Wheat futures climbed to their highest level in six weeks as traders adjusted positions ahead of a key U.S. Department of Agriculture report, which is expected to show a reduction in domestic stockpiles.
The MOEX Russia Index finished Saturday's session unchanged but touched a new three-year low as declining stocks significantly outnumbered advancers. Gold miner Polyus led the losses, while shares of several major companies fell to multi-year lows.
U.S. stocks advanced Friday, with the S&P 500 finishing just shy of a record, as the successful Nasdaq listing of SK Hynix fueled tech optimism and investors shifted focus to the upcoming corporate earnings season.
A Standard Chartered analyst notes that uncertainty surrounding the evolving Bitcoin strategy of major corporate holder Strategy is creating near-term price pressure, but maintains a bullish long-term outlook for the cryptocurrency.
The British pound firmed on Thursday, but broader currency market moves were dictated by a stronger U.S. dollar, supported by rising oil prices following U.S. airstrikes in the Middle East which reinforced expectations for a hawkish Federal Reserve.
U.S. Treasury and German Bund yields remained elevated as escalating military actions in the Middle East triggered a spike in crude oil prices, causing investors to sell sovereign debt on renewed inflation concerns.
Bitcoin gained nearly 2% on Thursday, pushed higher by a broader improvement in market risk appetite after comments from President Donald Trump suggested a de-escalation of recent military conflict with Iran.
Crude oil benchmarks fell on Thursday, reversing sharp prior-day gains, as investors focused on comments from President Trump suggesting a diplomatic off-ramp despite recent military exchanges between the U.S. and Iran.
Billions of dollars in currency options are set to expire Wednesday across major pairs including EUR/USD and USD/JPY, according to DTCC data, potentially creating short-term volatility and price-pinning around key strike levels.
