Market Pulse - Commodities
Bitcoin falls below $8,000 as investors lose interest
Bitcoin fell briefly below $8,000 on Monday as investors lose interest in cryptocurrencies after enduring a selloff in mainstream technology shares in a sign that risk aversion might be having ripple effects.
Trump offers to meet Iran president Rouhani
US President Donald Trump has offered to meet Iran leader President Hassan Rouhani to discuss the tariffs imposed by America on the country and its nuclear activities.
US Treasury's Mnuchin, China's Liu talking to each other on trade
The US and China are attempting to restart talks in a bid to avoid a full-blown trade war between the two economic blocks.
Weir Group misses forecasts for 1H profits, sees pricing pressures in US shale
Weir Group missed analysts' forecasts for the front half of the year as capacity overhangs continued to weigh on its pricing power in the Oil&Gas market.
Commodities: Geopolitical tensions push crude futures higher
Crude oil futures moved higher at the start of the week on the back of US dollar weakness and ongoing market chatter regarding the possible extent and impact that American sanctions on Iran might have.
Government gives green light for fracking at Lancashire shale gas site
Despite protests by environmentalists and residents, Cuadrilla on Tuesday became the first operator in Britain to receive final government consent to frack an onshore horizontal exploration well.
Commodities: WTI pulls back after early gains, gold continues to slide
Commodities edged higher on Monday against the backdrop of a dip in the US dollar, even after crude oil futures surrendered early gains on the back of continued verbal sparring between Tehran and Washington at the weekend.
Trump warns Iran to "never, ever threaten the US" or suffer consequences
US president Donald Trump warned Iran late on Sunday night via twitter not to threaten the US ever again or it would suffer severe consequences.
Halliburton stock in red as it posts second-quarter numbers
Shares in US oilfield services giant Halliburton fell in early trading, despite second-quarter revenues narrowly beating market expectations.
Impact of US tariffs to stay Fed's hand in Q4, UBS predicts
Economists at UBS no longer see the US central bank hiking interest rates in the fourth quarter 2018, anticipating instead that the drag on growth from tariffs will stay the Federal Reserves hand.
Shell enters Mauritanian offshore with production sharing contracts
Shell on Monday signed two production-sharing contracts with the government of Mauritania for the exploration and potential future production of hydrocarbons in two offshore blocks.
Trade tussle will heap more pressure mining stocks - UBS
Base metals have borne the brunt of negative sentiment so far, given higher exposure to trade, but UBS retained its 'overweight' global mining call, but said risks are rising.
Rio Tinto to sell interest in Grasberg mine for $3.5bn
Rio Tinto has agreed to sell its stake in the Grasberg copper mine to Indonesia’s state mining company PT Inalum for $3. 5bn.
WTI slips despite very large drop in weekly stockpiles
US crude oil stockpiles shrank at an accelerated pace last week as imports fell back sharply and distillate inventories jumped.
Next global financial crisis will throw-up opportunities, Mark Mobius says
Emerging market investing legend Mark Mobius is raising new funds in anticipation of buying opportunities on the horizon.
Aminex shares skyrocket on Tanzania farm-out agreement
Aminex saw its shares rocket over 40% on Wednesday after confirming that it has signed a binding farm-out agreement with its largest shareholder, The Zubair Corporation.
Commodities: Copper extends losses after Chinese investor cuts long position
Industrial metals sagged on Tuesday, helping to drag the entire complex lower, with some traders attributing the decline to the liquidation of a $1bn position in the red metal by a Chinese investor, as reported by the Financial Times.
Heavyweight economists say government regulation will 'use the hammer' on bitcoin
Three world-renowned economists have launched a scathing attack on bitcoin, arguing that the currency will be "regulated into oblivion" by governments around the world.
Commodities: Soybean futures jump as US-China trade dispute moves into new phase
Agriculture futures led to the upside at the end of the week as the US and China took another step in their confrontation over trade with a favourable tail-wind from US dollar weakness.
Iran seeks more from world leaders to save nuclear deal
Iran warned European foreign ministers gathering in Vienna that it would not be enough to counteract US sanctions to save the 2015 nuclear deal.