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These are the top stories from?the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been?verified and we cannot vouch for their accuracy. Johnson & Johnson, a manufacturer of babycare products, has agreed to pay $5.5 Billion to settle outstanding lawsuits alleging that the company's Talc products cause ovarian cancer. The agreement is conditional on 95% participation by the remaining claimants. Iran and Oman have worked to achieve an agreement for the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid a lull between fighting between the U.S. -Kuwait Petroleum signed a $16billion pipeline lease agreement with Kuwait Oil, involving the...

This week, it's all central banks. Rising energy prices are likely to keep rate-setters in Tokyo, Washington and London alert even if oil is below $100. Tariffs from the United States are now back on the list of worries for markets that worry about inflation and growth risks due to war. Rae Wee, Dhara Ranasinghe and Alun John are in London. Lewis Krauskopf is in New York. 1/ DOUBLE THREAT Investors are now watching two chokepoints for energy shipping to see how much oil and natural gas comes out of the Middle East. Houthi attacks may make the Bab el-Mandeb...

Investors took comfort in some corporate earnings and weighed the potential impact of higher oil prices on monetary policy. The STOXX 600 index, which measures the performance of all European markets, rose 0.6% to 644.67 for a second consecutive week. SAP, the software giant, gained 10% on Germany's DAX after it reported that second-quarter cloud backlog growth was ahead of analyst expectations. The technology index gained 1.7% after STMicroelectronics' and BE Semiconductor's quarterly reports failed to impress investors on Thursday. Investors are trying to balance AI growth with stretched valuations and returns on large investments in technology. This has led...

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is sending oil prices soaring and Treasury yields to levels that are causing equity investors to be on edge. This has raised fears that the pain in the bond market, which was largely contained until now, could soon spread into U.S. stock markets. This week, oil prices reached $100 per barrel for the first since May. Investors were worried about global supply disruptions due to the near-halting of trade through the Strait of Hormuz. On Friday, oil prices fell to just under $100. The Federal Reserve is worried that higher oil prices will...

You wouldn't guess it by the price of aluminium. Two damaged Gulf smelters, and the resulting?logistical constraints at other smelters have already created a 2 million metric ton gap in the global supply chains. After surging to a 4-year high of $3,787.50 per tonne in early June, London Metal Exchange's (LME) 3-month aluminium now trades around $3,170 a tonne, exactly where it traded before the United States launched its "Operation?Fury", a joint strike with Israel against Iran, on February 28. Where did the war premium end up? Is the market right in being so'relaxed' about?the unprecedented shortage of a metal...

The wobbly U.S. Stock Market will be influenced by a Federal Reserve Meeting?set to shed some light on interest rate policy, as well as a slate of earnings from technology companies and artificial intelligence heavyweights. The major equity indexes are on course for a weekly decline, with Alphabet and Tesla's quarterly results dragging them down. Alphabet's fallout, which was sparked by an increase to its already massive AI budget, has set a negative tone for the results of other AI "hyperscalers", such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta Platforms, due next week. AI-related stocks are at the core of the equity...

The World Bank released an early assessment on Thursday that estimated that the costs of rebuilding could be double that amount or more. According to the government, the 7.2 and 7.4 magnitude earthquakes killed approximately 5,000 people and destroyed residential buildings, infrastructure, and non-residential structures in northern areas of Venezuela, including Caracas. According to the government, nearly 17,000 people have been injured and almost 18,000 are homeless. World Bank reported that the disaster was the "country's deadliest quake since 1812" and occurred at a time of precarious socioeconomic conditions, with a poverty level of 76%. Around 7.9 million people fled...

Investors were cautious as they awaited the first batch Big?Tech earnings that will determine whether Wall Street's AI driven rally still has room to run. After months of gains, which lifted the major indices from their lows in March, momentum has slowed as volatility among heavyweight semiconductor stocks has slowed risk appetite. Investors will be looking for new evidence after the bell that the multi-billion dollar AI investments of these companies are paying off. Alphabet is 'under special scrutiny? after the delay in launching a model that was central to their AI ambitions heightened concerns. Ipek Ozkardeskaya is a senior...

A dark cloud of Middle East conflict is once more looming above the financial markets. Geopolitical risks are back on the radar of investors, despite the fact that 'the shock of initial U.S. - Israeli strikes on Iran will not be repeated, barring a shocking twist such as a U.S. invasion on ground. The relief from falling oil and inflation pressures that followed the US-Iran truce struck in April has now evaporated. Investors, however flimsy the ceasefire may have been, took it as an opportunity to re-position themselves for economic growth and to re-expose to risk. Washington and Tehran have...

Russian officials reported that Ukraine had targeted Moscow and its surrounding area?with 400 drones over night, injuring 10 people, and setting buildings on fire, according to Russian officials. In a statement on Telegram, the?Governor of Moscow region Andrei Vorobyov?said?that seven people including three Chinese citizens had been injured in a drone strike on Domodedovo near one of Moscow's major airports. Yevgeniya Krustaleva, the mayor of Domodedovo said on Telegram in a message that "a fire broke out at an industrial park local and that also a residential building was struck." Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said that Kyiv has struck...

As renewed hostilities between?U.S. Iran and the United States have further?disrupted energy flows across the?Strait?of Hormuz. This is a vital route for global oil supply. Since the U.S. and Israel launched their attack on Iran at the beginning of February, the national average retail gas prices have increased by more than 30%. According to AAA data, the average pump price for Monday was $4.0030 per gallon. Last time the $4 mark was reached, it was in late March, when Iran stopped traffic through the Strait. In June, prices fell below this threshold after the U.S. signed an agreement with Iran...

Seven oil and gas companies are racing to secure offshore exploration rights before a New Zealand national election, which could result in a ban on new permits. The country's main parties?battle about the need for natural gas. New Zealand has attracted?interest? after the conservative government overturned last year a ban on offshore drilling, imposed in 2018. The goal was to avoid gas shortages for industry users and boost power generation during dry years when hydropower production falls. In May, the country produced 7,6 petajoules (PJ) of gas. This was largely due to fields that have declined or are about to...

Investors waited for the Federal Reserve to announce its policy decision at the end their two-day meeting in this week. They wanted insight into the direction U.S. rates will take. Spot gold dropped 0.8% at $4,042.29 an ounce as of 0843 GMT. U.S. gold contracts for August delivery fell 0.8%, to $4.042.80. "Gold has held to a very tight range since late June based on the support in $4,000 region, which suggests at some stage there will be a breakout," said Rhona Connell, StoneX's head of market research. Connell said: "Fundamentally the physical markets are still very quiet, while professionals...

The dollar strengthened on Tuesday and gold prices fell. Markets were looking for clues about the future of interest rates in the Federal Reserve's policy announcement. Gold spot fell by 0.7% at $4,044.81 an ounce as of 0250 GMT. It had risen as high as 1% Monday. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery fell 0.8% to $4.045.40. Dollars are nearing a month-high, which makes greenback bullion prices more expensive for those who hold other currencies. Ilya Spivak is the head of global macro for finance content network Tastylive. The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to conclude its two-day policy meeting...

Gold prices rose on Monday as the United States and Iran agreed to cease hostilities, sending crude oil prices down to their lowest level in a week, which eased inflation fears ahead of this week's U.S. rate decision. Spot gold rose by 0.9%, to $4.087.59 an ounce, at 09:43 am EDT (1343 GMT), whereas U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery rose by 0.5%, to $4.090. The dollar index weakened by 0.1%, making greenback-priced bullion more affordable for buyers overseas. The dollar index weakened by 0.1%, making greenback priced bullion more accessible to buyers abroad. Bart Melek is global head of...

Gold prices rose on Monday, as a pause between?strikes by U.S. forces and?Iranian forces brought crude oil prices down. This helped ease inflation fears and concerns about higher interest rates a week before Fed policymakers meet. Spot gold rose 1% by 1030 GMT to $4.093.34 an ounce, while U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery climbed 0.6% to $4.095.60. "Precious Metals have begun the week in a positive way, thanks to a pause on Middle East hostilities. The dollar has also weakened, and the yields on U.S. Treasury bonds and oil have both slid," said Ross Norman, an independent analyst. The...

Gold prices rose on Monday as a pause between strikes?between U.S. forces and Iranian forces?helped?crude oil?price?fall. This helped ease inflation fears and concerns about the possibility of higher interest rates during a week when policymakers from the Fed will be meeting. Spot gold rose by 0.9% to $4.089.03 an ounce at 0805 GMT. U.S. gold futures for delivery in August also increased by 0.5%, to $4.090.80. "Precious Metals started the week in a positive way, thanks to a pause of hostilities in the Middle East. "Oil has fallen and both the dollar yields and U.S. Treasury yields are down," said...

Gold prices increased?more? than 1%?on?Monday, as a pause in Middle East hostilities?pushed oil?prices lower?and eased inflation concerns?before a Federal Reserve Meeting this week? By 0723 GMT, spot gold had risen 1.3% to $4103.59 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures rose 0.9% to $4106.00. Tim Waterer is the chief analyst at KCM Trade. He said, "Gold has benefited from the double price action in oil and U.S. dollars." The U.S. Dollar?index fell by 0.3%, making metals priced in greenbacks more affordable to other currency holders. A senior Iranian official said on Sunday that Iran would cease its attacks if the United States...

Gold prices rose on Monday, as investors waited to see what the U.S. Federal Reserve will do about its policy later this week. By 0421 GMT, spot gold had risen 0.9% to $4.087.79 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures rose 0.5% to $4089.90. Tim Waterer is the chief market analyst of?KCM Trade. The U.S. Dollar Index fell by 0.3%, making metals priced in greenbacks more affordable to other currency holders. Iran will halt its attacks if the United States also does so, a senior Iranian government official said on Sunday. After President Donald Trump's advisors informed him that they were running...

Gold prices rose by a little more than 1%?Monday, as oil prices fell due to a pause of Middle?East hostilities, easing inflation fears. Investors awaited U.S. Federal Reserve policy announcement. By 0200 GMT, spot gold had risen 1.4% to $4110.56 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures rose 1% to $41,112.10. Gold is clearly a beneficiary of today's dual price action of oil and the U.S. Dollar, which both dropped due to de-escalation expectations between the U.S. Tim Waterer said that lower oil prices are easing inflation concerns. The U.S. Dollar Index was down by 0.3%. This made greenback-priced gold more affordable...

Gold prices climbed on Friday as oil prices fell, and investors watched developments in the Middle East to get a better idea of inflationary risks fueled by energy, as well the outlook for U.S. rates. Spot gold increased 0.4%, to $4.061.36 an ounce, by 1115 GMT after falling 0.6% earlier. U.S. gold futures for delivery in August gained 0.3%, to $4.063.60. The gold price has moved from a negative to a slightly positive territory, driven by the lower oil prices. This reduces pressure on Fed to adjust rates, said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. He added, "Our view is that the...

Gold ticked up a bit?on friday, reversing previous losses, as oil fell below $100?per barrel mark. Investors are watching developments in the Middle East to get a fresh perspective on inflationary risks driven by energy and the outlook for U.S. rates. Spot gold was up 0.2% at $4,055.38 an ounce as of 0925 GMT after falling 2% Thursday to $4.047.26. U.S. gold futures August delivery rose 0.2%, to $4.058.10. "Gold is now slightly positive after moving from a negative position earlier, driven by lower oil prices. This has reduced pressure on the Fed's rate-setting," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. He...

Gold fell?lower? on Friday, after dropping 2% in the previous session. The move of Brent crude back above $100 per barrel has stoked inflation fears and reinforced the case for higher rates before the Federal Reserve's policy meeting next Monday. Spot gold prices fell more than $130 since Wednesday's two-week high, falling to $4,037.29 an ounce at 0702 GMT. U.S. gold futures for delivery in August were down 0.3% at $4,039.80. Bullion is still on course for a 0.5% weekly gain. "In the near term, we anticipate more volatility... Gold has been stuck between $3,980 and $4,170 for weeks. We...

U.S. officials and Mexican officials announced on Thursday that they would meet in September for a 'fourth round' of negotiations to revamp North American trade agreements. This follows a week-long discussion which revealed disagreements about changes to the automotive content rules, among other things. This week, U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer held a meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as well as Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard during a third round discussion on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. In a statement released after the conclusion of the talks, Greer and Sheinbaum said they discussed autos and economic security, agriculture, electronic payments, and steel...