Renewed tensions between the United States and Russia have resurfaced following an incident involving an oil tanker, sparking market concerns about potential disruptions to global energy supplies. Washington's move, associated with tightening oversight and enforcement of sanctions on Russian oil shipments, is viewed by Moscow as provocative and could worsen relations between the two countries. Russia views these actions as an attempt by the United States to suppress Russian energy exports and strengthen its dominance in the global oil market. Meanwhile, Washington argues that these measures...
Oil remained in the green zone on Tuesday (February 10th), as the market refused to abandon the Middle East risk premium. As of 13:07 GMT (20:07 WIB), Brent rose +0.4% to $69.32/barrel, while WTI rose +0.2% to $64.51/barrel. The primary fuel source remains the same: the Strait of Hormuz. US maritime authorities have issued guidance for US-flagged vessels passing through to stay as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible and to verbally refuse any requests for boarding from Iranian authorities. Although only "guidance," the market interpreted it as a risk signal as Hormuz is a...
Gold held above the psychological $5,000 level at the start of the week, supported by a combination of factors that are "right" for the precious metal : physical demand from China, expectations of lower US interest rates, and a weakening dollar. The main trigger came from weekend data showing the People's Bank of China (PBOC) again adding to its gold reserves. This means China has recorded gold purchases for the 15th consecutive month, indicating that demand remains strong amid fiscal concerns and global economic shutdowns. From the US side, the market is also increasingly betting that the...
Oil prices fell about 1% on Monday as concerns about conflict in the Middle East eased slightly. The market calmed after the US and Iran agreed to resume talks on Tehran's nuclear program, reducing fears of imminent supply disruptions. Brent fell about 67 cents to $67.38 per barrel, while WTI weakened 61 cents to $62.94 per barrel. Market participants believe that as long as the dialogue remains active, the likelihood of sudden supply disruptions is smaller at least temporarily. The talks in Oman were described as "positive" by both sides, although significant differences remain. Most...
Gold prices are still struggling to turn an intraday rebound into a sustained rally. After briefly falling to $4,654 (a four day low) and rebounding, prices were again rejected near $4,900. In the European session on Friday (February 6), spot gold was trading around $4,859 per ounce. Today's gold rally came from a shift in global risk sentiment. As stock markets moved erratically and investors tended to be defensive, capital flows to safe-haven assets returned and gold was the beneficiary. At the same time, signs of weakness in the US labor market maintained market expectations that the Fed...
Oil prices moved slightly higher in a volatile session on Friday, as investors assessed the direction of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran. Price movements appeared sensitive to every headline, reflecting a market that remains "vulnerable to change direction" amid geopolitical tensions. In New York, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded above $63 per barrel. The market briefly rallied after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the negotiations a "good start." However, the euphoria was short-lived, as a Wall Street Journal report indicated that Tehran still...
Asian stock markets fell in unison on Thursday, following Wall Street's decline. A brief rally in tech stocks led by Nvidia quickly faded, prompting investors to turn away from riskier assets like...
European stock indices closed marginally lower on Wednesday as equities took a breather from their recent strong momentum, while investors continued to assess the outlook for the ECB's policy this...
The upcoming Supreme Court ruling on the legality of President Donald Trump's massive tariffs, which rocked markets in April, is one of the next major tests for US stocks and bonds.
Equity markets...