The EUR/USD pair lost ground early in the European session and retreated to levels near 1.1700, amid volatile and volatile trading on Friday. Comments from ECB official Olly Rehn, who warned of downside risks to inflation, failed to support the euro (EUR), which remained weighed down by a stronger US dollar. On Thursday, the ECB maintained its Deposit Facility rate at 2%, and President Christine Lagarde said that "risks to economic growth have become more balanced." These comments dampened market expectations of further rate cuts in the near future and provided a significant boost to the...
Oil prices continued their rally amid growing concerns that Ukrainian drone attacks could disrupt oil flows through Russia's two most important crude export hubs on the Baltic coast. Brent crude rose above $67 per barrel, after falling 1.7% on Thursday. The attacks have halted operations at Primorsk, the region's main oil loading port, and three pumping stations that deliver crude to the Ust-Luga hub, a source familiar with the situation said. This increased risk premium offsets the International Energy Agency's (IEA) projection for a record-breaking oil supply surplus next year. The IEA's...
The U.S. dollar rose on Friday, a day after falling on a surge in U.S. jobless claims and modest inflation, as investors expected the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates next week after a roughly nine-month hiatus. The greenback rose 0.3% to 147.66 yen, on track for its largest percentage gain in 10 days, after rising for three straight weeks. The dollar firmed earlier on Friday after a U.S.-Japanese joint statement affirmed exchange rates should be "market determined" and that excess volatility and disorderly moves in exchange rates were undesirable. The dollar index was up 0.1% at...
Gold prices rise over 0.44% during Friday's North American session as weaker than expected jobs market data increased the chances that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will cut interest rates next week. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades at $3,649 after hitting a daily low of $3,630. Bullion rises on weak Consumer Sentiment, Jobless Claims boost Fed easing betsThe week ended with a softer than expected University of Michigan (UoM) Consumer Sentiment for September, while 5-Year inflation expectations surged. Friday's data along with Tuesday's -911K payroll revision, and an increase in people...
Oil prices rose on Friday after a Ukrainian drone attack suspended loadings from the largest port in western Russia, but gains were capped by concerns about U.S. demand. Brent crude futures settled at $66.99 a barrel, up 62 cents, or 0.93%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude finished at $62.69, a gain of 32 cents, or 0.51%. Early in the day, crude reacted to the drone attack on Russia's northwestern port of Primorsk, which led to a suspension of oil loading operations overnight, an official from Ukraine's SBU security service said. "Those attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have room...