Asian markets are expected to open mixed. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 is expected to start the day slightly lower, with futures tied to the benchmark at 8,838, compared to the index's last close of 8,873.8. Japan's Nikkei 225 is expected to open higher, with futures in Chicago at 42,795, while those in Osaka last traded at 42,770, compared to the index's last close of 42,649.26. Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index were at 25,316, indicating a weaker open compared to the HSI's last close of 25,519.32. (alg) Source: CNBC
World oil prices fell again after OPEC+ announced a larger-than-expected increase in production starting next month. The group of oil producing countries led by Saudi Arabia agreed to increase supply by 548,000 barrels per day, which immediately sparked concerns about oversupply in the global market. This caused Brent oil prices to fall by 1.6% to $67 per barrel. The decision was announced on Saturday, as part of OPEC+'s strategy to adjust production to summer demand. This increase in production is much higher than market expectations, which previously estimated an additional 411,000...
Oil futures edged lower in holiday-thinned trading on Friday, as the market awaited an OPEC+ meeting later this week and the likelihood that member nations would decide to raise output. Brent crude was down 50 cents, or 0.7%, at $68.30 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 50 cents, or 0.75%, at $66.50 shortly before 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT). Trading was thin due to the U.S. Independence Day holiday. Brent crude was up about 0.8% from Friday's close and WTI crude was up about 1.5%. The eight-nation OPEC+ group is likely to raise oil output again for August at its meeting...
Gold prices continued their uptrend on Friday (04/07), poised to post gains of more than 1.50% for the week as the US Dollar weakened amid thin liquidity conditions following the US market closure to celebrate Independence Day. A minor escalation in the trade war boosted bullion prices. XAU/USD was trading at $3,333, up 0.26%. US President Donald Trump said that they would start sending letters to countries on Friday, ahead of the July 9 deadline. He announced that some of the tariffs imposed would be in the range of 10% to 70% and would take effect on August 1. Regarding this, US Treasury...
Oil futures fell more than 1% on Friday, pressured by expectations that OPEC+ producers will decide later this week to raise output and by Iran's reaffirmation of its commitment to nuclear nonproliferation. Brent crude futures fell 70 cents, or 1.02%, to $68.10 a barrel by 10:06 a.m. ET (1406 GMT) while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 72 cents, or 1.07%, to $66.28. Trading was thin due to the U.S. Independence Day holiday. Both contracts were on track for small weekly gains, with Brent trading about 0.5% higher than Friday's close and WTI about 1.2% higher. The eight-nation OPEC+...
The US dollar (USD) weakened on Friday (04/07), moving lower in holiday-thinned trading and ending two consecutive days of gains. After rising on stronger-than-expected US Nonfarm Payrolls data released on Thursday, the greenback is now paring gains, as market activity remains subdued amid the July 4 Independence Day holiday in the United States. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, traded flat during American trading hours. At the time of writing, the index was hovering near 97.00, retreating from a weekly high of 97.42 reached on...