Browsing: Business

NEW YORK: Gold slipped on Wednesday after touching its highest level in a month, as a firmer dollar and improving risk appetite trimmed demand for the safe-haven metal. Spot gold was down 0.3% at $4,826.13 an ounce after earlier reaching its highest since March 18, while U.S. gold futures were little changed at $4,850.40. The retreat followed an early rally and left bullion still up 1.6% for the week, underscoring how quickly sentiment has shifted across currency, equity and commodity markets. Market sentiment improved after indications that talks between the United States and Iran could resume, easing some of the risk aversion…

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WASHINGTON: U.S. crude oil jumped 8.7% to $104.95 a barrel and Brent crude rose 7.4% to $102.23 in Asian trading on Monday, sending both benchmarks back above $100 after the United States said it would begin a blockade of Iranian ports. The move followed the collapse of weekend talks in Islamabad aimed at preserving a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, and it pushed energy markets sharply higher as traders reacted to tighter restrictions on Gulf shipping. U.S. Central Command said the blockade would take effect at 10 a.m. Eastern time on Monday and would apply to vessels of any nation entering or leaving…

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