Asian stocks slipped at the open on Friday after risk sentiment faded on Wall Street, following news of bad debts at two US banks that heightened credit market concerns. US index futures also indicated further weakness. Japan, Australia, and South Korea all fell, in line with Wall Street's overnight slump: the S&P 500 fell 0.6% (financials -2.8%) and the Nasdaq 100 fell 0.4%. Hedging assets rallied: gold and silver hit record highs, while Treasury yields continued to fall—the 2-year yield to its lowest level since 2022 and the 10-year below 4%. The dollar index weakened, heading for its...
Oil futures hold on to the previous day's gains with attempts at a move lower held back by increased geopolitical risk premium on reports that Ukraine fired U.S.-supplied long-range missiles into Russia days after the U.S. authorized their use, raising concerns of an escalation in the conflict. Bearish views of the global supply and demand situation continue to cap rallies. "With China finding it difficult to get back on a growth trajectory north of 5% and the U.S. and Europe undergoing a cyclical slowdown, crude oil demand in 2024 and 2025 is set to grow at barely half of the 2 million b/d...
Gold prices rose for a second day mid-afternoon on Tuesday as treasury yields ease and international tensions run high after the Biden Administration permitted Ukraine to attack targets within Russia with U.S.-supplied missiles. Gold for December delivery was last seen up US$16.30 to US$2,360.90 per ounce. Following months of pressure, the Biden Administration over the weekend said Ukraine can make limited missile attacks on targets within Russia, which Moscow said will mean it is now at war with NATO. Gold's gain "were supported by a softer dollar and worsening US-Russia relations after...
Silver prices climbed above $31 per ounce on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session as the dollar rally paused and investors reassessed the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy. The dollar faced a wave of profit-taking following its recent rally which was driven by expectations of fewer Fed rate cuts and optimism about US economic outperformance under the incoming Trump administration. Investors are now waiting for more comments from Fed officials this week for further guidance on the US interest rate path. Markets are also focused on China's upcoming LPR decision, with...
Gold prices climbed for a second straight session to hit a one-week peak on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar pulled back from recent highs, while investors awaited comments from Federal Reserve officials for clarity on its interest rate cut policy. Spot gold rose 0.8% to $2,634.20 per ounce, the highest since Nov. 11. Prices gained 2% on Monday, recovering from a two-month low hit reached last Thursday. U.S. gold futures added 1% to $2,641.10. "The selling has run out of steam and that's attracting those potential buyers sitting on the fence waiting for the market to stabilize to get back in,"...
Oil retreated after its biggest gain in more than five weeks as Europe's largest oilfield gradually restarted following a power outage. Brent futures traded near $73 a barrel as Equinor ASA restored production at the Johan Sverdrup oil field in the North Sea to two-thirds of capacity after yesterday's halt. Crude had surged 3.2% on Monday as the dollar weakened, making commodities more attractive to investors. Traders are also tracking the latest geopolitical tensions. Ukrainian armed forces carried out their first strike in a border region within Russian...