Japanese stocks closed lower on Monday with SoftBank Group leading losses as concerns over the fallout from the mutated Omicron from the coronavirus outweighed the positive impact of gains in technology heavyweights. The Nikkei index fell 0.37 percent to close at 28,676.46 points, while the broader Topix index fell 0.45 …

Oil prices were mixed on Monday, with Brent crude rising, while US crude futures fell after airlines canceled thousands of flights in the United States over the Christmas holidays amid a surge in Covid-19 infections. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 41 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $73.38 a …

Gold prices stabilized on Monday above the key level of 1,800 dollars an ounce, while a slight decline in US Treasury yields was offset by a rise in the dollar. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $1,809.95 an ounce and has mostly remained above $1,800 since closing above that level for …

The financial markets closed the trading week ending on December 24, with the progress of risk assets, led by global stocks, over the rest of the safe-haven assets, led by the US dollar. Over that week, the main drivers of the markets were the economic data and positive developments regarding …

Brent crude futures fell 1% to $76 a barrel on Friday, coinciding with holiday liquidity tightening and closures due to Omicron as US markets were closed for holidays. Although Omicron has caused some travel restrictions and increased infections, a British health agency said the mutant was less likely to lead …

European shares settled at the open on Friday in light of weak trading during the Christmas holidays, after global stocks rose recently on indications that the mutated Omicron may not derail the recovery of the global economy. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was stable by 0930 GMT, after rising nearly …

The dollar headed for its worst week since September, while other risk-friendly assets from bitcoin to the Australian dollar maintained their recent gains buoyed by easing concerns about the severity of the new COVID-19 mutation. MSCI’s Asia Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.2%, and Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.1% after the …

The Nikkei index gave up small gains and fell on Friday, as investor sentiment was negatively affected by the news of the discovery of the first local cases of the omicron of the coronavirus in Tokyo. The Nikkei fell 0.05 percent to close at 28,782.59 points, after rising by 0.25 …

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Friday, December 24, that he expects relatively high gas prices next year, according to the Interfax news agency. Europe relies on Russia to provide about 35% of its natural gas needs, the price of which has risen to an all-time high on the …

Brent crude futures edged higher to USD 74.2 per barrel on Wednesday, after rebounding more than 3% in the previous session, as shrinking inventories and an energy crunch in Europe more than offset worries about new restrictions to combat the Omicron spread that could dent fuel demand. Oil prices fell …