Oil prices rose slightly in trading on Tuesday (January 20) after better-than-expected Chinese economic data boosted demand optimism. Brent crude rose 19 cents (0.3%) to $64.13/barrel, while February WTI which expires today rose 25 cents (0.4%) to $59.69/barrel. The more active March WTI contract also edged higher to around $59.42/barrel. This strengthening was driven by news from China, the world's largest oil importer. The Chinese economy reportedly grew 5.0% through 2025, meeting the government's target. Refinery activity also increased, with refinery throughput rising 4.1% and crude oil...
Silver rose and remained near its record high on Friday (December 12). This increase was supported by a combination of a weakening US dollar and market expectations that US interest rates could still fall further, coupled with growing industrial demand (especially in the technology/energy sectors) and tighter inventories—especially after silver was added to the US critical minerals list, which further strengthened the "tight supply" narrative. Going forward, silver's movement is typically sensitive to the USD and yields. If the dollar suddenly rebounds sharply, silver could resist (or lead...
Gold rose and held near its latest high on Friday (December 12th). The main driving force came from market expectations that the Fed could continue to cut interest rates next year (despite its more cautious projections), coupled with a weakening US dollar—a combination that typically makes gold more attractive as real yields tend to fall. Looking ahead, market attention is on the direction of the USD and US Treasury yields, the upcoming employment/inflation data, and geopolitical risk-off factors—if the USD rebounds sharply, gold could be temporarily held back. However, if the market...
Silver prices (XAG/USD) continued to strengthen and approached the $63.75 area during the Asian session on Friday (December 12), with the potential to retest their all-time high. This increase was supported by a weakening US dollar, positive sentiment in the commodity market, and silver's new status as a US essential mineral, attracting additional buying interest from market participants. Fundamentally, silver's prospects are supported by continued rising industrial demand, particularly from solar energy (PV), electric vehicles (EVs), supporting infrastructure, data centers, and artificial...
Gold prices remained around $4,270 per ounce on Friday, near a seven-week high and potentially posting another weekly gain. This positive sentiment stems from expectations that the Fed will continue to loosen monetary policy. The US labor market is starting to show signs of weakening, as evidenced by higher-than-expected jobless claims for the week of December 6, which reached their highest level in more than two months. This has made market participants increasingly confident that the Fed could cut interest rates twice in 2026, although official projections only suggest one. At the same...
Silver prices are currently rising on Thursday (December 11th) amid market expectations that the global interest rate easing trend will continue. The Fed's dovish interest rate cut has lowered yields on interest-bearing assets, making precious metals a popular investment destination. Fundamentally, silver benefits not only as a safe haven but also as an industrial metal, whose demand is closely linked to the green energy and technology sectors, such as solar panels, electric vehicles, and electronic devices. Optimism that interest rate cuts can support economic activity and investment in...