The three major US stock averages fluctuated between small gains and losses on Wednesday, attempting to rebound from Tuesday's weak session, when concerns over lofty AI valuations weighed on sentiment while earnings remained in focus. The tech sector stayed under pressure, while materials and energy outperformed. AMD slipped 1.7% after issuing a revenue forecast that failed to impress investors, and Super Micro Computer tumbled 7.3% following a weaker-than-expected earnings outlook for the current period. Palantir Technologies extended losses, falling 2.3%. Nvidia edged down 0.2%, while...
Gold prices rose to record highs in Asian trade on Thursday, benefiting from a softer dollar as the Federal Reserve still signaled at least two more interest rate cuts this year. The yellow metal extended a run of recent gains, as it continued to benefit from heightened safe haven demand due to the collapse of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, sluggish Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations, and increased uncertainty over the U.S. economy under President Donald Trump. Spot gold rose 0.2% to a record high of $2,057.36 an ounce, while gold futures expiring in April hit a peak of $3,065.09 an...
Gold hovered around $3,050 per ounce on Thursday, a fresh record, supported by rising US rate cut expectations and strong safe-haven demand. The Federal Reserve noted increased economic uncertainty but still expects to cut rates by 50 bps this year, matching its December projection and boosting non-yielding gold. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East escalated as Israel launched "targeted ground activities" in Gaza, retaking part of a key area after an airstrike ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. The US also kept striking Houthi targets in Yemen after Red Sea attacks, with Trump...
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $67.20 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The WTI price edges higher amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. However, the Federal Reserve's (Fed) decision to hold interest rates steady might cap the upside for WTI price. The Israeli military resumed ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip. US President Donald Trump threatened to continue his country's attack on Yemen's Houthis and said he would hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the group that has...
The Australian Dollar depreciated as Employment Change declined by 52.8K in February, missing the consensus forecast of a 30.0K increase. The PBOC kept its Loan Prime Rates (LPRs) unchanged, with the one- and five-year rates at 3.10% and 3.60%, respectively. The Fed reaffirmed its expectation of two rate cuts later this year but highlighted uncertainty arising from Trump's tariff policies. The Australian Dollar (AUD) weakens against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday, reversing gains from the previous session. The AUD/USD pair declines as the AUD receives downward pressure following the...
Gold prices rallied sharply and hit a new all-time high of $3,052 on Wednesday as US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell spoke following the Fed's decision to hold rates unchanged. At the time of writing, the XAU/USD trades volatile within the $3,035-$3,050 range, up more than 0.20%. The Fed decided to keep rates unchanged at the 4.25%-4.50% range and tweaked its balance sheet, which is expected to run off in April. The Fed acknowledged that labor market conditions remain solid but noted that inflation remains "somewhat" elevated, reaffirming its commitment to monitoring risks to both...