Oil rose for a second day after the Trump administration again vowed to reduce Iran's energy exports to zero, while talks between the US and Japan stirred optimism that agreements on trade can be reached. Brent crude climbed above $66 a barrel after advancing almost 2% on Wednesday, putting futures on track for their first weekly gain this month. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US would apply maximum pressure to disrupt Iran's oil supply chain, as his department sanctioned a second Chinese refinery accused of handling crude from the Islamic Republic. The...
Gold prices eased on Thursday after a sharp rise in the previous session as investors booked profits ahead of a long weekend, although softer dollar and escalating U.S.-China trade tensions kept bullion above the $3,300 per ounce level. Spot gold slipped 0.5% to $3,326.51 an ounce as of 08:58 a.m. ET (1258 GMT), after touching a record high of $3,357.40 earlier in the session. Bullion has gained nearly 3% this week. U.S. gold futures were down 0.2% at $3,339.90. "Gold may have a short-term pullback given its spectacular surge this week and ahead of a rare long weekend in the markets,"...
Gold eased off a record high mid-afternoon on Thursday but stayed above the US$3,300 mark as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats continue to support safe-haven demand. Gold for June delivery was last seen down US$18.10 to US$3,328.30 per ounce after closing at a record US$3,346.40 on Wednesday. The price of the metal has climbed 26% since the start of the year as the U.S. tariff battles threaten to slow global growth while roiling global trade flows, sending investors to gold as a store of value. The World Trade Organization on Wednesday lowered its forecast for 2025 global trade...
Oil prices settled more than 3% higher on Thursday, supported by hopes for a trade deal between the United States and the European Union and new U.S. sanctions to curb Iranian oil exports, which continued to elevate supply concerns. Brent crude futures settled $2.11, or 3.2%, higher to $67.96 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $2.21, or 3.54%, at $64.68 a barrel. For the week, both Brent and WTI gained about 5%, their first weekly gain in three weeks. Thursday is the last settlement day of the week ahead of the Easter holidays and trade volumes are expected to be...
The EUR/USD pair attracted some buyers near 1.1370 during the early Asian session on Friday (4/18). Concerns over the economic impact of tariffs continued to drag the US Dollar (USD) lower against the Euro (EUR). Traders will be closely monitoring developments surrounding the US trade talks. Trading volumes are likely to be thin on Good Friday. The European Central Bank (ECB) cut interest rates for the third time this year on Thursday, bringing its main rate to 2.25% in response to slowing growth and US President Donald Trump's tariffs. ECB President Christine Lagarde said during a press...