The Federal Reserve is expected to deliver its first interest-rate cut this year at its September 16-17 meeting, as it moves to counter a cooling labor market even as inflation remains above target. The anticipated quarter-point reduction may not satisfy President Donald Trump, who wants a bigger cut and has named his White House economic advisor, Stephen Miran, in time to be on the Fed Board at the September meeting, pending Senate confirmation. Here is a look at Fed officials' comments since their last policy meeting, sorting them under the labels "dove" and "hawk" as shorthand for their...
Gold prices fell for a second straight session on Thursday (July 25), as signs of easing global trade tensions dampened demand for safe-haven assets. Spot gold fell 0.5% to $3,370.69 an ounce, as of 1:45 PM ET (5:45 PM GMT). US gold futures closed 0.7% lower at $3,373.50. Markets are optimistic about a trade deal—first with the US and Japan, and now possibly with the European Union, said Aakash Doshi of State Street Investment Management, adding that strong equities and low volatility have weighed on gold prices. The US and EU are making progress toward a trade deal that could include a...
Oil prices rose on Thursday (July 24), boosted by expectations of Russian gasoline supply cuts and optimism over US trade negotiations that will ease pressure on the global economy, further boosted by a sharper-than-expected decline in US crude inventories. Brent crude futures rose 80 cents, or 1.17%, to $69.31 a barrel at 10:52 a.m. CDT (15:52 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 97 cents, or 1.49%, to $66.22 a barrel. "Russia's willingness to cut gasoline exports is giving the market a boost," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at Price Futures Group. "The market is looking...
Gold fell as the latest US jobs report showed strength in the labor market, reinforcing the view that the Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates for the time being. US unemployment benefit applications fell for a sixth straight week, the longest losing streak since 2022. The dollar and bond yields pushed higher, weighing on bullion. Swap traders slightly trimmed their bets for interest rate cuts, projecting fewer than two cuts this year. Outflows from Chinese exchange-traded funds into gold also weighed on the market, according to Daniel Ghali, senior commodity strategist at TD...
Gold price (XAU/USD) trades almost 0.7% lower around $3,360 during the European trading session on Thursday. The precious metal faces a sharp selling pressure as global trade worries have eased amid hopes that the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) will close a trade agreement before the August 1 tariff deadline. On Wednesday, a report from Financial Times (FT) showed that EU officials have signaled green signal to a trade pact with the US to avert a damaging trade war. Market experts believe the US-Japan deal confirmed on Tuesday increased fears among EU officials that they...
Oil prices rose on Thursday, buoyed by optimism over U.S. trade negotiations that would ease pressure on the global economy and a sharper-than-expected decline in U.S. crude inventories. Brent crude futures had gained 52 cents, or 0.76%, to $69.03 a barrel by 1040 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 60 cents, or 0.9% to $65.85 per barrel. "The U.S. crude inventory draw and the trade efforts are adding some support to prices," said Janiv Shah, an analyst at Rystad. Two European diplomats said on Wednesday that the EU and the United States were moving towards a trade...
President Donald Trump said he would fire Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors if she does not resign her post over mortgage-fraud accusations from a top...
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained its cash rate at 4.1% during its April meeting, holding borrowing costs unchanged after slashing 25 bps in the February meeting, aligning with market...