Market Update

Canadian building permits declined in July by 3.9%, data by Statistics Canada showed on Thursday. The total value of building permits amounted to CAD 9.9 billion, rising by 21.8% on an annual basis. The reading comes against market expectations, after a 7.2% increase in June.

There were 340,000 initial claims for unemployment benefits in the US during the week ending August 28, the data published by the US Department of Labor (DOL) revealed on Thursday. This reading followed the previous print of 354,000 (revised from 353,000) and came in slightly better than the market expectation …

Russia’s production of oil and gas condensate fell to 10.43 million barrels per day in August from 10.46 million barrels per day in July, according to calculations made by Reuters based on an Interfax report citing data from the Energy Ministry issued on Thursday. Interfax reported that the total production …

The euro held near a one-month high against the dollar and a six-month peak against the pound, supported by statements that tend to tighten monetary policy by policymakers at the European Central Bank, and after data that showed inflation at its highest level in ten years and in light of …

Gold prices stabilized as investors held off large bets in anticipation of a US non-farm payrolls reading seen as critical to the schedule for the Federal Reserve’s tapering of stimulus. There was little change in gold in spot trading at $1814.58 an ounce by 0646 GMT, while gold was trading …

European shares rose on Thursday, supported by oil and chemical companies, while doubts about the outlook for monetary policy and signs of slowing global growth limited gains. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index rose 0.1% after Asian shares fell on growing concerns about the Chinese economy following a batch of weak …

Japan’s Topix index closed at a more than five-month high on Thursday, recovering from earlier losses, as a rise in technology shares offset the impact of a decline in carriers. Topix rose 0.14% to 1983.57 points, its highest closing level since March 29. The index rose for the fourth consecutive …

Oil prices fell after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to keep its policy of gradual supply back to the market unchanged as coronavirus cases soar around the world and many US refiners, a major source of crude demand, are out of business. Brent crude fell 15 …

Oil prices showed a mixed performance on Wednesday after the OPEC+ alliance decided to maintain the gradual production increases, easing previous output cuts. The global benchmark, Brent crude, closed lower for the second day despite expectations for a rising demand this year, with fears over disruptions due to Hurricane Ida. …

Gold prices closed modestly lower on Wednesday for the second time in three sessions, despite a mostly negative performance by the U.S. Dollar (USD). An improvement in risk appetite and rising stocks limited the demand for the yellow metal as a safe haven investment after a slew of mixed economic …