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...
The Australian dollar (AUD) remained under selling pressure on Thursday. Disappointing Australian economic data and rising expectations of an early interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) dragged the Aussie lower. Additionally, concerns about potential import tariffs from President-elect Donald Trump may have contributed to the AUD's decline. Traders will be eyeing the US Initial Jobless Claims and the weekly Goods Trade Balance on Thursday for fresh impetus. Any sign of weaker US labor market data could undermine the greenback and help limit losses for the pair. On...
Gold price advances during Wednesday's North American session, sponsored by mixed US economic data. Nevertheless, the non-yielding metal remained slightly subdued as Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell crossed the wires. The XAU/USD trades at $2,652, up 0.35%. Powell said the US economy is in good shape, adding that September's rate cut was a message to support the labor market. He said that despite showing progress, it's premature to declare victory on inflation, and the US central bank could be cautious in setting monetary policy. Recently, inflation has proved to be stickier than...
Oil steadied after a decline, with traders looking ahead to an OPEC+ meeting on Thursday that's expected to see the cartel again defer a move revive shuttered capacity in an already well-supplied market. West Texas Intermediate traded near $69 a barrel after sliding by 2% on Wednesday, with Brent crude closing above $72. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are edging closer to agreeing to push back an increase in supply to stave off a glut in 2025. US data on Wednesday painted a mixed picture. While commercial stockpiles shrank by more...
U.S. oil futures finished lower Wednesday as pressure from uncertainty a day ahead of a decision by major oil producers on output levels outweighed support from weekly U.S. data showing a crude inventory drop of more than 5 million barrels. Investors also weighed news of deepening U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports. West Texas Intermediate crude for January delivery fell $1.40, or 2%, to settle at $68.54 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after gaining 2.7% on Tuesday. February Brent crude, the global benchmark, lost $1.31, or 1.8%, at $72.31 a barrel on ICE Futures...
Gold edged higher on Wednesday after data showed U.S. private payrolls rose at a moderate pace last month, while investors digested remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and looked forward to Friday's non-farm payrolls report. Spot gold was up 0.4% at $2,654.03 an ounce by 02:15 p.m. ET (1915 GMT). U.S. gold futures settled 0.3% higher at $2,676.20. Private payrolls rose by 146,000 last month, the ADP report showed. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast private employment increasing by 150,000 positions. Powell said the recent performance of the economy will allow the U.S....
Gold prices rise in late afternoon trade in Europe after the latest U.S. job data showed private payrolls growth was less than expected in November, reflecting a slowing labor market. The yellow metal's futures trade 0.4% higher at $2,679.50 a troy ounce, while the U.S. dollar slightly retreated against a basket of other major currencies. The U.S. private sector added 146,000 jobs last month--down from a revised 184,000 a month prior and against expectations of 163,000--possibly strengthening the case for a December rate cut. The report comes ahead of Fed Chair Jerome Powell's remarks later...
The dollar index hovered around 106.6 on Wednesday, its highest level in a week, as market participants awaited further clues on the Fed's plans for its December meeting. Attention will now turn to a speech by Chairman Jerome Powell in New York later in the day, with odds of a 25bps Fed rate cut now hovering around 74%. Also, the ADP report showed the U.S. private sector added 146,000 jobs last month, a strong reading and slightly below market expectations of 150,000. The highly anticipated jobs report is due on Friday. The U.S. dollar gained the most against the yen and the Australian...
Gold prices were steady as market participants weighed political turmoil in South Korea and France, which has boosted demand for safe-haven assets. Bullion was little changed near $2,635 an ounce on Wednesday, after rising 0.2% in the previous session. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol made a surprise declaration of martial law late Tuesday, before revoking the decision hours later. Opposition parties have since filed a motion calling for his impeachment. Also in France, President Emmanuel Macron called on lawmakers to reject a vote that would overthrow the government. The precious...
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....