European markets opened higher after news of a planned meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping next week eased trade war concerns. The Stoxx Europe 600 moved positively, led by the technology sector—ASML was the leading indicator—while utilities and property lagged. In corporate news, NatWest surged after raising its full-year forecast, and Sanofi gained on demand for its flagship drug Dupixent. Sentiment was also supported by a mixed earnings season: solid results from LVMH and Kering were partly overshadowed by disappointing reports from Roche, L'Oréal, and Akzo Nobel. Investors now...
The Japanese yen traded around five-month lows on Monday against a dollar underpinned by rising U.S. yields as thin year-end liquidity kept most currencies in tight ranges. The yen was changing hands at 157.71 with only the risk of Japanese intervention preventing another test of the 160 level last seen in July. The dollar index measure against major rivals was flat at 107.98. The euro stood at $1.0429 , not far from recent troughs and in a holding pattern in holiday trading. The currency is heading for a calendar-year drop of roughly 5.5% on the dollar. Rising U.S. Treasury yields have...
Gold edges higher in early Asian trade in thin holiday trading. Prices for the precious metal will likely be volatile in the near term, Zhengxin Futures says in a research note. U.S. Treasury yields have been on an upward trend, weighing on the non-interest-bearing precious metal. However, gold could continue to rise in the medium and long term as global central banks have started cutting rates and geopolitical tensions remain heightened. Concerns over the trajectory of U.S. inflation will likely rise after Donald Trump takes office in mid January, Zhengxin adds. Spot gold is 0.1% higher at...
Oil slipped in quiet end-of-year trading, as the market focused on the outlook for 2025 while monitoring Middle East developments. West Texas Intermediate traded near $70 a barrel after rising 1.6% last week, and Brent was below $74. There are widespread expectations that the market will be oversupplied next year, which is likely to make it harder for OPEC and its allies to revive idled production. Oil is heading for a modest loss this year, with trading confined to a narrow range since mid-October. The market has been buffeted by bearish and bullish signals,...
Oil prices settled more than 1% higher on Friday and recorded a weekly gain in low trading volume ahead of year-end, buoyed by a larger-than-expected drawdown from U.S. crude inventories last week. Brent crude futures rose 91 cents, or 1.2%, to settle at $74.17 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 98 cents, or 1.4%, to $70.60 per barrel.On a weekly basis, both Brent and WTI crude gained about 1.4%.U.S. crude oil inventories fell by 4.2 million barrels in the week ended Dec. 20 as refiners ramped up activity and the holiday season boosted fuel demand, data from the...
Silver price (XAG/USD) falls to near $29.60 in a thin trading volume session following holidays on Christmas and Boxing Day on Friday. The white metal is under pressure even though tensions in the Middle East region between Israel and Iran have escalated. On Thursday, Israel launched missiles at the Iran-backed Houthis military and bombed Yemini airport. After the air assault, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with an Israeli TV station of the Houthis, "We are just getting started with them". Israel retaliated to last week's air assault by Iran. Historically,...