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The New Zealand dollar has posted strong gains on Wednesday. NZD/USD is trading at 0.6841 in the European session, up 0.55% on the day. Manufacturing Sales surge in Q4 Manufacturing Sales were outstanding in the fourth quarter, with a gain of 12.0%. This marked an impressive rebound from the -2.3% reading in Q3.

09-03-2022 07:55 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Oil rises, gold punches past USD 2000

Oil prices stay firm Oil prices remained firm overnight, finishing around 4.0% higher for the day after President Biden announced a unilateral ban on Russian energy imports. The move was well telegraphed, with oil markets having already moved higher this week in anticipation.

09-03-2022 04:23 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Asia’s modest relief rally

US bans all Russian energy imports The announcement by President Biden overnight of a unilateral ban on Russian energy imports had been well flagged to markets already. That limited the fallout from the announcement and although energy prices still finished higher overnight, equity markets in New York were only slightly lower.

09-03-2022 03:43 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Oil surges, gold eyes record highs

Oil powers higher All the headlines suggest oil prices will continue to go higher. Global energy supplies will continue to get tighter now that both the US and UK will ban Russian oil. The US took it one step further and also will ban Russian natural gas and other energy sources. Russia's economy will take a big hit as the West shows unity and intensifies its sanctions against the Kremlin. The crude supply outlook will struggle to make up for Russian supplies over the next few months, so wha

08-03-2022 16:00 GMT by Edward Moya

Stocks remain persistently volatile, commodity craziness, nickel's historic move, bitcoin higher

Trading US stocks has become massively complicated as the impact from the war in Ukraine continues to drive persistent volatility with commodity prices, which is wreaking havoc on inflation expectations and driving recession fears. US stocks pared losses as some investors still remain confident with the economic outlook for the rest of the year, but that rebound did not last. Geopolitical risks and surging commodity prices are crippling everyone’s short-term US stock market outlook and that wi

08-03-2022 15:40 GMT by Edward Moya

Gold - Record highs on the way?

Pullback may be brief Gold came within a whisker of record highs on Tuesday and it may not be done there. The yellow metal is a traditional safe haven and inflation hedge, which makes it perfect in highly uncertain times like this. Not only is the world already desperately trying to get to grips with high inflation, it's also facing the prospect of an economic slowdown and maybe even recession. Putin's decision to invade Ukraine will have severe consequences, not just for Russia - although th

08-03-2022 14:50 GMT by Craig Erlam

NZD extends losses ahead of mfg. sales

The New Zealand dollar is trading lower on Tuesday, after starting the week with considerable losses. NZD/USD is trading just above the 0.68 line in the North American session. Investors are keeping an eye on New Zealand Manufacturing Sales, which will be released later in the day.

08-03-2022 12:00 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Oil rises on expected US ban, gold rises

Oil higher as the US prepares Russian import ban There's a lot going on in the oil market at the minute which is contributing to the huge amount of volatility and uncertainty we're seeing. It's such a headline-driven market at the moment and today is certainly no different.

08-03-2022 10:50 GMT by Craig Erlam

Temporary comfort

European stock markets have been given an unexpected boost on Tuesday following reports that the bloc is close to an agreement on fresh joint bond sales to fund major projects. It was reported that the joint bond sale will fund energy and defence spending across the EU following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Europe has long been criticised for its over-reliance on Russian oil and gas, as well as its failure to hit its 2% NATO defence spending target, and the invasion has created the urgency

08-03-2022 10:45 GMT by Craig Erlam

Euro finds its feet

The euro has been having a rough time of late and plunged 2.96% last week. EUR/USD started the week with more losses but finally found its feet today.

08-03-2022 10:11 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Oil powers higher, gold steady

Oil prices, I don’t know what to say…… Reports that a Russian general has been killed in Ukraine seem to have been the excuse for Asia to lift prices once again this morning after the breathtaking price action overnight. Although some sense finally prevailed in Northern Hemisphere markets, Brent crude still finished 5.20% higher at USD 124.10 a barrel, and WTI 4.70% higher at USD 120.35 a barrel. Russian scaremongering around USD 300 a barrel of oil may have also spooked Asian markets, but oil

08-03-2022 04:21 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

US dollar holds onto overnight gains

Risk aversion providing support to US dollar The US dollar held onto most of yesterday’s early-session gains overnight, boosted by a rise in US yields in New York, as investors continue to pour haven flows into the greenback. The huge rallies in commodity prices are also supportive, with a large portion of that international trade priced in US dollars. The dollar index finished 0.74% higher at 99.24 overnight, with some profit-taking pushing it slightly lower to 99.16 in Asia as the news ticke

08-03-2022 04:16 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Asian markets calm but vulnerable

Asian equities remain fragile as oil rises today Overnight, Wall Street endured a torrid session as it played catch-up to the sell-off seen in Asia earlier in the day. Fears over the surge in commodity prices torpedoing world growth, and profits, continue to weigh on equity markets, which came into 2022 at juicy valuations, thanks to two years of central bank largesse.

08-03-2022 03:50 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

The eye of the hurricane

Equity markets settle down A sense of calm has returned to Asia this morning, thanks to the news headline tickers staying quiet about anything Ukraine, energy or otherwise commodity-related. Overnight, US markets played catchup to yesterday morning's carnage in Asia, but although Wall Street had an ugly day, they didn’t add anything new to the story. That state of affairs is unlikely to last though and one senses we are in the eye of the hurricane, a period of calm before the winds return o

08-03-2022 03:40 GMT by Jeffrey Halley

Oil skyrockets on Russia oil ban talks, gold nearing record levels

Oil pares huge gains Crude prices skyrocketed to a 13-year high at the start of the week as energy traders were thinking the war in Ukraine could lead to an even tighter oil market as the US tries to convince the Germans to agree upon a ban of oil imports from Russia. After hitting the USD 137 level, Brent crude oil prices have settled back to the USD 120 region as Germany resists cutting off essential Russian energy supplies. Oil prices over USD 100 throughout the summer will become a bigger

07-03-2022 15:53 GMT by Edward Moya

Stocks lower as surging oil prices threaten growth prospects, Kohl’s investor day disappointment, Bitcoin back to being a risky asset

US, European stocks fall as oil prices skyrocket US stocks declined as surging commodity prices continued to add to worry that economic growth prospects will take a big hit as the Ukraine uncertainty persists. The crippling effect of oil prices above USD 130 would send many European economies into a recession and that sent major European stock indexes into bear market territory. Long-term investors however are growing confident that most of the exposure risk for European banks with the Russia

07-03-2022 15:50 GMT by Edward Moya

NZ dollar slips, mfg. sales next

The New Zealand dollar has started the week in negative territory. NZD/USD is down 0.50%, and is trading at 0.6825 in the North American session. The currency enjoyed its best week since August 2021, with gains of 1.75%.

07-03-2022 12:48 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

Oil pares gains, gold passes USD 2000

Oil prices remain high but give back huge early gains Oil prices were up more than 17% at one stage after the open but that has been pared right back as the day has progressed, with Brent now up 1.5% around USD 120 a barrel. In a sign of how ridiculous the situation is right now, that's coming as quite a relief compared to how bad it was looking at one stage. The market has shown its vulnerable side now though and it's quite concerning.

07-03-2022 12:02 GMT by Craig Erlam

Panic start to the week

European markets entered bear market territory at the start of the week as panic set in at the open in response to reports of the US looking to impose a ban on imported Russian oil. To make matters worse, the reports appeared to suggest Europe is considering similar action as well which would be a monumental blow for Russian producers and the economy. It would also be a massive problem for Europe as there isn't exactly an abundance of alternatives out there right now. The initial reports sent

07-03-2022 11:59 GMT by Craig Erlam

Aussie coming off sizzling week

Aussie rally ends The Australian dollar has taken a breather, as it trades just slightly below the 0.74 line. AUD/USD has posted small losses on Monday, after posting impressive gains of 2% last week. The war in Ukraine has dampened risk appetite, which in normal times would hurt the risk-sensitive Australian dollar.

07-03-2022 09:26 GMT by Kenneth Fisher

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