Crude oil prices strengthened towards the end of the year, supported by hopes of better demand from China and a commodity rally that helped lift market sentiment. Brent has returned above $61 per barrel, while WTI is hovering around $57 per barrel. This increase comes after China signaled continued support for growth next year. In a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Finance on Sunday, Beijing said it would expand its fiscal spending base in 2026, indicating the government remains ready to stimulate the economy through stimulus and spending. On the geopolitical front, oil prices...
Silver broke through $77 for the first time on Friday (December 26th), while gold and platinum hit record highs, driven by expectations of a US Federal Reserve interest rate cut and geopolitical tensions fueling demand for safe-haven assets. Spot silver jumped 7.5% to $77.30 an ounce, as of 1:53 PM ET (1853 GMT), after hitting an all-time high of $77.53 earlier today, marking a 167% year-to-date surge driven by supply deficits, its designation as a US essential mineral, and strong investment inflows. Spot gold rose 1.2% to $4,531.41 an ounce, after hitting a record high of $4,549.71...
Oil prices fell more than 2% on Friday (December 26th) as investors weighed the threat of a global oversupply, while also keeping an eye on a potential Ukraine peace deal ahead of talks later this week between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump. Brent crude futures fell $1.60, or 2.57%, to $60.64 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.61, or 2.76%, to $56.74. Although supply disruptions have helped oil prices recover in recent sessions from a nearly five-year low hit on December 16th, they are on track for their sharpest annual...
Gold, silver, and platinum surged to all-time highs, extending a historic year-end rally for precious metals, supported by rising geopolitical tensions, a weaker U.S. dollar, and thin market liquidity. Spot gold prices rose as much as 1.2% to a peak above $4,530 an ounce on Friday. Spot silver for immediate delivery rose for the fifth consecutive session, climbing as much as 5% to surpass $75 an ounce. Tensions in Venezuela, where the U.S. has blocked oil tankers and increased pressure on the government of Nicolás Maduro, have added to the appeal of precious metals as a safe-haven asset....