Gold Suffers Steepest Daily Plunge in a Year As Geopolitical Fears Ease
Published: Monday, 22 April 2024 10:52 | 
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Gold prices experienced a significant drop of 2.4%, falling to $2,354.10, marking the most substantial one-day decline in over a year as geopolitical tensions lessened and investors moved towards higher-risk assets like stocks. This shift in investment preference reflects a broader market reevaluation following a temporary peak where the front-month gold for April delivery reached a record high of $2,398.40 just last Friday. Ricardo Evangelista, a senior analyst at ActivTrades, noted that the easing of tensions in the Middle East is prompting a renewed focus on the resilience of the U.S. economy and ongoing inflation concerns.
Brent Crude Falls to $86, Market Stabilizes Amid Easing Mideast Concerns
Published: Monday, 22 April 2024 10:48 | |
| Oil prices declined as the geopolitical risk premium associated with Middle East tensions began to diminish, with Brent crude sliding to near $86 a barrel after experiencing its most significant drop since early February last week. This trend coincides with a decrease in demand for safe-haven assets like gold. The market has stabilized somewhat after volatile trading last Friday, following Iran's minimization of Israel's retaliatory actions to its drone and missile strike. Meanwhile, the U.S. House has recently passed new sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector, with expectations that the Senate will soon follow suit. Additionally, the U.S. has approved more funding to support Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Top Financial CEOs Caution Against Complacency in Face of Global Threats
Published: Monday, 22 April 2024 10:31 | |
| During their first-quarter earnings calls, major Wall Street leaders, including JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon, Goldman Sachs' David Solomon, and Citi's Jane Fraser, expressed caution about the U.S. economy. Despite suggesting potential drops in inflation and interest rates and a continued economic growth that could avoid a recession, they emphasized the serious threats posed by ongoing high inflation, elevated borrowing costs, the risk of a painful economic downturn, and the impact of international conflicts. BlackRock's Larry Fink and Blackstone's Steve Schwarzman also highlighted the prevailing sense of fear and uncertainty in the markets.
Copper Miners Face Earnings Squeeze Amid Falling Prices and High Costs
Published: Monday, 22 April 2024 10:24 | |
| North American copper miners, including Freeport-McMoRan and Teck Resources, are anticipated to show a significant drop in their first-quarter earnings due to declining copper prices and ongoing high operational costs. Despite copper prices reaching multi-year highs last month following capacity expansion limits by major Chinese smelters, the average benchmark prices fell around 5% during the quarter. This decline is attributed to concerns over reduced demand from China, the top consumer of copper, and worries about rising interest rates affecting the market.
Manufacturing Upswing Propels Copper Toward $10,000 as Supply Struggles Loom
Published: Monday, 22 April 2024 09:29 | |
| Copper prices are approaching a significant milestone of $10,000 per ton, reaching a new two-year high due to ongoing supply concerns and robust investor interest. The metal's price surge is supported by global manufacturing improvements in regions like the U.S. and China, despite potential setbacks from geopolitical tensions and uncertainties in monetary policy. Originally sparked by disruptions in major mining operations, the rally continues as the market anticipates a recovery in global manufacturing that could stabilize and further boost demand, especially with the seasonal recovery expected in China.