EUR/USD rallies to near the psychological resistance of 1.0500 on Friday as the Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB) reported that the Eurozone preliminary Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) grew in January after shrinking in the last two months. Flash HCOB PMI report, compiled by S&P Global, showed that overall business activity expanded. The Composite PMI rose to 50.2 from 49.6 in November. Economists expected the PMI to continue to decline but at a slower pace to 49.7.The kick-off to the new year is mildly encouraging. The private sector is back in cautious growth mode after two...
Oil prices settled slightly higher on Friday but posted a weekly decline, ending four straight weeks of gains, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping plans to boost domestic production while demanding that OPEC move to lower crude prices. Brent crude futures settled up 21 cents, or 0.27%, to $78.50 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled up 4 cents, or 0.05%, to $74.66. Brent has lost 2.8% this week while WTI was down 4.1%. Trump on Friday reiterated his call for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut oil prices to hurt oil-rich...
AUD/USD attracted buyers on Friday after President Trump suggested a trade agreement with China remains within reach, reinforcing a risk-on mood. The pair advances to 0.6315, heading for its first weekly gain in three weeks. Meanwhile, renewed speculation regarding additional Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts in 2025 continues to undermine the US Dollar, providing an added lift to the Aussie.The Greenback falls to a one-month trough as markets price in the prospect of further Fed easing by year-end. In addition, President Trump's statements about immediate interest rate cuts contribute to the...
The dollar fell on Friday and was on track for its worst week in more than a year on expectations that tariffs enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump will be lower than previously feared and unlikely to spur an international trade war. The prospect of high tariffs on goods from countries including China, Canada, Mexico and the euro zone have raised concerns about a renewed bout of inflation, which has helped to send Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar higher in recent months. But that move partially reversed this week as traders bet that tariffs may not be as large or as widespread as...