Former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on members of the BRICS group of nations on Friday, warning the alliance would quickly collapse if it ever becomes a significant economic force. "When I heard about this group from BRICS, six countries, basically, I hit them very, very hard. And if they ever really form in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly," Trump said without specifying which nations he was referring to. The BRICS group currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and has recently expanded to include other nations. In addition to...
Oil futures settled at their lowest in over two months Friday with expectations for a supply surplus next year, strength in the U.S. dollar, and continued worries over demand from China - the world's largest crude importer - prompting prices to post a loss for the week. West Texas Intermediate crude for December delivery fell $1.68, or nearly 2.5%, to settle at $67.02 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices based on the front month contract settled at their lowest since Sept. 10 and logged a weekly fall of 4.8%, according to Dow Jones Market Data. January Brent crude, the...
Gold edged lower mid-afternoon on Friday following five losing sessions as the dollar eased and U.S. October retail sales came in higher-than-expected. Gold for December delivery was last seen down US$2.90 to US$2,570.00 per ounce. The dollar eased off a two-year high early, with the ICE dollar index last seen down 0.07points to 106.6. The rise comes as the U.S. Department of Commerce reported retail sales rose 0.4% in October, matching the September rise but ahead of the consensus estimate for a 0.3% increase. The rise showed the U.S. economy remains solid, with Federal Reserve chair...
The U.S. dollar was set for its biggest weekly gain in over a month on Friday, as markets reassessed expectations of future interest rate cuts and with the view that President-elect Donald Trump's policies could stoke inflation. The dollar has benefited from market expectation that Trump administration policies, including tariffs and tax cuts, could stoke inflation, leaving the Federal Reserve less room to cut interest rates. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said on Thursday the U.S. central bank did not need to rush to lower interest rates, prompting traders to axe their more aggressive bets on...
Oil fell, deepening a weekly loss, on mixed economic and consumption data from China, the lingering impact from a stronger US dollar and concerns that the market will flip to a supply glut next year. Global benchmark Brent dropped below $72 a barrel in London and was down by around 3% this week. The International Energy Agency said on Thursday it expects a surplus next year as demand growth in China slows, while global output swells. The glut will be even bigger if OPEC+ presses on with plans to revive halted production. In China, while figures on Friday showed...
Gold prices (XAU/USD) struggled to gain ground around $2,570 on Friday (11/15) after rebounding from a two-month low in the previous session. The precious metal remained under selling pressure amid a stronger US Dollar (USD) and growing uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's (Fed) move to cut interest rates. Expectations of higher inflation next year due to Donald Trump's policies have led to fewer expected rate cuts, weighing on the yellow metal as higher rates make non-yielding assets such as bullion less attractive. However, rising tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict...
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.
It...
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...
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he plans to send a single letter to over 150 countries outlining the tariff rate they will face, saying, "It's all going to be the same for everyone, for that...