The Hang Seng Index reversed its downward trend in Hong Kong on Thursday (February 12th), weakening by around 0.9% to around 27,000 after a strong session earlier. This decline halted the momentum of the short term rally, as investors began to reduce risk in large cap stocks. Among the index's contributors, Tencent was a major drag, with its shares falling by around 2.3%, putting pressure on the technology sector, which has recently been a driving force behind market gains. Weakness in large cap companies like this typically quickly impacts sentiment due to their significant weighting in...
Oil prices dipped in sluggish post-Christmas trading as investors assessed progress in long-stalled Ukraine peace talks, which could lead to a deal that would allow more Russian oil into a global market grappling with oversupply. West Texas Intermediate crude fell slightly on Friday to around $58 a barrel, though still on track for its biggest weekly gain since late October, while Brent crude hovered below $62. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he hoped to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday about ending Russia's war, adding that the framework of his...
A Bloomberg gauge for the dollar is headed for its worst week since June, and US Treasury bonds are rising as traders await data due early next month to confirm expectations of further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in 2026. With trading subdued due to the holiday this week and markets in the UK closed on Friday, investors' attention is largely focused on key US economic reports expected in the first few weeks of January. The December jobs report and consumer inflation figures, in particular, will help determine the Fed's next move after officials lowered borrowing costs this month for...
Silver prices are currently trading above $74,579 per ounce during the American session on Friday (December 26th), extending the remarkable rally that began several months ago. This increase is part of a bullish trend that is increasingly evident, as rising geopolitical tensions and a weakening US dollar provide support for the precious metal. Silver has shown exceptional performance, with impressive price surges. One of the main factors driving silver prices is ongoing speculation, coupled with ongoing supply dislocations in major trading centers. After experiencing a major short squeeze...
Gold prices rose to another an all time high of $4,530 per ounce on Friday, on strong safe-haven demand amid mounting geopolitical tensions and expectations of US interest rate cuts. Investor focus remains on the ongoing US blockade of crude shipments from Venezuela, continued hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, and a recent military strike by Washington against ISIS in Nigeria. Meanwhile, markets continue to price in two quarter-point rate cuts by the Federal Reserve next year as inflation cools and labor market conditions soften, even as Fed officials remain divided on the path...
Gold (XAU/USD) started the year on a bullish note and registered impressive gains in the first quarter. Following a consolidation phase during the summer months, the precious metal surged higher in the third quarter and reached an all-time record high of $4,381 in October. Although XAU/USD corrected lower, buyers refused to hand over the reins heading into the holiday season. Throughout 2025, Gold set over 50 record peaks and rose more than 60%, becoming one of the best-performing commodities of the year. A combination of fundamental factors fuelled the precious metal's relentless advance,...