Western Europe








Energy Markets

Crude Oil

Crude Oil

Bitcoin continues to grow despite US sanctions against Iran

Investors regained calm in the global bond and share markets on Tuesday, as they shrugged off U.S. sanctions plans against Iran. They began to prepare for Nvidia's earnings report due out Wednesday. U.S. Treasury secretary?Scott Bessent warned countries to cut financial ties with Iran on Monday or face secondary sanctions. However, the Treasury Department did not actually impose penalties. The news prompted a slight drop in oil prices as well as the benchmark government bond yields. This was also aided by the report that the U.S. Treasury may use its cash account to fund increased U.S. Debt Buybacks. Wall Street...

Crude Oil

Bitcoin continues to grow despite US sanctions against Iran

Investors in global share and bond markets were calmer on Tuesday, as they shrugged off U.S. plans to extend sanctions against Iran?and started preparing for the results of Nvidia, the world's most valuable company. U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent warned on Monday that countries would face secondary sanctions if they did not cut financial ties to Iran as part of the "economic D-Day," which was dubbed by some as an "economic D-Day." However, the Treasury Department stopped just short of imposing actual penalties. The report that the U.S. Treasury may use its cash account to fund increased U.S. government debt...

Crude Oil

Oil wobbles as shares drift ahead of Nvidia earnings

After the U.S.'s "economic D-Day", sanctions against Iran, turned out to not be as severe as they had feared. U.S. Treasury rates are down from their recent highs after a report stating that the Treasury Department may tap into its cash account to fund increased debt buybacks. This could reduce the requirement for additional short-term bill sales. Investors are well aware of the high expectations that Nvidia will have to meet. Analysts expect quarterly revenues to nearly double, to $92 billion. Full-year earnings are expected to range between $103 billion and $105 billion. "Those are high expectations that must be...

Crude Oil

EARLY MORNING BID EUROPE - Waiting for Nvidia to complete the next leg of AI rally

Rae Wee gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. The?session began in Asia with a muted tone, as stocks drifted ahead of Nvidia’s upcoming?earnings, where high expectations are being placed on the artificial intelligence darling. Alibaba's $10.2 billion sale of shares at a steeply discounted price to fund its AI plans and Samsung Electronics disappointing shareholder-return program in the previous session weighed on technology shares. A roughly 45% drop in?the share price of Unitree after a five-fold increase on its Shanghai debut triggered concerns over bubble risk, retail investors losses, and flaws within...

Crude Oil

Oil prices rise as investors assess the impact of US sanctions on Iran

The oil prices rose on Tuesday, after falling more than 2% the previous session. Investors were evaluating the impact of a new 'U.S. Sanctions?against Iran. Brent crude futures were up 27 cents or 0.3% to $92.44 per barrel at 0330 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 37 cents or 0.4% to $85.38. Both contracts settled lower Monday. U.S. crude fell to a new one-week low as profit taking took place after the prices had risen over the past two weeks. The market is not fazed at all by Washington's efforts to tighten economic pressure against?Iran. Traders see the U.S....

Crude Oil

Oil prices stable as investors assess impact of US sanctions on Iran

Investors weighed the impact of the new U.S. sanctions against Iran, which are more severe, on the oil prices. Brent 'crude 'futures were down by 9 cents or 0.1% at $92.16 at 0104 GMT. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up one cent at $85.02 a barrel. Both contracts dropped more than 2% Monday, with U.S. Crude Oil falling to an all-time low after the price had risen over the past two weeks. U.S. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday an expansion of sanctions in order to cut off Iran’s economic lifeline and force a ceasefire between...

Crude Oil

Morning Bid Europe-Mixing trade wars, economic wars and actual warfare

Wayne Cole gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. Investors are awaiting details about President Trump's economic 'war' on Iran. This has led to a nervous start for the Asian markets. The main move was a drop of 1.5% in the oil price. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will hold a press briefing at 2 pm EST (1800 GMT) on Wednesday to announce even more severe economic sanctions against a country which has been subjected to near-continuous sanctions since 1979's Islamic Revolution. Trump said that sanctions would also be imposed on any country that...

Crude Oil

Global stock markets close out a difficult week as oil and bond yields remain high

The global stock market was headed for a largely lower week last Friday as the strain on the global bond markets did not show any signs of easing and the diplomatic deadlock over the Gulf pushed oil prices up to a one-month high. The yields on U.S. government bonds resumed their rise after the surprise intervention by the Treasury on Wednesday. This was barely a relief from selling that had been sparked primarily by fears of inflation and fiscal pressures. The increase came as?U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that the government could increase its repurchases and also floated the...

Fossil Fuels

Norway's Equinor signs a three-year agreement with Poland's Orlen

The Norwegian company Equinor announced on Thursday that it had signed a contract for a period of three years to supply oil from western Europe's largest producing field Johan 'Sverdrup. Equinor announced that the contract will begin in September and allow for deliveries between 5 million metric tonnes and more than nine million tons. The deal is flexible, and allows for different Norwegian grades. However, Johan Sverdrup’s medium-heavy oil?is an excellent substitute for Russian Urals which historically Lithuanian or Polish refineries were designed to process. Since Russia's war against Ukraine began in?2022, European nations have slowly stopped using Russian energy....

Crude Oil

Investors question Treasury's rescue measures as bond relief falls and stocks fall

Investors began to question the effectiveness of the Treasury's support on Thursday, as bond prices slid and stocks were under pressure. The yield on the 30-year U.S. Government Bond rose by 3.05 basis points, to 5.2235%. It had fallen to 5.1765% a day earlier. This was after the Treasury announced that it would buy back additional longer-dated bonds. Prices and yields are inversely related. The bond market was closely watching the moves to see if they were able to stop a downturn that had sent shockwaves through multiple asset classes. The MSCI global stock index fell for four straight sessions,...

Crude Oil

Global bonds rise on signs of support in US Treasury market

The global bond yields fell from multi-decade-highs on Wednesday, after the U.S. Treasury Department announced it would increase liquidity support for securities with longer maturities. This followed a 'widespread sell-off' sparked by fears about soaring sovereign debt. The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it will double the size of its 'liquidity support buyback operation for longer-dated nominal coupons securities from $2 billion to at least $4 Billion per operation. The yields on long-dated U.S. government bonds fell as much as 10 basis point, which also impacted the yields of European government bonds. U.S. Long Bonds hit their highest level in...

Crude Oil

MORNING BID AMERICA-Bonds Out, Robots In

What's important in U.S. and Global Markets Today By Mike Dolan, Editor at Large, Finance and Markets Bond storm calmed down overnight, but equity markets were still bruised. A tense calm is hanging over the markets as U.S. Treasury prepares for a sale of 20-year bonds later on Wednesday. The minutes of the Federal Reserve split meeting held in July could also help to resolve some of this uncertainty about the central bank's view on persistently high inflation. Below, I'll go into more detail. Check out my mid-week article, in which I discuss diversification away from AI, and much more....

Refined Products

Fossil Fuels

Oil prices fall ahead of US announcements on new Iran sanctions

Prices of oil fell by more than $1 per barrel on Monday, as investors took a profit ahead of an announcement that Washington is expected to make about additional sanctions against Iran. This could further disrupt Middle East supplies. Brent crude futures dropped $1.22 or 1.29% to $93.17 at 0035 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was $85.86 per barrel, down by $1.20 or 1.38%. The two contracts both posted their second weekly gains, up over 5% last week as the peace talks between Iran and the U.S. hit a deadlock, limiting oil shipments across the Strait of Hormuz, where a...

Fuel Oil

Singapore's oil product inventory falls to a two-month low

According to government data, oil product inventories in Singapore, Asia’s main fuel trading hub, fell for the second consecutive?week, reaching two-month lows. Light distillates inventories are nearing a 5-year low. Enterprise Singapore reported that combined onshore oil products inventories were around 37.67 millions barrels for the week ending August 19. This is down from 38.44million barrels one week prior. Even though the imports of refined fuels like diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel from China dropped, they were in line with the expectations that the market had set since Beijing began to loosen its control over exports in July. As U.S....

Refined Products

Uncertainty over oil exports via Hormuz has pushed up the price of crude.

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...

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

The gold rally takes a break ahead of US inflation figures

The gold?prices eased Wednesday as they were on track to end a three-session winning streak. However, the focus now shifts to the U.S. Inflation data that will be released later in the afternoon for any indications on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy. Spot gold dropped 0.8% by 1114 GMT to $4,618.03 an ounce, after prices rose to their highest level since May 14, on Tuesday, following the U.S. Treasury Department?s recent bond buyback announcement. U.S. Gold Futures fell 0.4% to $4673.90. Nikos Tzabouras is a senior market analyst at Jefferies owned Tradu.com. He said that gold prices were subdued...

Mineral Resources

Andy Home: Chinese exports ease the pain of London zinc shorts

London's zinc market is still a hazardous place for bears. Metal that was expected to drop in price this year has risen. The London Metal Exchange's (LME) 3-month zinc reached a new four-year high of $3,858 a metric ton on Tuesday morning. The relentless rally has been accompanied by an abrupt contraction of the LME time spreads. This is particularly worrying for holders of zinc short positions. The premium for cash Metal?over a three-month delivery The price of a ton has dropped to $131, which is a significant drop from last October's record high of $323. The tightening market this...

Mineral Resources

Gold falls on profit-taking following rally to more than three-month high

Gold prices eased Tuesday, after reaching a high of more than three months earlier in the session. Profit-taking and an 'a?firmer dollar? curbed gains before U.S. Inflation data and comments from Federal Reserve chairman Kevin Warsh. After reaching its highest level since the 14th of May, spot gold fell 0.4% to $4,634.76 an ounce at 0937 GMT. U.S. Gold futures fell 0.2% to $4689.70. Gold's movement today is due to profit-taking, as the dollar has recovered some of the losses from last week that were caused by the buyback announcement," Saxo Bank's Ole Hansen explained. He was referring to U.S....

Mineral Resources

Investors await US inflation data as gold retreats from its three-month high

The gold price fell?on Tuesday, after reaching its highest?levels? in more than three month earlier that day. Investors' attention shifted towards upcoming U.S. data on inflation and Kevin Warsh's speech this week. As of 0334 GMT, spot gold was down by 0.2%, at $4,640.39 an ounce. U.S. Gold Futures remained steady at $4,696.00. Tony Sycamore, IG's market analyst, said: "We expect gold dips to be supported by buyers who are looking for gold. We also expect gold to move up towards the next resistance level at $4,900/$5,000." The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it would double its liquidity support buyback...

Mineral Resources

Trump threatens to impose 50% tariffs on cars and trucks imported from Canada amid a trade dispute

After trade talks broke down over the weekend, President Donald 'Trump' sought to increase pressure on Canada. He warned that U.S. Tariffs on all?trucks? and automotive parts coming from Canada would increase to 50% on January 1. The deal would have reduced the top line tariff rate for Canadian cars and light duty trucks from 25% down to 15%, and the tariffs of aluminum and steel would have been cut from 50% down to 25%. However, the deal fell apart on Friday due to disagreements over whether or not the U.S. relief on tariffs would apply to medium and heavy-duty...

Mineral Resources

Copper firms buy metals earmarked for exit from LME

The price of copper rose on Monday as a rise in the number of cancelled warrants and metals marked for delivery at the London Metal Exchange stimulated buying. Meanwhile, the lower U.S. dollar boosted the positive sentiment towards industrial metals priced in dollars. Benchmark 'copper' on the LME was 0.2% higher, at $14240 per metric ton. Last week, prices of metals used in construction and power industries reached $14,396. This is the highest price since January's $14,527.50 high. Industry sources say that the cancellations 0#MCUSTXLOC> are mostly stored in LME warehouses in Asia and the U.S., in free-trade zones. They...

Mineral Resources

Gold reaches a 3-month high before US inflation data and Fed chair speech

On Monday, gold prices reached their highest level in more than three month's time as a'subdued' dollar lent support. Meanwhile, attention shifted towards key U.S. data on inflation and Kevin Warsh speaking later this week. As of 0427 GMT spot gold was up 0.8% to $4,641.27 an ounce after reaching its highest level since 15 May earlier in the session. Prices rose by more than 5% in the last week. U.S. Gold Futures edged up 0.4% to $4,697.70. The dollar was teetering near multi-month lows as the market remained unsettled after the U.S. Treasury promised to?buy back more long bonds....

Mineral Resources

Gold falls after a two-month high due to oil and hawkish Fed outlook

Gold prices fell on Thursday, after rising more than 4% the previous session. A surprise U.S. Treasury "liquidity" move pushed down bond yields as well as the dollar. Meanwhile, rising oil prices and hawkish Fed signaling prompted profit taking. By 1140 GMT, spot gold had fallen 0.9% per ounce to $4479.12. Bullion was earlier at $4,525.79, after prices rose to a two-month high on Wednesday. U.S. Gold Futures slipped?0.2% to $4,535.70. Treasury Department announced on Wednesday that it will double its liquidity-support buyback operation for longer-dated bonds and notes, helping to ease the pressure in the bond markets. The U.S....

Mineral Resources

Investors take profit after gold's recent rally.

Gold prices fell on Thursday after a?4?% gain in the previous session. A surprise U.S. Treasury move to increase liquidity pushed bond yields down and the dollar, while higher oil prices and hawkish U.S. Fed signaling prompted profit taking. By 0946 GMT, spot gold had fallen 0.7% per ounce to $4487.93. Bullion prices were at $4,525.79 earlier, after they reached a two-month high on Wednesday. U.S. Gold Futures were little altered at $4,544.50. Treasury Department announced on Wednesday that it would double its liquidity-support purchase operations for longer-dated bonds and notes, helping to ease the pressure in the bond market....

Mineral Resources

Gold falls after a 2-month high on US Treasury move

Gold prices fell Thursday, as investors took profits after the price of gold climbed to its highest level in more than two months. This was due to a U.S. Treasury announcement that it would provide liquidity support for long-term bonds. The unexpected announcement weakened dollar values and reduced Treasury yields. By 0750 GMT, spot gold had fallen 0.7% per ounce to $4488.19. Bullion was earlier at $4,525.79 - its highest price since June 2 - after a more 4% increase on Wednesday. U.S. Gold futures were little changed at $4,462.30. Treasury Department announced it would double its liquidity support 'buyback...

Mineral Resources

Gold falls after a 2-month high on US Treasury move

Gold prices fell Thursday, as investors took profits after the price of gold climbed to an 'over two-month high on a surprise U.S. Treasury's announcement of liquidity support for long-duration bond, which weakened the dollar and sent Treasury rates lower. By 0604 GMT, spot gold was down by 0.7% to $4,487.63 an ounce. Bullion was earlier at $4,525.79. This is its highest price since June 2 after a more-than-4% gain on Wednesday. U.S. Gold Futures was?little different at $4,545.60. Treasury Department announced that it would double its liquidity support 'buyback operations' for bonds and notes with longer maturities. This came...

Mineral Resources

Gold remains steady as Fed minutes are in focus

Investors are awaiting the minutes of the U.S. The Federal Reserve's meeting in July will provide new clues about its outlook for monetary policy. Spot gold remained unchanged at $4,337.59 an ounce as of 0558 GMT, after dropping nearly 2% Tuesday due to higher Treasury rates, while U.S. Gold Futures fell 0.7% to $4391.20. U.S. yields have backed off their earlier highs after a global bond sale saw long-term borrowing rates in major economies reach the highest levels in decades. Kelvin Wong is a senior analyst at OANDA. He said that the reduced expectations of Federal Reserve interest rates increases...