WTI crude oil prices were steady at $68.5 a barrel on Monday, as investors monitored positive economic data from China, and awaited the upcoming OPEC+ meeting. Chinese factory activity grew for a second month and at the fastest pace in five months in November, signaling a recovery in the world's largest oil importer after a series of stimulus measures introduced in late September. At the same time, Saudi Arabia, is anticipated to lower crude prices for Asian buyers in January to a four-year low. Attention also remains on the delayed OPEC+ meeting, rescheduled for later this week, where the...
The greenback snapped a three-day losing streak amid focus on French budget talks and a fresh currency warning by President-elect Donald Trump. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rises as much as 0.6% while the yield on 10-year Treasuries is up by three basis points to 4.20%. Trump warned the so-called BRICS countries he would require a commitment that they wouldn't create a new currency as an alternative to using the greenback, and repeated threats to levy a 100% tariff if they did. This is a tactic that risks backfiring, market watchers...
Gold dropped 1% on Monday, ending a four-session winning streak, weighed down by a robust U.S. dollar, as investors eyed upcoming economic data and remarks from Federal Reserve officials for clues on the future of U.S. interest rates. Spot gold was down 0.5% to $2,640.93 per ounce, as of 1207 GMT. It was down 1% earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures fell 0.6% to $2,663.90. The dollar index gained 0.5%, on track for its best day in over a week, making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies. Trump on Saturday called on BRICS nations to pledge not to...
Crude oil prices have started to rise as tensions mount ahead of the most important OPEC+ meeting before 2025, which will be held on Thursday. Ahead of the meeting, Iranian official Afshin Javan made an ominous statement by issuing an opinion piece that blamed OPEC+ for the current low prices. The main point of the opinion piece was that OPEC+ had kept oil prices high for too long, funding its competitors to boost cheaper alternatives. The debate is heated ahead of Thursday's online meeting after Afshin Javan's opinion piece, where OPEC+ will agree to extend its production curbs. At the...
Gold traded lower mid-afternoon on Monday as the dollar climbed on rising expectations the Federal Reserve may not lower interest rates when the central bank's policy committee meets later this month. Gold for February delivery was last seen down US$21.70 to US$2,659.30 per ounce. The precious metal has been mostly rangebound since correcting from a record high of US$2,800.80 on Oct.30, as the dollar surged following the U.S. election and inflation remains stuck above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. "Gold slipped as the dollar rose overnight, highlighting its current rangebound behavior...