US stocks rebounded from early losses to close mostly higher on Friday amid hopes that Congress members were making progress toward ending the government shutdown. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones closed 0.3% higher, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed near the flatline as AI giants remained under pressure. Senate Republicans rejected Democrats' offer to scale down shutdown demands, but lingering hopes of an incoming agreement improved risk sentiment before the closing bell. The suspension of operations and government data were evidenced by the deteriorating consumer confidence measured by...
The Australian Dollar (AUD) is rebounding modestly against the US Dollar (USD) on Friday, retracing some of the previous session's losses. Australia's Retail Sales—a key indicator of consumer spending—increased by 0.3% month-over-month in March, up from a 0.8% rise in February (revised from 0.2%), according to data released Friday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). However, the figure fell short of market expectations, which had forecast a 0.4% gain. However, the AUD/USD pair remains vulnerable as falling metal prices weigh on sentiment. Key commodities like iron ore, copper, and...
The Japanese yen traded near 146 per dollar on Friday after losing about 1.6% in the previous session, weighed down by easing safe-haven demand amid progress in US-China trade relations. China said it is considering the possibility of trade talks after multiple outreach efforts by the U.S. to initiate tariff negotiations. Meanwhile, Japan and the U.S. concluded a second round of bilateral trade talks this week, with Tokyo aiming to finalize an agreement by June. On the domestic front, Japan's unemployment rate edged up to 2.5% in March, though the labor market remained relatively tight....
Silver (XAG/USD) builds on the previous day's goodish bounce from the $31.65 area, or a nearly three-week low, and gains some follow-through traction during the Asian session on Friday. The white metal climbs back above mid-$32.00s in the last hour and for now, seems to have snapped a three-day losing streak, though the technical setup warrants some caution before positioning for any further gains. The overnight sustained breakdown below the 100-hour Simple Moving Average (SMA) was seen as a key trigger for bearish traders. Moreover, oscillators on daily/4-hour charts have been gaining...
Brent crude oil futures extended its recent gains to around $62.5 per barrel on Friday, following President Trump's threat of secondary sanctions against countries purchasing Iranian oil. The US has already imposed restrictions on several Chinese refineries for buying Iranian crude, as well as on numerous companies and vessels involved in its transportation. Adding to the positive sentiment, China signaled a willingness to resume trade talks with the US, raising hopes for a de-escalation in tensions between the world's two largest oil consumers. However, oil remains on track for a weekly...
The Gold price (XAU/USD) edges lower to a two-week low near $3,235 during the early Asian session on Friday. The easing of trade tensions between the US and its trading partners has dented the safe-haven demand, weighing on the precious metal. US President Donald Trump announced potential trade deals with India, South Korea, and Japan, seeking to convert his tariff policy into trade agreements. Furthermore, Chinese state media said late Thursday that the US has reached out toChina to begin trade talks regarding Trump's 145% tariffs. The US Dollar (USD) strengthens due to this positive...