Market Update

Oil prices rose on Wednesday, recording a fresh highest level in a year, supported by the decline in the United States crude inventories, as well as the commitment of major producers to output cuts and the prospects of increased stimulus spending in the U.S. Brent crude futures for April delivery …

Gold prices rose marginally on Wednesday, amid a fluctuating performance by the U.S. Dollar (USD) and a rise in the Treasury yields. Gold futures for April delivery finished higher by $1.70, or 0.1%, at the level of $1,835.10 per ounce. This comes following the yellow metal most active contracts declined …

President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, James Bullard, said on Wednesday that he expects the U.S. economy to recover in 2021 with the Coronavirus pandemic easing over the first half of the year, Reuters reported. “The health crisis will wane in the months ahead.” According to Bullard, …

European stocks rose on Wednesday, supported by an improved investors’ sentiment and risk appetite. The STOXX Europe 600 index gained 0.3%, with the auto industry leading the rising sectors. The German benchmark index DAX rose by 0.71%, while the French CAC40 closed nearly unchanged. Meanwhile, the UK’s FTSE100 declined by …

Commercial crude oil inventories in the United States decreased by 1 million barrels last week, according to the weekly report of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The decline comes below market expectations. Inventories now stand at a level of 475.7 million barrels, which is about 4% above the five-year …

The economic activity of the United States services sector expanded during January for the eighth consecutive month, according to the latest Services ISM Report on Business, which was released on Wednesday. The report of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Services Business Survey showed that the Services purchasing managers’ index …

The United States services sector’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) expanded in January, showing that the U.S. economy is recovering from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, data by IHS Markit showed on Wednesday. The seasonally adjusted final IHS Markit US Services PMI Business Activity Index rose to 58.3 in January …

The United States private sector output last month witnessed its first broad-based upturn since October 2020, according to data by IHS Markit on Wednesday. The Sector Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) showed that all seven categories monitored by the series registered an expansion of business activity during January. Healthcare maintained a …

The dollar rose to a two-month high against the euro on Tuesday as markets believed the United States’ recovery from the coronavirus pandemic would likely be faster than Europe. This view was reinforced by moves in Washington towards more stimulus spending, in contrast to European closures and expectations of a …

Employment in the US’ private sector increased by 174,000 in January, the monthly data published by the Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Research Institue revealed on Wednesday. This reading beat the market expectation of 49,000 by a wide margin. Furthermore, December’s reading got revised up to -78,000 from -123,000.