
EBC Markets Briefing | Yen struggles with Takaichi; Silver extended strong rally
The yen wallowed near a record low versus the Swiss franc on Thursday after Japan's premier Sanae Takaichi said she wants the central bank to go slow on interest rate hikes. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama issued a fresh warning on currency movements as it moved toward the key threshold of 155 per



EBC Markets Briefing | Have gold and silver run their course?
Two weeks into the latest conflict, gold value has surprised with substantial losses. Several factors can explain the lack of upward momentum, including expectations for higher interest rates across the globe. The RBA raised benchmark policy rates for a second straight time earlier this week, pushin



EBC
EBC Markets Briefing | Crude prices down; gold broke $4,500
Oil prices eased on Friday, after global central bankers sounded the alarm on inflation risks stemming from the ongoing war in the Middle East. Gulf Oil's senior energy advisor Tom Kloza warned that markets could enter an "all bets are off”"scenario if the conflict spills beyond the Gulf and begins



EBC
EBC Markets Briefing | Yen overlooks BOJ meeting; gold prices crashed
The yen hovered around a two-year low at the start of trading in Asia on Thursday, pressured by a firmer dollar as markets watched for how the BOJ will balance price pressures against slowing growth. The central bank kept its rates steady at 0.75% as expected, but noted that inflation risks now are



EBC Markets Briefing | Aussie dollar flat; Micron Technology extended gains
The US dollar took a breather on Wednesday as easing crude oil prices sparked a glimmer of risk appetite in the markets. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar steadied following the rate decision. The RBA raised its main cash rate for a second straight month, saying higher borrowing costs were needed to


EBC Markets Briefing | Pound eases against euro; Micro shares rebounded
The pound headed for a third daily loss against the euro on Monday after negative economic data, while concerns about the escalating conflict in the Middle East drove investors into the greenback. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed on Sunday to pursue and kill Israeli PM Benjamin Netanya



EBC Markets Briefing | Wall St got a reprieve; oil prices volatile
Wall Street ended sharply higher on Monday, fuelled by gains in AI-related stocks, with Meta Platforms climbing after a report that it is preparing for sweeping layoffs. At Nvidia's annual developer conference on Monday, CEO Jensen Huang took the stage to a packed house and said he expects purchase



EBC
EBC Markets Briefing | Energy assets beyond oil are on the radar
Three vessels off Iran's coast have been struck by projectiles, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said on Wednesday, the latest in a flurry of incidents reported in or near the Strait of Hormuz. Despite Trump's pledge of US Navy escort for oil tankers, the US faces significant challenges in fully ens


EBC
EBC Markets Briefing | DAX in the red; oil prices still elevated
European shares extended losses on Thursday as oil prices touched $100 a barrel earlier in the session, which brought concerns about inflation amid the war in the Middle East to the forefront again. The US temporarily authorized the purchase of Russian oil stranded at sea to stabilize energy markets



EBC
EBC Markets Briefing | Oil prices swing wildly; Oracle reported strong earnings
Oil prices surged more than 8% with Brent crude hitting $100 per barrel Thursday, as traders remain unconvinced that release of government stockpiles could offset the massive supply shock triggered by the war in the Middle East. US crude stocks rose while fuel inventories fell last week, the EIA sai


EBC
EBC Markets Briefing | Aussie dollar strong; oil prices slumped
The Australian dollar jumped on Wednesday as oil prices tumbled. Trader awaited cues on what comes next in the US-Israeli war with Iran while mixed messages on a resolution to the conflict kept sentiment frail. A growing number of economists, including from Westpac, NAB and Deutsche Bank, tipped the



EBC Markets Briefing | Loonie is now barely a currency proxy for oil
While oil prices went sky high this week, the Canadian dollar barely benefited from the move. Actually the petroloonie has gone for years with the currency hitting its 22-year low in February 2025. BMO chief economist Doug Porter noted the correlation breakdown in a research report in 2024, saying t



EBC Markets Briefing | Euro weak; Xpeng shares jumped on VLA 2.0
The euro pared its earlier gains on Tuesday on speculation that the war in the Middle East could prove limited on Tuesday. Analysts warned earlier this week the price of oil could keep rising. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Monday said a 10% increase in oil prices, if persistent thro



