The ISM Manufacturing PMI fell to 48 in July 2025 from 49 in June, missing expectations of a rise to 49.5. This figure marked the fifth consecutive month of contraction in the manufacturing sector and was the weakest since October of last year. The largest negative contributions came from declines in supplier deliveries (45.7 vs. 46.7) and employment (43.4 vs. 45.0). On the positive side, production increased (51.4 vs. 50.3), while declines in new orders (47.1 vs. 46.4) and backlogs (46.8 vs. 44.3) eased. Price pressures also eased, with the price index falling to 64.8 from 69.7. Source:...
Gold rose near $2,870 an ounce on Friday, hitting a record high and heading for a sixth straight weekly gain. The precious metal has repeatedly set new records this week, boosted by accelerating central bank buying and rising safe-haven demand amid global trade tensions and economic uncertainty. President Trump followed through on plans to impose a 10% levy on all Chinese imports, prompting Beijing to announce retaliatory tariffs on U.S. energy goods, set to take effect next week. Adding to the uncertainty, Trump also suggested the U.S. could take over the Gaza Strip for...
Gold edges higher in early Asian trade. Tariff fears continue to push gold to all-time highs, with an estimated 7% boost to prices coming from trade tensions, the Goldman Sachs commodities research team writes in a note. There could be modest downside to prices if tariff risks fade and investor positioning normalizes, they say. But sustained central bank buying and falling Fed funds rates will continue to support prices, which could hit $3,000/oz by 2Q 2026, they add. Spot gold is 0.1% higher at $2,859.45/oz. Source : Dow Jones Newswires
Oil headed for a third weekly decline as worries that President Donald Trump's tariffs on China will sap demand outweighed the new US administration's first round of sanctions against Iran. West Texas Intermediate was steady near $71 a barrel, and is down almost 3% this week, while Brent crude closed above $74. Trump has slapped levies on all imports from China, with the world's biggest oil importer countering with its own more restrained measures, which will come into force on Monday. The trade war — and the potential for it to spread — has stoked concerns that it will...
The next SNB policy meeting is not scheduled until March 20, Rabobank's FX analyst Jane Foley notes."A lot can happen in six weeks, but at this point it seems fairly likely that the central bank will announce another cut in rates. This would follow the jumbo 50 bps move at the last meeting in December. The SNB only meets once a quarter. This alone increases the chances of a move next month."Arguably, it also raises the chances that policymakers could decide on another jumbo move since the next policy meeting will not be until June. That said, the SNB's policy rate is already at 0.50%. Given...
The US Dollar Index holds below 108.00 as mixed economic indicators raise concerns ahead of Friday's employment report.ADP reports a stronger-than-expected increase in private sector employment for January, while Initial Jobless Claims also rise.Investors anticipate the upcoming Nonfarm Payrolls data to gauge the Federal Reserve's future monetary policy decisionsThe US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar (USD) against a basket of currencies, struggles to hold its recent gains, trading below 108.00 on Thursday. Mixed United States (US) economic data fuels uncertainty...
China's official NBS Manufacturing PMI increased to 49.7 in June 2025 from May's 49.5, matching market expectations while marking the third consecutive month of contraction in factory activity.
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Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered around the flatline on Friday, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of further developments in trade talks between US President Trump and Chinese...
The U.S. will levy a 30% tariff on South African exports next week, after Pretoria failed to reach a trade deal before President Donald Trump's deadline. The new rate is part of a broader executive...