OPEC announced on Wednesday a reduction in its global oil demand growth forecast for 2024, marking the fifth consecutive downward revision in its monthly report. This adjustment reflects increasing concerns over macroeconomic challenges, including slowing global economic growth, high interest rates, and subdued industrial activity. The group also lowered its …
Read More »Oil Prices Edge Higher on China’s Policy Signals and Demand Optimism
Oil prices rose on Wednesday as market optimism grew regarding potential demand recovery in China, the world’s largest crude importer, following Beijing’s announcement of a significant monetary policy shift aimed at spurring economic growth. Market Overview Brent Crude Futures: Up 24 cents (0.3%) to $72.43 a barrel by 0730 GMT. …
Read More »Market Drivers; US Session
The US Dollar strengthened further on Wednesday, buoyed by rising interest rates and anticipation of the upcoming US CPI report. The Greenback’s strength was underpinned by rising Treasury yields, which reflected growing expectations for further interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. In the forex markets, the Euro weakened against …
Read More »Gild prices retreat from recent highs ahead of CPI data
Gold prices have seen a recent surge, reaching a two-week high driven by a combination of factors. Geopolitical tensions, trade war fears, and anticipated rate cuts by major central banks have boosted safe-haven demand for gold. However, rising US bond yields and a stronger US Dollar have capped the precious …
Read More »Market Drivers; US Session: Investors Closely Follow the RBA Ahead of US CPI
The global financial markets are currently laser-focused on recent decisions and upcoming events that could significantly impact various asset classes. Investors are particularly attentive to the rate decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the anticipated US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) DecisionThe RBA …
Read More »2025 Financial Outlook: Shares, Cash, Bonds, Commodities, Gold, and Bitcoin
As investors step into 2025, the financial landscape is poised for significant shifts across various asset classes. This overview is an attempt to delve into the expected trends for shares, cash, bonds, commodities, gold, and Bitcoin, providing a comprehensive understanding of what the new year might bring and could bring …
Read More »XAU Climbs Amid Geopolitical Tensions and Central Bank Buying
Gold prices climbed higher on Monday, trading up some 1.33% at $2667 per ounce, driven by a combination of factors:Geopolitical Uncertainty: The ongoing instability in the Middle East, particularly following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, has increased demand for safe-haven assets like gold. Central Bank Buying: …
Read More »Oil Prices Rise as China Signals Monetary Policy Shift and Geopolitical Uncertainty Fuels Gains
Oil prices rose by more than 1% on Monday, supported by expectations of economic stimulus from China and geopolitical developments in the Middle East. China’s Policy Shift Spurs Optimism Brent crude futures climbed 94 cents, or 1.32%, to $72.06 per barrel by 0852 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) …
Read More »U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls Exceed Expectations with Strong November Growth
The U.S. labor market demonstrated resilience in November as Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) increased by 227,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report released on Friday. This robust figure surpassed market expectations of 200,000 and significantly outpaced October’s revised gain of 36,000, which had initially been reported as just …
Read More »Oil Prices Slip Amid Concerns Over Supply Surplus Despite OPEC+ Cuts
Oil prices softened on Friday, reflecting persistent market concerns about a looming supply surplus in 2025, even as OPEC+ extended its production cuts through the end of 2026. Brent crude futures dipped by 0.9%, trading at $71.43 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 1% to $67.65 per …
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