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Anna Szymanski is the Editor-in Charge of Open Interest. As markets awaited the first meeting of the new Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh at the helm?of the U.S. Central Bank, global stocks were stable on Wednesday. Investors will focus on the message today as policymakers are expected to leave interest rates unchanged. Oil prices stabilized on Tuesday after falling below $80 per barrel for the first time since months, as new details about the U.S. Iran memorandum emerged. This included the possibility of lifting sanctions on Iranian oil. Below, I'll go into more detail. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast....

The oil prices fell on Wednesday as investors evaluated the?U.S. - Iran peace deal. However, uncertainty about?the full resumption?of shipping through the?Strait?of Hormuz's?limited further drops. Brent crude futures fell 16 cents or 0.2% to $78.80 per barrel at 0340 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate dropped 25 cents or 0.3% to $75.80 per barrel. On Tuesday, both benchmarks fell 5% in a second session straight to reach their lowest levels in three months on the hope that an agreement between the U.S. and Iran would allow oil to flow through Strait. "Markets have stripped out the embedded geopolitical risks premium in...

Investors questioned whether the Iran War will end and the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. Brent crude futures rose 47 cents (0.6%), to $79.43 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was up 48 cents (0.6%), to $76.53 per barrel as of 0038 GMT. The benchmarks for both fell 5% on Tuesday, a second consecutive session. They reached three-month lows in hopes that a U.S. Iran deal would allow oil to flow through the Strait. Oil markets fell on the expectation that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen after the?peace accord, but traders held back further sales pending more details, said...

The global?stocks rose on Tuesday, following a rally on Monday on the news of a U.S. - Iran peace deal. Meanwhile, the dollar remained steady against the yen after the Bank of Japan increased rates to a '31-year-high. The markets have taken a more measured approach to Gulf developments, as the initial excitement surrounding the preliminary agreement reached between Washington and Tehran has begun to fade. Investors were encouraged by the blockbuster IPO of SpaceX, which took place late last week. Its shares rose nearly 20% on the following Monday and pushed the market value of the space exploration firm...

Asian stocks gained modestly on Tuesday, following a rally on Monday on the news of a U.S. - Iran peace pact. Investors also assessed a widely anticipated Bank of 'Japan 'rate increase that reached a new high of 31 years. The Nikkei index rose 0.6% and briefly crossed the 70,000-mark to reach a new high after the Japanese central banks voted to raise its benchmark policy rates to 1%. This was the highest level since 1995. The yen was unchanged at 160.31 against the dollar. The Australian dollar, which was 0.3% weaker at $0.70515, was also little changed. This is...

Asian stocks fell on Tuesday, as investors focused on 'central bank decisions. This included an expected 'rate hike by the Bank of Japan. The markets have taken a more measured approach to Gulf developments, as the initial excitement surrounding the preliminary agreement reached between Washington and Tehran has begun to fade. Brent crude futures rose 0.1% to $83,25 per barrel, reflecting the cautious approach. Shipping companies in Asia and Europe say it could take several weeks to rebuild confidence that the Strait of Hormuz will be open for business again. MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan has lost gains and...

Anna Szymanski is the Editor-in Charge of Open Interest. On?Monday, oil prices fell and global stocks rose after the United States reached a preliminary agreement with Iran. After more than three months of disruption, the memorandum of agreement should allow the?Strait of Hormuz to reopen. Donald Trump, the U.S. president and Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani prime minister announced that a deal was struck late Sunday night. The agreement, which is scheduled to be signed in Switzerland on Friday, leaves many questions unanswered. This may mean that market celebrations are premature. Below, I will go into more detail. Listen to the...

Are you looking for inspiration? Weekend 'Reads' will be published every Friday to provide an overview of what the Open Interest team have been watching, reading and listening to. This week the team is recommending a range of articles, from analyses of the 'World Cup to breakdowns of the 'energy shock. You're reading... MIKE Dolan, ROI Finance & Markets columnist: Gene Frieda, at the think tank Bruegel, considers if the latest energy crisis may require temporary fiscal-monetary cooperation in the U.S. and Europe - which could involve central banks purchasing debt or anchoring borrowing rates. RON BOUSSO is the ROI...

Oil fell and global stocks rose on Friday, as fresh 'hopes' of a deal between Iran and the U.S. ignited a rally. Meanwhile, investors awaited Elon Musk’s SpaceX's highly anticipated Wall Street debut. European stocks rose more than 1.5% early in trading after strong gains in Asia. However, Wall Street futures indicated a subdued and generally flat opening. Oil futures fell by about 2.5% when U.S. president Donald Trump announced that a peace agreement could be signed this weekend. Meanwhile, Tehran claimed it had not yet made a decision. Trump has said repeatedly since mid-March that a deal to end...

Gregor Stuart Hunter gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. Oil is back in the spotlight and equity markets are struggling to find a footing after the selloff this week triggered by new?blows against the ceasefire?in?the Middle East. U.S. has?launched a new strike against multiple targets within Iran. President Donald Trump has promised even more attacks in the event of no peace agreement. Brent crude rose by 1.7% to $94.64 on Friday after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran announced that it had targeted U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain and threatened?to...

What's important in U.S. and Global Markets Today By Mike Dolan, Editor at Large, Finance and Markets It's unnerving that the relapse of U.S. Tech stocks on Tuesday occurred as oil prices dropped sharply in the same session. This shows how stock market anxiety extends "well beyond" the energy story. The crude?prices on Wednesday were volatile after the U.S. and?Iran exchanged missile strikes overnight, the most alarming direct interaction between the two sides since the fragile ceasefire was established. Below, I will go into more detail. Check out my most recent column about why the stock exchange is becoming more...

Stock market gains are not the real economy but they offer more than just a warm fuzzy feeling for many families. Stock-based compensation for workers may be a factor that helps bind them'more closely' The U.S. economy has remained stable despite a turbulent post-pandemic period of high inflation, rising interest rates and political and trade uncertainty. Many theories have been put forward, ranging from robust corporate and household finances to tax "cuts" and a three-year old AI investment boom. One of the most popular is that the stock market's resilience has boosted the so-called "wealth effect" and kept the consumption...

Four sources familiar with the matter have confirmed that C hina's leading copper producers are looking to expand the membership of their smelter team in order to improve their negotiating position with the miners regarding?raw materials supply. A group of 16 large producers who traditionally set the 'floor price' for copper concentrate processing contracts, called The China Smelters Purchase Team invited several potential 'new members to its quarterly meeting in Yantai, Shandong Province on Wednesday. Chinese smelters have begun negotiating with Antofagasta, a Chilean miner, about?concentrate supply deals. Smelters charge treatment and refining fees (TC/RCs), which are paid by miners...

Thyssenkrupp announced on Tuesday that it plans to spin-off its Materials Trading division, which accounts for almost a third in the total sales of the German conglomerate. This announcement has been reported by and is part of the company's ongoing efforts to "turn itself into a holding company". The company has divested its hydrogen and marine divisions through individual stock listings in the past. Thyssenkrupp shareholders will vote on the issue of spinning off 49% in an extraordinary shareholder meeting scheduled for August 7. Jefferies analysts estimate that the segment has an enterprise value of EUR3.6 billion ($4.2 billion). Around...

Milan's court acquitted?eight defendants on Tuesday in the first of a dozen criminal cases into urban planning which slowed construction in Italy’s financial capital. The case concerned the construction of an 87 metre building, which was authorised based on a simple renovation permit. The approval was part a rapid-track process for building permits that the Milan municipality adopted in recent years, during a real estate bubble in the north city. Milan prosecutors sought convictions of all defendants with sentences up to?two years and four months in prison. The decision is a major win for developers and the Milan government. The...

Gold prices rose for the third straight session on Monday. They reached a high of?nearly one week after Iran and United States agreed that their war would be halted. This agreement eased expectations about higher interest rates. Gold spot rose 3%, to $4,344.77 an ounce at 08:42 am EDT (1242 GMT), reaching its highest level since the 9th of June. U.S. Gold Futures? climbed 3% to 4,366.80. The U.S. Dollar Index was down by 0.2% making metals priced in greenbacks more affordable to holders of other currencies. The deal, while still in its framework stage, was the most significant breakthrough....

On Monday, aluminium prices dropped to their lowest levels in?two and a half months as a U.S. - Iran framework agreement aimed at ending their war improved prospects of deliveries from Gulf -producers. However, shippers remained cautious about transiting through 'the strait of Hormuz. By 1120 GMT the benchmark three-month aluminum on the London Metal Exchange had fallen 3.2% to $3,422.50 per metric ton, after having reached $3,408, which was its lowest level since March 30. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The...

Energy Transition Minerals hopes to expand in Spain's Galicia Province as it waits for a resolution of the?legal challenges regarding its massive rare earths project on Greenland. Daniel Mamadou said in an interview with? In an interview, Daniel Mamadou told? Mamadou stated that "Galicia has an ambitious plan to revive its mining industry." He added that up to 52 mines will be put out to tender for development. "We think that the Penouta operation can be at the heart of an expansion of Galicia... We might be able to?benefit from economies of size and position." ETM has not provided any...

On Monday, gold prices reached a near-week-high as a tentative peace deal between the?U.S. Oil prices fell as a result of the Iran deal, which also eased concerns about a rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve. As of 0857 GMT spot gold was up 2.7% at $4,334.48 an ounce. This is its highest price since June 9. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery climbed 2.8%, to $4355.30. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced that they had reached an agreement to end the war and reopen Strait of Hormuz. This preliminary pact sent oil prices down but left the fate...

Gold rose by more than 2% on Monday, after U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement to end the war. This lowered oil prices and eased concerns about inflation and rising interest rates. By 0536 GMT the spot gold price had risen 2.5%, to $4,323.29 an ounce, its highest since June 9, and extended gains for a 3rd straight session. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery rose?2.5% at $4,343.80. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced on Sunday that they had reached an agreement on a framework for ending their war, stopping the U.S.'s blockade...

Gold prices rose by more than 2% after U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced that they had reached a preliminary agreement to end the war. This lowered oil prices and eased concerns about inflation and rising interest rates. Gold spot rose 2.5%, to $4,322.87 an ounce, by 0312 GMT. This was its highest level since the 9th of June and extended gains for a 3rd straight session. U.S. Gold Futures for August?delivery increased 2.5% to $4344.80. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced on Sunday that they had reached an agreement on a framework for ending?their conflict, stopping the U.S.-led blockade...

Singapore is establishing an over-the counter gold clearing system and introducing central bank gold vaulting services. This comes as the city state looks to establish itself as a gold trading hub. Gan Kim Yong, the Deputy Prime Minister, told the Asia-Pacific Precious Metals conference on Monday that the Singapore Exchange will?establish a gold clearing system over-the-counter for Loco Singapore or physical gold in Singapore by the end this year. He said that six banks will be clearing members: DBS, Deutsche Bank ICBC Standard Bank J.P. Morgan OCBC, UOB. Gan stated that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will offer central...

Gold prices rose by more than 1% on Monday after U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced they had reached an agreement to end their conflict. This lowered oil prices and eased concerns about inflation and rising interest rates. As of 0010 GMT spot gold rose 1.8% to $4,297.42 an ounce. This is its highest level since the 9th of June. U.S. Gold Futures for August Delivery rose 1.9% to $4,318.10. U.S. officials and Iranian officials announced on Sunday that they had reached an agreement?on the framework of a peace deal to end their conflict, stop?the U.S. Blockade of Iran, and...

According to a notice received by?on Saturday, Norsk Hydro declared a second case of force majeure for?aluminum sales from Qatar. This was after the Qatalum joint-venture?had unexpectedly terminated its marketing agreement with Norsk Hydro. Hydro, which holds a?50%?share in the Qatalum project, which produces 648,000 metric tonnes per year, along with Qatar Aluminum Manufacturing Co, also known as Qamco issued a force majeure order in early March, after the Middle East war interrupted the gas supply to the plant and Qatalum began a shutdown. The?force majeure clause - which exempts parties from any liability in the event of a failure...