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 prices have rallied again as US bond yields fall and expectations mount that the Fed will cut interest rates at its December meeting. This has made non-yielding assets like silver attractive again, especially since its movements tend to be more aggressive than gold.Going forward, silver's direction will be heavily influenced by two factors: expectations of a Fed rate cut and industrial demand, particularly from the solar energy sector. If sentiment for easing interest rates persists and silver's demand for production remains high, upside potential remains open, although the risk of a...
Gold (XAU/USD) maintained its intraday gains, nearing a one-and-a-half-week high reached in the Asian session, supported by dovish expectations from the Fed. The latest US data showed inflation is starting to ease, while comments from several Fed officials supporting further easing pushed the US dollar to a one-week low. This provided additional support for non-yielding gold, keeping its outlook positive. However, global risk appetite has also increased due to the prospect of lower US interest rates and hopes for progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks, which has limited interest in...
Oil prices remain stuck near their lowest levels in a month, with WTI around US$58 and Brent around US$61 per barrel. The market is clouded by the potential for peace in Ukraine, which could ease sanctions on Russian oil, while the IEA projects a supply glut of up to 4 million barrels per day next year.US oil inventories did fall by 1.9 million barrels, but this was not enough to lift sentiment. As long as supply remains abundant and demand is weak, the risk of oil prices remaining in the lower zone remains quite high, unless OPEC+ agrees to tighten production again.The oil price at the time...
Silver (XAG/USD) traded relatively stable today, with a slight increase around US$51 per troy ounce, following a strong rally in recent weeks that saw prices rise nearly 10% in a month and nearly 70% in the past year. The main sentiment remains the expectation of a Fed interest rate cut in December, following dovish comments from several US central bank officials that have opened the door to a rate cut in the near future. On the other hand, the market is also beginning to realize that excessively rapid gains have left room for a technical correction.
Oil prices moved steadily on Tuesday morning (November 25th). WTI held near US$58 per barrel and Brent above US$62 per barrel, supported by risk-on sentiment in global markets and hopes for further interest rate cuts by the Fed. The mood was also helped by the latest communication between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping following the tariff truce. Meanwhile, the market continues to monitor developments in the Ukraine peace talks. If an agreement is reached and sanctions against Russia are eased, Moscow's oil exports could increase to a market already vulnerable to...