World oil prices weakened and headed for a second weekly decline. Market concerns about oversupply are considered greater than potential distribution disruptions. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is trading near US$56 per barrel and has fallen more than 2% this week, while Brent crude closed below US$60 per barrel in trading on Thursday. Several of the world's largest oil traders believe the market will be oversupplied by early next year. Energy trading firm Trafigura even predicts Brent prices will hover around US$50 per barrel until mid-2026, as global supply continues to be...
The Japanese yen is the worst-performing major currency against the US dollar throughout 2025, despite the Bank of Japan (BOJ) raising interest rates. Even with further tightening measures, the yen could remain in the "danger zone" that could trigger government intervention. The BOJ is expected to raise interest rates by a quarter percentage point on Friday, bringing the policy rate to a three-decade high of 0.75%. Futures indicate the possibility of additional hikes of around 40 basis points next year, making the BOJ one of the most aggressive G10 central banks, alongside the Reserve Bank...
Silver continued to exhibit strong fundamentals on December 19, 2025, with prices continuing to approach or even break record highs due to strong global demand and relatively tight supply. Silver has strengthened sharply throughout 2025, far outperforming gold in price performance, due to numerous driving factors from both the industrial and investment sectors. Reuters One of the main reasons for the strong fundamentals is the ongoing structural deficit: global demand for silver—particularly from industrial sectors such as solar panels, electric vehicles, electronics, and other green...
The US dollar index fluctuated around 98.4 on Friday (December 19) and is expected to close the week relatively unchanged. Investors are still weighing the chances of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next year, as inflation continues to decline and signs of weakness in the US labor market emerge. The latest inflation data indicates price pressures are easing. The November CPI report showed headline inflation fell to 2.7%, the lowest since July and below market expectations. Core inflation also weakened to 2.6%, the slowest pace since early 2021. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate rose to...
The US Dollar Index (DXY) continued its rise for the third consecutive session and hovered around 98.60 in European trading on Friday (December 19). Market participants are now awaiting the release of the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for December, which could provide additional clues about the direction of the economy and the dollar's movement. Despite its strength, the dollar's upside is considered limited as markets increasingly consider the possibility of a Fed interest rate cut after US inflation fell below forecasts. Data showed that US CPI in November slowed to 2.7%...