Brent crude futures dropped 0.7% to settle at $68.1 per barrel on Friday, as traders weighed weaker US demand and the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine. Attention is also on next week's OPEC+ meeting, with accelerated output increases from the group raising the global supply outlook. However, these supply gains have yet to fully reach the US market, where the summer driving season is ending, fueling concerns over demand. Prices had risen earlier in the week following Ukrainian attacks on Russian export terminals, but reports of potential ceasefire talks eased some of that...
Gold is steady in early Asian trade. Prices are likely to consolidate in the short term before another rally toward $3,600/oz by year-end, ANZ Research commodity strategists write in a note. The precious metal's recent rally, which has been mainly supported by trade uncertainty, is losing steam as U.S.-China trade negotiations are underway. A strong catalyst would be needed to push gold's prices beyond their record high, they say. "We believe macroeconomic data are likely to take over as the primary catalyst," they add. Spot gold is flat at $3,446.70/oz. Source: Bloomberg
The USD/JPY pair gains ground to around 147.20 during the early Asian session on Monday. The Japanese Yen (JPY) softens against the US Dollar (USD) as cooling inflationary pressures in Japan undermine bets of one more interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BoJ) this year. Traders await the US ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) report later on Tuesday ahead of highly anticipated US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data. Inflation in Japan, as measured by the Tokyo Consumer Price Index (CPI), grew at a moderate pace in August. The headline CPI rose 2.5% YoY in August against a...
The dollar index hovered around 97.8 on Monday, near one-month lows, as traders awaited a series of labor market releases this week that could shape the Federal Reserve's next policy decision. Key reports include Friday's August jobs data, alongside figures on unemployment, job openings, and private payrolls. Investors also weighed Friday's PCE price index, which confirmed continued price increases and added uncertainty to the outlook for rate cuts. Still, markets are pricing in about an 88% probability that the Fed will lower rates by 25 basis points later this month. On the trade front,...
The Australian dollar appreciated past $0.654 on Monday, marking its fifth consecutive session of gains and its highest level in over two weeks amid a mixed set of domestic economic indicators. Notably, Australia's Manufacturing PMI rose to a near three-year high of 53 in August 2025, marking its eighth consecutive month above the 50-point threshold. Labor market conditions also showed resilience, with ANZ-Indeed Job Ads edging up 0.1% month-over-month in August, rebounding from a decline in July. In the housing sector, private house approvals increased by 1.1% month-over-month in July to...