The targeting of MP Materials, which operates the only active rare earth mine in the United States, alongside USA Rare Earth strikes at the most strategically exposed node in Washington’s effort to build a domestic critical minerals supply chain independent of China. A full export ban is a material escalation from the previous licence-only regime and raises immediate questions…
AUD/JPY gains ground after posting minor losses in the previous day, trading around 113.30 during the Asian hours on Monday. The currency cross holds ground as the Australian Dollar (AUD) remains stronger following China’s latest monetary policy update. On Monday, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) opted to keep its benchmark one-year and five-year Loan Prime Rates (LPRs) unchanged…
A joint statement from Qatari and Pakistani mediators confirmed the conclusion of constructive US-Iran talks in Switzerland, establishing a high-level political oversight committee and a strict 60-day roadmap to reach a final peace deal. According to a joint statement issued by the Qatari Foreign Ministry on behalf of mediators Qatar and Pakistan: The first high-level diplomatic session between US…
Gold price (XAU/USD) trades with mild losses around $4,155 during the early Asian session on Monday. Traders continue to assess the developments surrounding the US-Iran peace talks in Switzerland. However, hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) might cap the upside for the precious metals in the near term. US President Donald Trump over the weekend threatened strikes…
A US official told Al Jazeera that negotiators held in-depth talks covering all elements of the nuclear agreement, including mechanisms to prevent escalation and keep the strait fully open. Middle East media sources say a joint statement from Iranian, American and mediating parties is expected soon, and that the Iranian delegation remains at the Bürgenstock resort, with its head…
NZD/USD trades around 0.5740 at the time of writing on Friday, down 0.28% on the day, as the US Dollar (USD) continues to benefit from expectations of a restrictive monetary policy stance in the United States (US). The pair is on track for a third consecutive daily decline and remains near its lowest levels since April. Market sentiment received…
Ras Laffan’s role as the heart of Qatar’s LNG export capacity means any incident there draws immediate market attention, even when officials describe it as contained and non-structural to broader output. Energy traders are likely to watch closely for confirmation that production and loading schedules remain unaffected, given the facility’s history of disruption earlier this year. The timing, against…
British Pound rebounds as holiday-thinned trade slows USD bulls The Pound Sterling recovers some ground after reaching a three-month low on Friday at 1.3163, sponsored by the Fed’s hawkish tilt, but edges up 0.18% amid thin trading conditions due to a holiday in the US. The GBP/USD trades at 1.3226, yet it is poised to end with weekly losses of 1.25%….
Rate hikes by year-end RBNZ: 62 bps (80% probability of rate hike at the next meeting) Fed: 38 bps (40% probability of rate hike at the next meeting) ECB: 37 bps (78% probability of no change at the next meeting) BoE: 33 bps (81% probability of no change at the next meeting) BoC: 26 bps (93% probability of no…
USD/CHF extends gains on Friday even as the US Dollar (USD) eases slightly after rising to more than one-year highs. Diverging monetary policy expectations between the Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) keep demand tilted toward the US Dollar over the Swiss Franc (CHF). At the time of writing, USD/CHF trades around 0.8080, its highest level…
