Gold prices eased slightly on Friday but remained on track for strong gains in August, driven by growing expectations of a September rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Spot gold: $3,409.89/oz (-0.2%) Gold futures (October): $3,469.92/oz (-0.1%) August performance: Up 3.7%, approaching April record highs Drivers of gold strength: Dollar …

Gold prices eased slightly on Friday but remained on track for strong gains in August, driven by growing expectations of a September rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Spot gold: $3,409.89/oz (-0.2%) Gold futures (October): $3,469.92/oz (-0.1%) August performance: Up 3.7%, approaching April record highs Drivers of gold strength: Dollar …

German retail sales plunged 1.5% in July compared with the previous month, far below the 0.4% decline expected, signaling a slowdown in domestic consumption and clouding the outlook for third-quarter growth. Germany’s economy contracted 0.3% in Q2, further dimming hopes for a sustained recovery in Europe’s largest economy. Analysts note …

The U.S. dollar wavered on Friday, heading for a 2% decline in August against major currencies, as markets weighed rising expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next month against concerns over the central bank’s independence. President Donald Trump’s attempts to influence monetary policy, including firing Fed Governor Lisa …

Oil prices fell in Asian trading on Friday, reversing some of Thursday’s gains, amid fading hopes for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal and renewed focus on U.S. tariffs on India. Brent October futures dropped 0.8% to $68.10/barrel. WTI crude futures fell 0.7% to $64.14/barrel. Both contracts are on track for monthly …

According to the US Department of Labor (DOL), initial unemployment claims fell to 229,000 for the week ending August 23, slightly below forecasts of 230K and down from the revised 234K the previous week. The 4-week moving average rose 2,500 to 228,500, reflecting a minor short-term uptick. Continuing claims decreased …

The U.S. economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.3% in Q2, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), exceeding both the initial estimate of 3% and the market expectation of 3.1%. Revision Details: Upward revisions in investment and consumer spending contributed to the stronger growth. Government spending was …

Price Action (1033 GMT) Brent Crude: $67.77, -0.4% WTI Crude: $63.94, -0.3% Key Drivers Seasonal Demand: U.S. Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer driving season, expected to reduce gasoline consumption. Russian Supply: Druzhba pipeline deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia resumed after last week’s outage due to a …

Price Action Bitcoin (BTC): $112,869.5, +1.7% Recent Trend: Fell below $109,000 earlier this week (seven-week low), now recovering slightly. Year-to-Date Movement: Down >10% from August peak above $124,000. Drivers Fed Rate Cut Expectations: Traders price ~85% chance of a 0.25% rate cut in September. Trump & Fed Uncertainty: President Donald …

European equities mostly rose on Thursday as investors digested Nvidia’s earnings and awaited eurozone consumer confidence data. Indexes Performance (08:15 GMT) Germany DAX: +0.4% France CAC 40: +1.1% (rebounding from earlier political-driven losses) U.K. FTSE 100: -0.1% Nvidia Earnings & China Impact Earnings: Stronger-than-expected for July quarter, with above-consensus guidance …