Oil prices traded in volatile fashion on Monday, hovering near recent peaks as geopolitical tensions escalated sharply following a 48-hour ultimatum from U.S. President Donald Trump to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. By 00:26 ET (04:26 GMT): Brent crude rose 0.6% to $112.91 per barrel WTI crude gained …

U.S. stock futures edged lower on Thursday, as a sharp spike in oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East weighed on investor sentiment. By 06:43 ET (10:43 GMT): Dow futures fell 67 points (0.2%) S&P 500 futures declined 0.2% Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 0.3% Oil-driven inflation fears …

Oil prices jumped sharply on Thursday, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) briefly crossing the $100 per barrel mark, as escalating attacks on energy infrastructure heightened fears of prolonged supply disruptions in the Middle East. By 23:57 ET (03:57 GMT), Brent crude surged 4.3% to $111.97 per barrel, while WTI rose …

The UK labour market showed signs of stabilization in February, with steady unemployment and stronger-than-expected job growth, even as rising energy costs threaten to weigh on the economic outlook. Unemployment held at 5.2%, below expectations of 5.3%, while payrolls increased by 20,000, outperforming forecasts for a decline of 5,000. Employment …

European stock markets moved lower on Thursday, as investors turned cautious ahead of key central bank decisions and mounting geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. By 04:17 ET (08:17 GMT), the pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 1.2%, while: Germany’s DAX dropped 1.6% France’s CAC 40 declined 1.1% The U.K.’s FTSE 100 …

Gold prices edged slightly higher in Asian trading on Thursday but remained under pressure below key levels, as rising inflation concerns and uncertainty over interest rates continued to weigh on the metal. By 01:47 ET (05:47 GMT), spot gold rose 0.2% to $4,833.60 per ounce, while gold futures fell 1.3% …

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged on Thursday, in line with expectations, while signaling growing caution over inflation risks tied to rising energy prices amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. The central bank left its overnight call rate at 0.75%, with the decision backed by nearly all members …

The U.S. dollar ticked slightly higher on Wednesday, supported by stabilizing oil prices and cautious positioning ahead of a packed schedule of central bank meetings. The greenback was largely steady against both the British pound and Japanese yen, with the latter pulling back from levels that had raised concerns about …

The Bank of Japan is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at the conclusion of its March 19 meeting, although persistent inflation concerns and a weaker yen are likely to shape a more hawkish tone from policymakers. The central bank is projected to maintain its short-term benchmark rate at …

Bitcoin traded largely flat on Wednesday, consolidating after a recent rally, as investors turned cautious ahead of a key Federal Reserve policy decision and new regulatory developments in the U.S. The world’s largest cryptocurrency rose 0.2% to $74,207.9 by 02:27 ET (06:27 GMT), after briefly approaching the $76,000 level in …