U.S. interception of Skipper tanker signals harder line on Venezuela
Washington’s seizure of a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil shows a shift from financial sanctions to direct maritime action, further straining relatio...
The price of gold surged sharply on Wednesday, reaching a new record of $3,530.08 per ounce. Analysts say the rise is driven by expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut in September and concerns over the central bank’s independence.
By 17:30 GMT, gold stood at $3,528.80 per ounce and currently trades around $3,526.80.
Gold had already hit record levels earlier this year, surpassing $3,500 amid global trade tensions sparked by U.S. tariffs. The “safe-haven” metal has gained more than 33% so far this year.
Prices had stabilised around $3,400 as trade fears eased, but renewed expectations of a Fed rate cut for the September meeting have lifted demand once again.
The Fed is set to announce its interest rate decision later this month. Money markets assign an 88% probability of a rate cut, with two cuts expected by the end of the year. Inflation in July fell below expectations and employment growth slowed, prompting markets to anticipate a 25 basis-point reduction in September. The current policy rate stands at 4.25%-4.5%.
At the Jackson Hole symposium in mid-August, Fed Chair Jerome Powell signalled a possible rate cut, saying the central bank’s policy stance “may warrant adjustment” given shifting risks.
In addition, President Donald Trump’s move to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook has added to gold’s appeal, raising concerns over the Fed’s independence.
Russia’s human rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, has said that Ukraine has not provided Moscow with a list of thousands of children it alleges were taken illegally to Russia, despite the issue being discussed during talks in Istanbul.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
An explosive device found in a vehicle linked to one of the alleged attackers in Bondi shooting has been secured and removed according to Police. The incident left 12 people dead.
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said at a press conference on Saturday.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has offered condolences to President Donald Trump following an ISIS attack near the ancient city of Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter, Syrian and U.S. officials said Sunday.
Iran has rolled out changes to how fuel is priced at the pump. The move is aimed at managing demand without triggering public anger.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.50% to 3.75% following its two-day policy meeting, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday, 10 December.
China has carried out a major test of a new “super wireless” rail convoy, a technology that could reshape the future of heavy-haul transport.
Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O) has launched a $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O). The escalation follows a high-stakes battle that had appeared to end last week when Netflix secured a $72 billion deal for the studio giant’s assets.
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