Gold prices halted their rise after a four-day rally, as comments from Federal Reserve (Fed) officials raised doubts about whether the US would cut interest rates again next year. On Monday, gold was stable at around US$4,305/ounce, after rising 2.6% last week. Although the Fed did cut interest rates on Wednesday, three policymakers apparently rejected the decision. The market is signaling that the next easing move could be more difficult and contentious, especially as 2026 approaches, when internal Fed views appear divided. The two officials who voted against it—Austan Goolsbee (Chicago)...
Silver prices are currently holding steady around US$62/ounce after a wild week last week: briefly setting a record, then being hit by profit-taking. Spot price data shows XAG/USD hovering around US$62 within a narrow daily range, indicating the market is awaiting a new trigger. From a macro perspective, the most "lifting" factor for silver right now is the direction of US interest rates. The Fed has indeed cut interest rates, but there are internal disagreements, so the market is becoming more cautious about betting on further easing in 2026. If expectations of lower interest rates...
Oil prices held steady on Monday (December 15th) as investors balanced supply disruptions related to escalating U.S.-Venezuela tensions with oversupply concerns and the impact of a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal. Brent crude futures rose 15 cents, or 0.25%, to $61.27 per barrel, as of 0924 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $57.59 per barrel, also up 15 cents, or 0.26%. Both contracts fell more than 4% in the previous week, weighed down by expectations of a global oil surplus in 2026. "The decline in oil prices and the lows reached for the month across the major...
Gold rose 1% on Monday (December 15) and held near a seven-week high, supported by a weaker dollar, expectations of interest rate cuts, and safe-haven buying due to geopolitical tensions, while silver rose but remained below Friday's record high. Spot gold prices rose 1% to $4,343.96 an ounce at 0949 GMT. Bullion hit its highest level since October 21 on Friday. US gold futures rose 1.2% to $4,377.80 an ounce. The US dollar held near a two-month low hit last week, making dollar-denominated gold more affordable for overseas buyers, while the yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond...
Silver (XAG/USD) prices have gained more than $2 so far on Monday (December 15th), reaching an intraday high near $63.80 and approaching a new record high of $63.65, after bouncing off a low below the $61.00 mark on Friday. The precious metal traded on a firm note on Monday, driven by a cautious market mood following weak data from China and renewed concerns about the country's property sector amid news that state-owned developer China Vanke is on the verge of bankruptcy. Furthermore, US President Trump has named former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as the most suitable person to replace...