US stocks closed higher for the third straight session as a strong start to earnings overcame lingering US-China trade uncertainty. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 240 points to a record high, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index closed slightly higher as a string of results that beat expectations boosted gains. General Motors jumped 16% after raising its forecast, Coca-Cola gained 3.8% on steady beverage demand and benefits from an Indian bottling deal, and 3M rose 6.3% after beating estimates. Defense and aerospace stocks outperformed, with GE Aerospace rising 1.3% and...
Gold prices rise over 0.44% during Friday's North American session as weaker than expected jobs market data increased the chances that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut interest rates next week. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades at $3,649 after hitting a daily low of $3,630. Bullion rises on weak Consumer Sentiment, Jobless Claims boost Fed easing betsThe week ended with a softer than expected University of Michigan (UoM) Consumer Sentiment for September, while 5-Year inflation expectations surged. Friday's data along with Tuesday's -911K payroll revision, and an increase in people...
The U.S. dollar rose on Friday, a day after falling on a surge in U.S. jobless claims and modest inflation, as investors expected the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates next week after a roughly nine-month hiatus. The greenback rose 0.3% to 147.66 yen, on track for its largest percentage gain in 10 days, after rising for three straight weeks. The dollar firmed earlier on Friday after a U.S.-Japanese joint statement affirmed exchange rates should be "market determined" and that excess volatility and disorderly moves in exchange rates were undesirable. The dollar index was up 0.1% at...
Oil prices continued their rally amid growing concerns that Ukrainian drone attacks could disrupt oil flows through Russia's two most important crude export hubs on the Baltic coast. Brent crude rose above $67 per barrel, after falling 1.7% on Thursday. The attacks have halted operations at Primorsk, the region's main oil loading port, and three pumping stations that deliver crude to the Ust-Luga hub, a source familiar with the situation said. This increased risk premium offsets the International Energy Agency's (IEA) projection for a record-breaking oil supply surplus next year. The IEA's...
The EUR/USD pair lost ground early in the European session and retreated to levels near 1.1700, amid volatile and volatile trading on Friday. Comments from ECB official Olly Rehn, who warned of downside risks to inflation, failed to support the euro (EUR), which remained weighed down by a stronger US dollar. On Thursday, the ECB maintained its Deposit Facility rate at 2%, and President Christine Lagarde said that "risks to economic growth have become more balanced." These comments dampened market expectations of further rate cuts in the near future and provided a significant boost to the...
Oil prices held steady on Friday (September 12th) as concerns about oversupply and weakening U.S. demand offset the risk of supply disruptions stemming from conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Brent crude futures rose 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $66.49 a barrel at 08:54 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 4 cents to $62.41. Brent and WTI benchmarks fell 1.7% and 2%, respectively, on Thursday. The International Energy Agency's monthly report on Thursday stated that global oil supply will rise faster than expected this year due to planned production increases by the OPEC+ group,...