United States

The oil prices remained stable on Tuesday, after rising by more than 2% the previous session. The U.S. announced that it may sell the Venezuelan crude they seized. Meanwhile, Ukraine's attacks against Russian vessels and piers increased fears of supply disruption. Brent crude futures fell by 6 cents or 0.1% to $62.01 a barrel at 0440 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), which is a blend of West Texas and Texas Intermediate crudes, fell 9 cents or 0.16% to $57.92. Brent's daily performance was the best in two months, and WTI rose to its highest level since November 14....

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that it would be a good idea for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro if he left power. The United States can 'keep or sell' the oil they have seized in recent weeks off the coast of Venezuela. Trump's campaign of pressure on Maduro includes a stepped-up military presence and over two dozen military attacks on vessels suspected of trafficking drugs near Venezuela in the Pacific Ocean or Caribbean Sea. The?attacks have killed at least 100 people. When asked if his goal was to remove Maduro from the presidency, Trump replied to reporters: "Well I think...

Wall Street opened higher, while the yen fell to near-all-time lows versus the euro. Higher interest rates put pressure on Japanese government bonds. S&P 500 futures rose 0.4%. Nasdaq futures gained 0.1%. MSCI's broadest world share index added 0.2%. Due to the fact that the?U.S. The?U.S. Investors are primarily focused on closing the year before January's inflation and labour market releases," he said. Even though it was a holiday-shortened weekend for most of the world, momentum funds continued to flow to equities and precious metals ahead of delayed data which is expected to show that the U.S. economic growth has...

Oil prices increased on Monday, after the U.S. announced that it had intercepted a tanker of oil in international waters near the Venezuelan coast. This has caused new supply uncertainty. Brent crude futures rose by 46 cents or 0.8% to $60.93 a barrel at 0400 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 46 cents or 0.8% to $56.98. The market is now recognizing that the Trump Administration is taking a tough stance on the Venezuelan oil industry, said June Goh. She is the senior oil analyst at Sparta Commodities. Goh said that the geopolitical news, along with the simmering...

The oil prices rose in the early hours of Monday morning after the U.S. intercepted an?oil-tanker from Venezuela over the weekend. Brent crude futures rose by 44 cents (or 0.73%) to $60.91 per barrel at 0141 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), crude oil, rose by 40 cents or 0.71% to $56.92. Officials told Sunday that the U.S. Coast Guard was also pursuing a tanker near Venezuela in international waters. If successful, this would be the second operation of the weekend, and the third within less than two weeks, if it is successful. Tony Sycamore, IG analyst, said that the rebound...

Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that Russia’s terms to end the war in Ukraine are unchanged from what he outlined in June 2024. This is a sign of no compromise, as the United States continues to push for a resolution. Putin outlined the Kremlin stance at the start of his annual press conference that lasts for four hours. He said he didn't see any readiness from the Ukrainian side for a peace agreement, but that there were "certain signs" of a willingness to engage in dialogue. Putin stated: "The only thing that I would like to say is we have...

Investors digested central bank decisions that highlighted divergent monetary policies around the world. Global shares rose Thursday, after?benign U.S. data on inflation. U.S. consumer prices rose less than expected during the year ending November. This initially hurt the dollar, but lifted equities on the hope of U.S. interest rate cuts in 2019. The pound rose after the Bank of England reduced interest rates, but indicated that further easing was unlikely. As expected, the European Central Bank left euro zone rates unchanged and took a more optimistic tone about the economy. Bank of Japan expected to raise rates on Friday. However,...

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that they hoped the U.S. President Donald Trump administration didn't make a fatal mistake over Venezuela. They also said that Moscow was concerned about U.S. actions that threaten international navigation. Trump ordered on Tuesday a "blockade", of all oil tankers sanctioned by Washington, that enter and leave Venezuela. Washington was trying to increase pressure against Nicolas Maduro’s government. After the U.S. seize a sanctioned oil tanker off the coasts of Venezuela, last week. Loaded vessels with?millions barrels of crude oil chose to stay in Venezuelan waters than risk being seized. In a press release,...

Tom Westbrook gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. The markets expect that the Bank of England will be the sole mover in a series of central bank meetings on Thursday. A 25-basis point rate cut to 3.75 percent is almost as predictable as the collapse of the top order at the Ashes Test in Adelaide. Investors were reassured by the unexpected drop in UK inflation on Wednesday. However, with inflation at the highest level among G7 countries, 3.2%, it is unlikely that further rate cuts will be imminent. Sterling is down to...

Shell, the oil major, has made a final investment decision for a 'waterflooding project' at its Kaikias Field in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The project aims to increase oil recovery and prolong the life of Ursa Platform. The project will add an additional 60 million barrels of oil to the recoverable resources. Shell, the top deep-water operator in the U.S. Gulf, is making a new investment to maintain liquids production of?nearly 1.4 million barrels per day?until the year 2030. The first injection is scheduled for 2028, and will extend Ursa’s production cycle by several years. Waterflooding is a secondary...

Wall Street was also set to start lower on Tuesday as traders were cautious ahead of important?U.S. jobs data. Investors were eagerly awaiting the October and November U.S. The October and November?U.S. employment reports are due in the later session after the data collection was delayed during the U.S. shutdown. After the Fed's comments when it reduced rates last week were interpreted as being less hawkish that anticipated, this could affect expectations for the U.S. Federal Reserve monetary policy in the coming year. This would strengthen expectations for further rate cuts by 2026. The stock markets dropped during Asian trading....

Early trading Tuesday saw European stocks fall as traders remained cautious ahead of important U.S. employment data. The dollar also remained near its lowest level in the past two months. Investors waited for the U.S. Employment Reports for October and November due later in session. Data collection was delayed during the U.S. Government Shutdown. After the Fed's comments when it reduced rates last week were interpreted as being less hawkish that anticipated, this could affect expectations for the U.S. Federal Reserve monetary policy in the coming year. This would strengthen expectations for further rate cuts by 2026. The stock markets...

In 2025, precious metals outperformed all other "safe haven" investment options. This is remarkable, especially in an year that was marked by turmoil, conflict and artificial intelligence bubble concerns. The market landscape for this year was shaped by a number of factors: a booming economy, politicians pushing for easy money, fading recession fears, an AI frenzy, and rising geopolitical tensions. Precious Metals outperformed almost everything else. Silver and platinum have more than doubled and gold has risen over 60%. This is its biggest jump since 1979's oil crisis. This performance was far superior to the roughly 20% gain in global...

Export Finance Australia has sent a non-binding support letter to Latrobe Magnesium, Australia. The letter could be used to fund the construction of a magnesium plant in Victoria. The U.S. will provide support for the development of stage 2 of the commercial magnesia extraction facility as part of a deal with Australia that aims to counter China's dominance of the minerals industry. Magnesium, which is used to produce steel and titanium in China, is the world’s largest producer. Construction of the 'plant, which will process up to 10,000 tons of magnesium each year, is estimated to cost approximately A$250,000,000 ($166.70...

The third year has been tough for battery metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. All three markets are struggling to absorb the supply wave that followed the price boom of 2022. The electric vehicle revolution continues. The demand for batteries, and the metals needed to make them work, is still rising at an accelerated pace. It is only a matter time before the current glut of supply is absorbed by demand. This was at least the hope. Chinese companies are undergoing a technological revolution at the same time, as they work to create ever-more powerful batteries for ever-lower costs. Battery...

The third year has been tough for battery metals like lithium, nickel and copper as the three markets struggled to absorb the supply wave that followed the price boom of 2022. The electric vehicle revolution continues. The demand for metals and batteries that power them is growing at an accelerated rate. It is only a matter time before the current glut of supply is absorbed by demand. This was at least the hope. Chinese companies are, however, embarking on a "simultaneous" technological revolution, as they seek to develop batteries that are ever more powerful at a lower cost. Battery chemistry...

The U.S. government body that oversees the fund announced on Thursday that the Ukraine-U.S. Reconstruction Fund, created as part of a minerals 'deal' signed by the two countries in April, has approved its asset policies and is ready to review its first investment opportunities starting in 2026. In a press release, the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), said that the fund's 2nd meeting "reached the final consensus needed to bring the fund into full operational status". The DFC stated that potential deals could focus on energy and minerals development, as well as maritime infrastructure. Kyiv, under pressure from Donald Trump for...

South Korea's Industry Minister said on Wednesday that Korea Zinc’s plan to build a U.S. Smelter will help develop supply chains for essential minerals. Seoul may also discuss the possibility of receiving support from an U.S. Investment Fund. Korea Zinc announced on Monday a plan for a critical minerals refinery worth $7,4 billion in Tennessee. The project will be financed primarily by Washington. Kim Jung-kwan, Industry Minister, said at a 'press conference that he viewed the decision as a positive one for Korea Zinc despite its financial burden. Kim stated that "we concluded that those plans from Korea Zinc?will help...

Holcim announced on Tuesday that it had paid $550 million to acquire a majority stake in Cementos Pacasmayo in Peru, in order to expand the Swiss cement manufacturer's presence in South America. Holcim will take a 50.01 % stake in Cementos Pacasmayo in the deal, which values the Peruvian firm at $1.5 billion, including debt or $1.1 billion in equity value. According to the Peruvian law on takeovers, Holcim is required to offer more shares of the 'company and will likely increase its stake in the company, Holcim said. Cementos Pacasmayo expects sales of $630 millions for 2025, with a...

Copper fell more than 3% Friday after reaching a record-high earlier in the session. Fears of the AI bubble burst prompted a sell-off across a wide range of riskier assets. Benchmark three-month Copper?on the London Metal Exchange? fell by as much as 3.5%, to $11,451.50. It was trading at $11,537.50, down 2.8% as of 1700 GMT. Metal used in construction, manufacturing and power generation earlier hit a record of $11,952, just a few cents away from the psychologically important $12,000 mark. After two weeks of gains, copper is expected to end the week at a 0.7% loss after fading optimism...

The price of silver hit a new record on Friday, as gold prices rose more than 1% and hovered at a 7-week high. This was spurred by a weaker dollar and the Federal Reserve's interest rate reduction this week. By 1028 am, spot gold had risen 0.6% to $4.308,43 an ounce. ET (1528 GMT), and was on course for a weekly gain of 2.7% after previously rising by 1%. U.S. Gold Futures increased 1.5% to $4.376.60. Silver spot rose by 0.8%, to $63,03 per ounce. This is after it reached a new record high of $64.64/oz. The metal has gained...

Gold prices rose by?1% on Friday to a seven week high, helped by a weak dollar, expectations of interest rate reductions and a safe haven demand due to geopolitical turmoil. Silver also hit a new record high. Spot gold climbed 1% by 1248 GMT to $4,327.31 an ounce, its highest since October 21. It was also set for a weekly gain of 3.1%. U.S. Gold Futures rose 1.2% to $4363.20. Dollar hovered at a 2-month low and was on course for a third consecutive weekly decline, making gold more affordable for foreign buyers. Zain Vawda is an analyst at MarketPulse,...

Gold prices rose by?1% on Friday to a seven week high, helped by a weak dollar, expectations of interest rate reductions and safe haven demand due to geopolitical turmoil. Silver also hit a new record high. Gold spot rose by 1.2% at 1136 GMT to $4,332.25 an ounce, its highest since October 21. It was also set for a weekly gain of 3.2%. U.S. Gold Futures rose 1.3% to $4 368.60. Dollar hovered at a 2-month low and was on course for a third consecutive weekly decline, making gold more affordable for foreign buyers. Zain Vawda is an analyst at...

Gold prices rose to a seven week high on Friday. This was boosted by a weak dollar, expectations of interest rate reductions, and a safe haven demand due to geopolitical turmoil. Gold spot rose 0.7% at 0945 GMT to $4,311.73 an ounce, its highest since October 21. This marks a 2.7% gain for the week. U.S. Gold Futures rose 0.7% to $4343.50. Dollar hovered at a two-month high and was on course for a third consecutive weekly drop. This made bullion more accessible to overseas buyers. Zain Vawda is an analyst at MarketPulse by OANDA. He said that "the sharp...