesn't pay...
The dollar hovered close to a three-week peak versus major peers on Monday, ahead of a week of central bank meetings in which markets expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates but signal a measured pace of easing for 2025 Bitcoin soared above $105,000 for the first time, buoyed by signs President-elect Donald Trump will go ahead with a potential strategic bitcoin reserve. The euro was up 0.13% on the day at $1.0517, after dipping to $1.0453 at the end of last week, its weakest since Nov. 26, hampered by ratings agency Moody's (NYSE:MCO) unexpectedly downgrading France on...
Oil futures eased from multi-week highs as traders took profits while awaiting the Federal Reserve meeting later this week for clues on further interest rate cuts. However, the declines were capped by concerns about supply disruptions if further U.S. sanctions on key suppliers Russia and Iran are imposed. Brent crude futures were down 29 cents, or 0.4%, at $74.20 a barrel by 0746 GMT after hitting their highest since Nov. 22 on Friday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 36 cents, or 0.5%, at $70.93 a barrel after hitting their highest close since Nov. 7 in the previous...
Gold (XAU/USD) prices staged a modest recovery from one-week troughs touched on Monday (16/12), albeit lacked any follow-through buying and currently trades around the $2,655 region. A modest pullback in the US Treasury bond yields kept the US Dollar (USD) investors on the defensive and offered some support to the commodity. Additionally, persistent geopolitical risks and concerns about US President-elect Donald Trump's policies kept the safe-haven precious metal underpinned. That said, growing acceptance that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will slow the pace of its interest rate-cutting cycle,...
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....