US stocks closed higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 up 0.8%, and the Nasdaq climbing nearly 1%, while the Dow gaining 206 points. Technology shares, led by Apple which surged 4.2% following its announcement of a $600 billion US investment plan helped lift the tech-heavy Nasdaq to new intraday highs. Investor optimism was also fueled by expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, with President Trump nominating Stephen Miran to the Fed Board, signaling possible shifts in monetary policy, despite concerns over new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on imports from multiple...
Gold prices edged up on Wednesday (July 9) as investors monitored negotiations between the United States and its trading partners, while a stronger dollar limited further gains. Spot gold was up 0.3% at $3,309.24 an ounce at 11:59 a.m. ET (1559 GMT) after hitting its lowest level since June 30 the previous day. U.S. gold futures were steady at $3,318.10. Amid market volatility, fiscal concerns, and a widening U.S. deficit, investors are increasingly turning to gold, said Phillip Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures. On the trade front, the European Union said it is...
Oil prices fluctuated as traders weighed a large increase in US crude stockpiles against renewed US efforts to restrict Iranian crude exports. West Texas Intermediate crude prices fluctuated between gains and losses, trading above $68 per barrel, after two days of gains. US crude oil stocks rose by 7.1 million barrels last week, the largest increase since January, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday. At the same time, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 22 foreign entities for their role in facilitating Iranian oil sales. "Despite the...
Currency markets have slipped into a mid-week lull by the look of things this morning. The US Dollar (USD) is little changed in broad terms and the core majors are narrowly mixed, with minor losses for the CAD and EUR against minor gains for the AUD, GBP, NZD (despite a 'dovish hold' decision by the RBNZ) and SEK, Scotiabank's Chief FX Strategists Shaun Osborne and Eric Theoret note. USD idles US yields slip off yesterday's peaks"The MXN is the top-performing major currency with an intraday gain of less than 0.1%. Stocks are in a positive mood (amid signs that EU/US trade talk are...
Gold (XAU/USD) is extending its decline on Wednesday for a second consecutive day as the US Dollar (USD) and US Treasury yields firm ahead of the release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Meeting Minutes. The US Dollar Index (DXY) is rising to its highest level in two weeks, pushing XAU/USD below $3,300 at the time of writing. The upcoming release of the FOMC Minutes from the June meeting is expected to shed light on the Fed's internal debate over the path of monetary policy. In June, the central bank opted to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 4.25% to 4.50%, citing a...
The US Dollar has trimmed previous gains on Wednesday's European session, as market sentiment improved, and is trading with marginal gains against the Yen, nearing the mid-range of the 146.00s after rejection at 147.15. The pair appreciated about 1.5% over the previous two days, after a letter from President Trump announced 25% tariffs on all products from Japan, and moved the deadline to August 1 from the original July 9. Hopes of a trade deal are keeping the Yen from falling furtherTrade negotiations between the two countries are going on, and the US Secretary, Scott Bessent, is expected...