Market Update

Oil prices settled higher on Wednesday, at its highest closing level in about five months, after data showed a more than expected decline in US crude inventories. Brent crude futures for October delivery closed higher by 74 cents or 1.7% at $45.17, its best since March 6. Meanwhile, the West …

European stocks closed higher on Wednesday, supported by a number of positive financial results by listed companied, despite mixed economic indicators as shown by PMI data. The Stoxx Europe 600 index added 0.43% and closed at 364.95 points. FTSE100 surged by 1.14% while CAC40 increased by 0.90% and DAX gained …

Gold prices rose on Wednesday reaching another record high level on the back of increased demand for the previous metal. Gold futures for December delivery added $28.30 or 1.4% and settled at $2,049.30 per ounce. The yellow metal has now gained about 34% since the beginning of 2020.

President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Robert Kaplan, told CNN on Wednesday that the US economy needs the extension of unemployment benefits, Reuters reported. Kaplan expects gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 20% in the third quarter (Q3), and contract by 50% in 2020. “The issue with …

The seasonally adjusted final IHS Markit US Services PMI Business Activity Index registered a neutral 50 in July, up from 47.9 in June. This is the third monthly rise in a row for the index, and it market the end of five months of contraction, or registering readings below the …

The Canadian Dollar (CAD) is showing a strong performance against the US Dollar (USD), supported by the recovery of oil prices, reaching its highest level in five months. Meanwhile, the USD continues to show general weakness across the board against major currencies. The USD/CAD has decreased by around 5.8% since …

Economic activity and financial stability in Japan are facing the risk of significant constraints in case preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic are fully re-imposed, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda has warned. However, Japan is not going into deflation with the Bank of Japan maintaining its 2% inflation target, …

The US Federal Reserve Vice Chairman, Richard Clarida, said in an interview on Wednesday that the United States economy could recover to its levels prior to the COVID-19 crisis by the end of next year, Reuters reported. “It will take some time, I believe, before we get back to the …

Crude oil inventories in the United Stated declined for the second consecutive week, according to data by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Oil stockpiles decreased by 7.4 million barrels last week, exceeding market estimates, to a total of 518.6 million barrels. Yesterday, data by the American Petroleum Institute (API) …

Purchasing managers’ indices (PMIs) in the United States showed a mostly positive performance during the month of July, according to data by IHS Markit. Four out of seven sectors expanded in activity in July, while the others showed slower rates of decline compared with June, reflecting the uneven impact of …