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Gold prices hold steady as markets monitor inflation data
Gold was steady on Wednesday, ahead of an important U.S. data on inflation that could be used to gauge the Federal Reserve’s interest rate trajectory amid fears about economic slowdown and trade tensions. Attention was also focused on a possible ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. As of 0300 GMT spot gold was unchanged at $2,916.69 per ounce. U.S. Gold futures rose 0.1% to $2922.30. Tim Waterer, KCM Trade's chief market analyst, said that gold is in "consolidation mode" ahead of the next set of U.S. Inflation data. Investors are awaiting the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is due to be released later today, in order to determine the Fed's future interest rate stance. Gold may lose its appeal if rising prices force the Fed's interest rate to remain higher. It is not a yielding asset. The tariffs imposed by U.S. president Donald Trump are expected to increase inflation and economic unrest, which is why gold reached a record-high of $2,956.15 in February. "I expect that gold will remain a preferred asset as long as investors are worried about tariff wars or a slowdown in growth. Waterer stated that the gold bias remains positive due to ongoing tariff dramas. Trump defended his policies regarding tariffs on Tuesday, as he met with the CEOs of America’s largest companies. Many of these companies have seen their market values drop in recent weeks as fears about inflation and recession have soured investor and consumer sentiment. Trump reversed his course on Tuesday after hours of announcing higher tariffs. He had pledged to double the tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%. The U.S. has agreed to resume its military assistance and intelligence sharing program with Ukraine, after Kyiv announced that it would accept the U.S. offer of a 30-day truce in Ukraine's conflict with Russia. Spot silver fell 0.5%, to $32.76 per ounce. Platinum rose 0.4%, to $978.60. Palladium dropped 0.6%, to $940.53.
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Shanghai copper prices rise on signs of improved China demand
Shanghai copper gained more than 1% in value on Wednesday. This was a result of signs that the demand for metals in China, its largest consumer, is improving. As of 0234 GMT, the most active copper contract at the Shanghai Futures Exchange had risen 1.25% to 78,760 Yuan ($10,901.34) per metric tonne. ANZ analysts stated in a report that the fundamentals have improved, and the ANZ Downstream Copper Demand Indicator shows positive growth in particular in grid infrastructure, electric vehicles, and other areas. Manufacturers, supported by recent stimuli, are ramping production up... inventories of copper cathode in Shanghai and Guangdong have extended their declines since a peak, due to fewer imported in recent months. First Futures analysts said that the refined copper output will probably fall in China in April, as more smelters begin equipment maintenance. Those who suffer severe losses will also lower their capacity utilization rates. In a report published on Tuesday by the state-backed Antaike, the copper cathode production among the smelters that were surveyed increased by 5.28% from January to February to 1.9 millions tons. The research house also predicted that March's output would increase by 4.32% compared to the previous year to 969,000 tonnes. China consumes around half of the global copper supply annually. Analysts at ANZ said that fears of a trade war around the world limited its price increases. SHFE aluminium increased by nearly 1%, to 20,960 Yuan per ton. Zinc rose 0.95%, to 23,935 Yuan. Tin advanced 0.57%, to 263,990 Yuan. Lead was little changed, at 17,455 Yan, while Nickel eased 0.26%, to 132270 Yan. The price of three-month copper at the London Metal Exchange increased by 0.03% to $9,682 per ton. LME aluminium edged higher by 0.22% to $2.710 per ton. Lead added 0.19% at $2.059 while tin edged lower by 0.05% to 33,145. Zinc lost 0.02% at $2.919.5, and nickel dropped 0.15% at $16,455.
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Canadian Energy Minister: Ottawa will respond to US tariffs
Canadian Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said on CNN Tuesday that Canada will respond soon to any tariffs imposed by the U.S., while adding Canada did not want to escalate or cause trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. In response to White House remarks that Canada is viewed by Washington as a rival, the energy minister stated Canada does not want to be a competitor. The White House announced on Tuesday that the 25% tariffs previously planned on steel and aluminium products from Canada and other countries, as well as the United States' northern neighbour, would go into effect on Wednesday. In a series of rapid-fire actions that sent financial markets into chaos, Donald Trump reversed his course on Tuesday after hours of announcing higher tariffs. This switch was made after a Canadian official backed down his own plans to charge 25% more for electricity. The back and forth between the U.S., Canada and other countries further shook financial markets that were already shaky due to Trump's tariff focus. The Canadian energy minister said late Tuesday that Canada was hoping for a positive result and would be watching to see if tariffs were implemented. He said that the tariffs might not be implemented because of the lack of predictability in the past. Reporting by Kanishka in Washington, Editing by Christopher Cushing & Raju Gopalakrishnan
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Euro surgrise on Ukraine ceasefire proposals, tariffs squeeze stock
The euro reached a five-month-high on Wednesday, as Ukraine was ready to accept a ceasefire lasting a full month. Meanwhile, stocks were swayed by the back and forth of U.S. tariffs plans and concerns about an economic slowdown in the U.S. European equity futures jumped by 0.8%, and FTSE Futures climbed 0.3%. This was after the U.S. announced it would resume military aid to Ukraine and share intelligence with Ukraine following Kyiv's acceptance of a U.S. proposed ceasefire. Russia has not yet responded. In New York, the euro reached its highest level since October at $1.0947. It remained steady at $1.0913 during the Asia session. Overnight, the Russian rouble reached a seven-month peak. The broadest MSCI index of Asia-Pacific stocks outside Japan rose 0.2%. Markets in Hong Kong, China and Japan were all relatively stable. Japan's Nikkei held its ground after falling to a nearly six-month-low a day before. Overnight, the S&P 500 was on the verge of a 10% drop from its record-breaking closing high in February. It ended a volatile session around 0.8% lower. After Ontario suspended its plans to impose a surcharge for exported electricity, President Donald Trump threatened and then backtracked from a 50% increase in steel and aluminum tariffs against Canada. Dollar has fallen, Treasuries are up and stocks have been selling at their highest level in months. Traders worry that tariffs and policy uncertainties will harm U.S. economic growth. Catriona Burst, portfolio manager for a global fund with Wilson Asset Management Australia said: "He is clearly trying to rebalance back the economy in favor of America." She said, "During this initial phase, when he is going hard, the environment in which you are operating is very dynamic." The uncertainty created by the tariffs, and the back and forth on them, is preventing decision-making... the impact that this has on the short-term pocket of the U.S. as well as the growth in that country will be very interesting." Travel stocks were hit after Delta Air Lines slashed its profit forecast by half, and rivals United Airlines and American Airlines warned about deteriorating results and falling government bookings. Investors worried about the economy punished retailers with disappointing financial results. Dick's Sporting Goods shares plunged 5.7% after a gloomy outlook, and Kohl's Corp's shares fell 24% following a decline in sales. Tariffs on steel and aluminum will be implemented later today. The U.S. data on inflation for February will also be released, but it may still be too early to see the impact of tariffs. The central bank meeting of Canada will be closely monitored to see how monetary policymakers in the frontline of Trump's Trade War are thinking. The market has priced in a seventh consecutive rate reduction, which was only a slight possibility two weeks ago. Overnight, the Canadian dollar fell to a low of C$1.443 before rising back up to C$1.443. U.S. stock futures were largely unchanged. The yen slipped from its five-month high, trading at around 148 dollars. The Australian dollar, which is sensitive to risk, was held at just below 63 U.S. Cents. Brent crude futures traded just under $70.00 a barrel. (Editing by Shri Navaratnam).
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Oil prices increase on weak dollar but worries about tariffs impact gains
The oil prices rose early on Wednesday due to a weaker US dollar. However, mounting concerns about a U.S. slowdown, and the impact tariffs will have on global economic growth, capped gains. Brent futures rose by 27 cents or 0.39% to $69.83 a bar at 0110 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude futures rose 29 cents or 0.44% to $66.54 a bar. Daniel Hynes said that despite the weakening economy, oil remained in a positive market position. This is a good sign that the demand for crude oil in the near term remains strong. Oil prices rose as the dollar index fell by 0.5% on Tuesday to new 2025 lows, making crude oil cheaper for buyers who hold other currencies. Investors were rattled by increased tariffs on imported goods and a deteriorating consumer mood. Trump's protectionist policy has shaken the global markets. He has delayed and then imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and other major oil suppliers, as well as raising duties on China. This has led to retaliatory actions. Trump stated that a "period transition" is likely, but he did not rule out the possibility of a U.S. economic recession. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on Tuesday that the U.S. crude production will set a record in supply this year, with an average of 13.61 million barrels a day. Investors will be looking for clues about the future of interest rates in the U.S. Inflation data, due Wednesday. Also, they closely monitor OPEC+'s plans. The producer group announced plans to increase production in April. Market sources cited American Petroleum Institute data on Tuesday to report that crude oil stocks in the U.S. increased by 4.2 millions barrels during the week ending March 7. Investors are now awaiting government data due Wednesday on U.S. stocks to provide further trading signals. (Reporting and editing by Himani Sarkar in New York, Nicole Jao)
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Australia shares are heading for correction as US tariff tensions rise
Australian shares continued to fall on Wednesday, briefly entering correction territory. Investor appetite was dampened by local media reports that the White House confirmed Australia would not be exempted from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. S&P/ASX 200 Index fell by 1.2% at 0001 GMT to 7,793.6. The benchmark index fell up to 1.6% in the morning session. It is now down around 10% from its February 14 high. This is known as a "market correction". Local media reported on the fact that Australia would not be exempted from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum that President Donald Trump will impose against other countries. They cited White House spokesperson KarolineLeavitt. The reports stated that Trump had agreed to exempt Australia from tariffs in February, but decided not to do so. This was due in part because of the U.S. surplus trade with Australia. The U.S. stock market continued its biggest overnight sell-off in many months after Trump announced he would increase tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum products by 50%. These tariffs will take effect in a few hours. Real estate stocks in Sydney fell by as much as 1.5 percent to their lowest level since the second of July 2024. The heavyweight financials fell for the seventh consecutive session, dropping as much as 1,7% and reaching their lowest level since Oct 7, 2024. The 'Big Four" lenders fell between 1.1% to 1.9%. The index fell 0.7%, while the miners' price dropped by 0.7%. BHP Group, the world's largest listed mining company, fell 1.1%. Rio Tinto, Fortescue and Fortescue, on the other hand, both fell by 2.2% and 1.6%. Gold stocks rose 0.8%, bucking the trend. The gold price increased on demand for safe havens amid concerns about an economic slowdown due to tariff wars and a weaker US dollar. The benchmark S&P/NZX50 index for New Zealand fell by 0.9%, to 12,305.19.
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Australia is 'disappointed’ after Trump ruled out exemptions from steel tariffs
Australia said on Wednesday that it was "really disappointed" U.S. president Donald Trump didn't give it exemptions from steel and aluminum tariffs. But it vowed to keep lobbying for a reprieve. Trump stated in February that he would give "great consideration" to exempting Australia, based on the U.S. trade surplus with Australia. This was after a telephone call with Australian Prime Minster Anthony Albanese. The White House announced on Tuesday that all steel and aluminum products imported into the U.S., from any country, would be subject to a 25% tariff on Wednesday. There were no exemptions or exceptions. Richard Marles, the Australian Deputy Premier, said that his government will continue to push for an exception from Trump's administration. Marles, a radio host at 2GB, said: "Well obviously this is a very disappointing news." Tariffs are a form of self-harm. We will be able find other markets for steel and aluminium, and we are diversifying these markets." During Trump's first term as president, he exempted Australia of U.S. Tariffs on Steel and Aluminium. The last time we tried, it took nine months for the Trump administration to grant us an exemption on steel and aluminum. Marles stated that we will continue to press the issue. Trump threatened on Tuesday to increase tariffs by 50% for Canada, but changed his mind just hours later, causing the financial markets to panic. Australia is an important U.S. ally and security partner in the Indo-Pacific region. However, it exports very little steel to the U.S.
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CERAWEEK: Agarwal, a billionaire oil industry investor, may expand Cairn production by investing in US oil service companies
Cairn India, India's largest private oil and gas company, said Tuesday that it could invest in U.S. engineering and service companies as part a plan of $5 billion to increase output by five times in the next few years. Anil Agarwal, a billionaire, said in an interview that he wanted to invest $5 billion to develop his project and reach 500,000 barrels of oil per day. Cairn Limited, a part of Vedanta, produces today 100,000 bpd. The company plans to drill several deepwater exploratory wells in the next year. Agarwal said, during a trip to Houston, where he attended CERAWeek, that Cairn is looking to buy five or six drilling rigs and work with seven or eight technical partners to explore and develop the offshore project. Agarwal stated, "We would like to have at least 20 drilling rigs working in our field." He said, "I can invest into the engineering company and the rig company because it will help me explore India better." I'd love to see American companies come together and work on this project. (Reporting and editing by Simon Webb, David Gregorio, and Ron Bousso)
UK to open new sites for mini-nuclear power stations
The UK announced on Thursday that it would free up more sites in England and Wales for the development of nuclear energy, as part its efforts to decarbonise power networks.
The office of Prime Minister Keir starmer announced plans to increase the number of sites that could be used for nuclear development. It also set forth other reforms designed to streamline the planning processes.
This country hasn't constructed a nuclear reactor in decades. He said that we've been left behind and let down.
British governments have pushed for SMRs, which are small-scale nuclear power plants. They wanted to avoid high upfront costs and delays in planning as well as the difficulty of finding investors that come with larger plants. To date, however, no SMR project has been built.
After his July election victory, Starmer's plan to govern is centered on attracting private capital. He had inherited a slow economy and imposed spending and borrowing rules to promote economic stability.
In his bid to boost growth, he has already announced the planning of broader reforms - particularly large infrastructure projects.
Currently, eight sites have been approved for nuclear development. The new plan encourages developers to suggest other sites, and offers flexibility so that SMRs can be located next to artificial intelligence data centres.
The new document on nuclear policy builds upon a consultation conducted by the former Conservative government in 2011. It will undergo further consultations and scrutiny from parliament before being adopted.
Since 2023, a government competition has been underway to develop SMRs. Four bidders are still competing for contracts that could amount to billions of pounds in technology development. The four bidders are Rolls-Royce Nuclear Energy, Westinghouse Nuclear Energy, Holtec Britain, and GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy - a joint venture between General Electric Co. and Japan's Hitachi Ltd.
A previous SMR competition was launched in 2016 but did not proceed beyond the information-gathering stage and closed in 2017. (Reporting and additional reporting by Susanna Tridale; editing by Kevin Liffey).
(source: Reuters)