Stocks in the US closed higher on Wednesday, extending their recent momentum as growing expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut in September continued to lift sentiment. The S&P 500 gained 0.3% and the Nasdaq added 0.1%, with both indexes briefly hitting record highs, while the Dow Jones advanced 463 points. The rally built on Tuesday's surge, sparked by a softer-than-expected inflation reading that reinforced bets on monetary easing, with traders fully pricing in a September cut and some anticipating a 50 basis-point move. Sector gains were led by materials, healthcare, and...
Oil prices fell on Monday as investors weighed easing Middle East risks along with the possibility of an OPEC+ output increase in August and uncertainty over the global demand outlook. Brent crude fell 19 cents, or 0.3%, to $67.58 a barrel by 10:01 a.m. EDT (1501 GMT), ahead of the August contract expiring on Monday. The more active September contract fell 34 cents to $66.46. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 62 cents, or 1%, to $64.90 a barrel. Brent and WTI benchmarks posted their biggest weekly declines since March 2023 last week but were set for a second straight monthly gain of...
Gold rose, supported by a decline in the dollar, as Senate negotiations continued over President Donald Trump's $4.5 trillion tax package. Gold rose 0.6% on Monday, after two straight weekly declines. Republicans are trying to convince opponents to support the tax bill for final passage, amid concerns that it will further swell the U.S. deficit. However, the precious metal is on track to end June flat for a second straight month as tensions in the Middle East eased, while consumer sentiment and inflation expectations improved in the U.S. The potential approval of Trump's tax bill and an...
Silver is holding onto a tight range on Monday (06/30), with XAG/USD consolidating around the key psychological level of $36.00 at the time of writing. The metal is under moderate pressure as broader market sentiment favors risk. US equities are holding onto recent gains near record highs. Rising risk appetite continues to weigh on demand for traditional safe-haven assets, capping Silver's upside. Intraday support has emerged around the current session low of $35.41, which has helped limit Silver's downside moves throughout the month of June. The daily candlestick shows a small-bodied...
Oil prices traded in a largely stable manner Monday as Middle East risks eased while traders considered a possible OPEC+ output increase in August. At 08:25 ET (12:25 GMT), Brent oil futures for August fell 0.1% to $66.72 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 0.2% to $65.35 a barrel. Both benchmarks posted their biggest weekly decline since March 2023 last week, but are set to finish higher in June with a second consecutive monthly gain of more than 5%, having rallied strongly on the Israel-Iran war. Crude was nursing sharp losses over the past week as an Israel-Iran...
The Australian Dollar (AUD) traded hesitantly around the 0.6530 level against the US Dollar (USD) on Monday (June 30, 2025). Despite positive sentiment from the progress of trade talks between the US and partner countries, the market remains cautious as economic data from Australia and China show a slowdown. AUD/USD had strengthened slightly due to the weakening USD, but was held back below the 0.6550 resistance area. Pressure on the AUD came from less than satisfactory domestic data. The Australian inflation figure according to TD-MI only rose 0.1% in June, lower than the 0.2% expected....