Oil prices held steady on Thursday as markets balanced strong winter fuel demand expectations with concerns over rising U.S. fuel inventories and macroeconomic uncertainties. Brent crude futures dipped by 6 cents to $76.10 per barrel at 07:27 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures declined by 5 cents to $73.27 …
Read More »Gold Prices Hold Steady Amid Fed Concerns and Trade Tariff Uncertainty; Copper Rises on China Stimulus Hopes
Gold prices steadied in Asian trade on Thursday after two consecutive days of gains, supported by safe-haven demand amid uncertainty over a hawkish Federal Reserve and concerns about President-elect Donald Trump’s potential trade tariff policies. Spot gold dipped slightly by 0.1% to $2,660.36 an ounce, while February gold futures gained …
Read More »Is Eurozone back to a sovereign debt crisis following the German election?
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz disbanded his coalition government composed of the Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats the day after Donald Trump was re-elected as U.S. President in November. Additionally, he accelerated the election date in Germany from September 2025 to February 23, 2025. Germany lost its government as a …
Read More »Key Market Drivers; US Session: Treading Water Ahead of Crucial NFP Data
Global markets displayed a cautious tone on Wednesday, with most major currency pairs trading within narrow ranges. Investors are gearing up for a busy data release schedule culminating in Friday’s highly anticipated US Nonfarm Payrolls report.The US Dollar Index edged higher, reflecting a cautious investor sentiment that favored the safe-haven …
Read More »The Fed’s Cautious Path: What to Expect from December’s FOMC Minutes
The Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates in December, while welcomed by some, was marked by a notable degree of caution. The minutes of the December 17-18 policy meeting, to be released on Wednesday, will offer crucial insights into the internal deliberations that shaped this decision.The 25-basis-point rate cut …
Read More »Jobless Claims Data Explainer: A Resilient US Labour Market, But for How Long?
The recent decline in US jobless claims, falling to an 11-month low, offers a seemingly positive snapshot of the labour market. However, this picture is far from complete. While layoffs remain relatively low, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced reality – one of slowing hiring, prolonged unemployment for some, …
Read More »Dollar Strengthens Amid Robust U.S. Data, Weighing on Global Currencies
The U.S. dollar advanced for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, buoyed by strong economic data that pushed bond yields higher and diminished expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025. U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in November, while December’s services sector activity showed notable acceleration. Additionally, a surge in …
Read More »Oil Prices Edge Higher Amid Tightening Supplies and Strong U.S. Economic Data
Oil prices gained on Wednesday, supported by tightening supplies from Russia and OPEC members, along with robust U.S. economic data suggesting potential growth in oil demand. Brent crude rose 0.5% to $77.42 per barrel by 07:30 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 0.6% to $74.69. A Reuters …
Read More »Canadian Dollar Faces Headwinds Amid Political Turmoil
The Canadian Dollar (CAD) has halted its recent bullish recovery, halting on the charts and cycling familiar levels against the Greenback. The Loonie has recovered some ground after tumbling to multi-year highs at the tail-end of 2024, but bullish momentum remains elusive. Canada’s Ivey Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) figures disappointed …
Read More »Gold Surges, Eyes Fresh High Amidst Debt Worries, Fed Uncertainty
Gold prices rallied on Tuesday, driven by concerns over a surge in US debt issuance and the potential impact on interest rates. The market is closely watching a series of large US Treasury bond auctions this week, particularly the 10-year and 30-year bonds. Fears are mounting that the high volume …
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