Europe

The oil prices rose in the early trading on Wednesday. They have risen for a?fourth straight day due to supply uncertainty. Investors weighed contradictory messages from Washington and Tehran on whether or not the 'Strait of Hormuz' is open to ships. Brent crude futures climbed?26 Cents, or 0.29% to $91.28 at 0004 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude futures rose 37 Cents to $85.31 a bar. The two contracts reached their highest levels since July 24, as the hopes for peace between Iran and the U.S. faded. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that no talks are taking place with...

The United States' long-term borrowing costs to Japan and Germany reached their highest level in decades on Tuesday as new inflation concerns added to the nagging concern about the fiscal pressures that are facing some of the largest economies around the world. The 30-year bond yields of the United States - the world's most important government bond market - hit their highest level since 2007. Oil prices -- which are up 50% this year -- have risen back above $90 per barrel, causing inflation fears as U.S. - Iran peace hopes fade. In Japan, fears of inflation and the expectation...

The sell-off of U.S. government bond prices accelerated?on? Tuesday. This sent the 30-year Treasury yield to a two-decade?high as inflation fears and stock pressure were fueled by?fears?of an escalation?in the Middle East conflict. Brent crude oil prices rose for a third day in a row, after Washington and Tehran's latest signals crushed hopes that the Middle East conflict would be resolved soon. The market's response shows that tensions remain high in the Middle East, and a new escalation could have a ripple effect on oil, bonds, currencies, and stocks. The Federal Reserve's recent rate hikes were tempered by a recent...

Four traders reported that the price of Russia's ESPO blend crude oil for October delivery to China can be up to $1 per barrel higher than ICE Brent. This is due to the strong Chinese demand as well as uncertainty about Middle East and Iranian oil supplies. The traders reported that Asian buyers were looking for alternatives to Middle Eastern crude oil due to concerns about the disruption of shipments across the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices rose Monday, despite the lack of progress in diplomatic efforts to resolve the Middle East conflict. One of the traders stated that they...

On Monday, global shares rose and the dollar dropped to its lowest level in a year after a series of'soft' U.S. data, which included an unexpected decline?in retail sales, led markets to reduce their bets on an impending rate hike by the Federal Reserve. According to CME Group's FedWatch, a hike in the next month has been priced at 30%. This is down from 50% a few weeks ago. STOXX, a benchmark index of 600 large European companies, rose 0.04% on the back of resource stocks, as gold prices increased. In the US, Nasdaq and S&P futures both gained 0.5%....

Markets reduced bets on an imminent rate hike by the Federal Reserve after a series of soft U.S. data, which included an 'unexpected drop in the retail sales. According to CME Group's FedWatch, a hike in the next month has been priced at 30%. This is down from 50% a week ago. The STOXX benchmark, which measures 600 large European companies, rose by 0.21%. This followed earlier gains of MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan (which rose 0.5%), while Japan's Nikkei rose by 0.3%. The Hang Seng index rose 1.6% and Chinese blue-chips gained 0.8% ahead of the release of...

Asian shares edged higher on Monday, led largely by Chinese stocks, ahead of important economic data. Investors kept a watchful eye on oil prices, after a large gain last week, amid a deadlock in the Gulf conflict. After a string of weak data, including a surprise drop in retail sales and a lackluster run of economic reports, markets have given up on betting that the Federal Reserve will soon raise interest rates. According to CME Group's FedWatch, a rate hike in the next month has been priced at 30%. This is down from 50% a week ago. The broadest MSCI...

The oil prices remained mostly stable on Monday. They maintained gains made the previous week. Prospects for a lasting U.S. Iran peace deal seem increasingly distant, and there are persistent fears of disruptions to supply in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures were at $88.55 as of 0128 GMT. U.S. West Texas intermediate crude futures fell 14 cents to $72.26 per barrel. Last week, both contracts rose by?more that 5% following the attacks on tankers of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company?in the Hormuz Strait and on a Saudi Aramco refining facility. The weekend saw the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas...

Early Monday, oil prices barely moved as tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz had slowed down over the weekend. There was no sign of a peace agreement between Iran and the United States to end the Middle East conflict. Brent crude futures rose 20 cents or 0.2% to $88.72 at 2350 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 5 cents to $79.35 per barrel. Last week, both contracts saw gains of more than 5% following the attacks on Abu Dhabi National Oil Company tankers in the strait of 'Hormuz and on a Saudi Aramco refining facility. The weekend...

Ukraine announced on Saturday that its long-range attacks had 'hit a Russian airfield and a rocket centre, which Kyiv claims supports a nascent Starlink satellite internet network in Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, said that Flamingo missiles had struck the rocket center, located about 900 kilometers (560 miles), from Ukraine's borders, as part Kyiv’s campaign to pressurize Moscow to end its four-year long war by targeting deep within Russia. "It's important to reduce Russia's military potential." In a blog post, he stated that peace is needed in Russia and it must be visible through damage to'specific facilities. He...

Crude oil prices rose on Friday, mainly due to renewed attacks against tankers and a verbal war between the Trump administration and Iran's leaders. Brent futures rose 80 cents or 0.92% to $87.87 per barrel at 10:48 am CT (1548 GMT), whereas U.S. West Texas intermediate crude futures increased 43 cents or 0.53% to $81.69 per barrel. Brent and WTI are on track to gain 5.09% a week and 4.37% a week, respectively. Bjarne Shieldrop is the chief commodities analyst for SEB Research. He said that higher oil prices are a result of U.S. policy towards Iran. This latest approach...

Ankur Banerjee gives us a look at what the day will bring for the European and global markets. The yen is back in the intervention area, but it's fate now seems to depend on the Fed's policies and the Bank of Japan's aggressive hikes, after the joint operation with the U.S.' failed to stop the currency's fall. The currency is heading for its worst three-month period, with the rate hovering around 159.37 dollars per U.S. Dollar, moving ever closer to 160, which could trigger another round of intervention. Tokyo spent billions to prop up the yen between April and May,...

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Moscow on ?Tuesday with Myanmar's junta chief-turned-president, Min Aung Hlaing, ?discussing a wide range of issues including prospective energy deals. Min Aung Hlaing's first visit to a non-neighboring country since becoming Myanmar president in April is Russia. This shows the deepening of ties between the two countries in response to the pressures from the West. After the meeting, Putin called Min Aung Hlaing a friend of Russia, and said that the two countries are cooperating in a variety of sectors including energy, defence, and even space exploration. Putin said that Russia and Myanmar...

China is now a major swing?supplier for aluminium in a Western market reeling from the loss production in the Gulf due to the Iran War. The top aluminium producer in the world has increased exports of metals, alloys and semi-manufactured goods (semis) to help cushion the impact on the global supply chains. China views the timing as fortunate. The national production has reached record levels, despite a slowdown in domestic demand. While China's exports may have temporarily relieved the market, a long-term problem could be lurking. Mind the Tax Gap Tax code is the primary factor that determines the composition...

Gold prices fell on Tuesday due to?higher Treasury rates and oil prices?. Traders were also waiting for the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting in July for clues about the future interest rate outlook. As of 0624 GMT spot gold fell 0.4%, to $4397.42 an ounce. U.S. futures for delivery in December dropped 0.5%, to $4452.90. The yields on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury notes extended gains and raised the opportunity costs of holding non-yielding gold. Prices of oil?increased after Iran announced it would adopt a 'fully offensive' military posture following a breakdown in negotiations to end the...

Gold prices rose on Monday due to a weaker US dollar and the fading expectation of an increase in U.S. Federal Reserve rates. Investors also continued to monitor the geopolitical tensions within Middle East. By 11:56 am EDT (1555 GMT), spot gold had risen 1.2% to $4,426.52 an ounce. U.S. gold futures for delivery in December edged up 1.1% to $4,484.10. Bart Melek is the global head of commodity strategies at TD Securities. He said that gold prices appear to be pricing in a stagflationary climate, with softer unemployment and expectations that Fed will tolerate 'current inflation levels. The US...

Gold prices rose on Monday due to a weaker US dollar and the fading expectation of an increase in U.S. Federal Reserve rates. Investors also continued to watch geopolitical tensions across the Middle East. By 09:25 am EDT (1325 GMT), spot gold had risen 0.28%, to $4387.95 an ounce. ?U.S. Gold futures for delivery in December edged up 0.2% to $4,444.40. Bart Melek is global head of commodity strategies at TD Securities. He said that the gold market seems to be pricing in a stagflationary climate, with softer unemployment and expectations that Fed will 'tolerate current levels of inflation. The...

Gold prices rose on Monday, as a weaker dollar and diminishing expectations of an increase in U.S. Federal Reserve rates next month boosted bullion. Gold spot rose 0.5%, to $4.398.58 an ounce at 1032 GMT. Prices reached a two-month high in the last week. U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery edged up 0.4% to $4,455.50. Gold is now cheaper for those who hold other currencies than the U.S. dollar index. "Softer 'inflation', employment and consumer data reduce the risk of another hike. This strengthens the case that the Fed may end up cutting rates," said Ole Hansen. He is the...

The law firm Slater and Gordon announced on Monday that it filed a class action against James Hardie Industries in an Australian court to seek compensation for losses suffered by investors due to the company’s earnings forecasts and market disclosures for fiscal 2026. The suit also claims that the conduct of the fiber cement maker artificially inflates its share price. It follows another action that was filed a few months ago, alleging that the company failed not to disclose adverse circumstances in its "North America" business. Slater and Gordon announced that it had begun court proceedings against investors who purchased...

Gold prices rose on Monday due to a weaker dollar and recent economic data which reduced expectations of a U.S. rate hike in the next month. Gold spot rose 0.4%, to $4.391.07 an ounce at 0248 GMT. Prices reached a two-month high in the last week. U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery?edged up 0.3% to $4,448.10. The U.S. Dollar index fell by 0.1% making metals priced in greenbacks more affordable for other currency holders. Tim Waterer is the chief market analyst for?KCM Trade. He said that gold has taken off and run to start the week. Soft inflation numbers are...

Overnight, Russia launched a series of airstrikes in?Ukraine?, killing two at a steel mill. Kyiv, meanwhile, launched a drone attack against the Moscow region, which killed one person, and destroyed a warehouse that was used by Russia's largest e-commerce retailer. Romania, which borders Ukraine said that an F-18 fighter participating in a NATO air patrol mission shot down a drone during the recent attacks. The NATO spokesperson did not give any details about the origin of this drone that entered the country from Moldova. Russia attacked Ukraine's biggest grain export port near the Romanian frontier on the River Danube last...

Investors were awaiting key U.S. data on inflation that could change policy expectations. This led to a rise in gold prices?on Wednesday. By 0713 GMT, spot gold had gained 0.9%. U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery rose by 0.5% to $4464.80. Bullion reached a 10-week-high on Tuesday, before hitting technical resistance around the 100-day moving?average of $4,387. It then closed lower for the second time this month. The primary driver of gold prices is the Fed's reduction in rate hikes, according to Kelvin Wong. He is a senior analyst at OANDA. "In terms of the technical position, we began to?see...

Gold edged up on Tuesday, after reaching a?peak? of more than two months earlier. Market participants are awaiting important U.S. Inflation figures that may influence expectations about the Federal Reserve’s policy. Gold spot was up 0.2% to $4,396.87 an ounce by 11:05 am EDT (1505 GMT) after reaching its highest level in the session since June 5, at $4434.84. U.S. Gold Futures rose 0.8% to $4456.10. The market will be looking at this week's data to confirm that inflation is under control, said Peter Grant, senior metals analyst and vice president of Zaner Metals. He added that a moderated annualized...

China's coal exports increased to the highest level this year in July, but that strength is based on short-term factors and unlikely to last. According to data released by the government last week, total coal imports in July were up 23% from last year's same month to 43.73 millions metric tons. It was up from 42.78 millions tons in June, and nearly a third higher than the low of 33.1million tons for April this year. After 82 miners were killed in an accident at a mine located in Shanxi Province on May 22, China began imposing safety inspections in mines....