Gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) worldwide registered net inflows of $3.4 billion, a 3 percent annual rise and increased by 69 tonnes to 2,440 tonnes in the year.
US
China Poised to Buy More U.S. Soybeans
China bought U.S. soybeans for the first time in six months after U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met on Dec. 1 and set a 90-day negotiating window to resolve their trade differences.
U.S. Federal Reserve is Expected to Raise Interest Rates, But may cut the number of hikes in 2019
The central bank is due to announce its decision at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT) after its final two-day policy meeting of the year. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is scheduled to hold a press conference half an hour later.
OPEC Has Shown it can Reach Deal Despite Splits: Iran Oil Minister
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its Russia-led allies agreed on Dec. 7 to cut output by more than expected, despite pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to reduce the price of crude.
Fed to Slow 2019 Rate Hikes As Downside Risks Mount, Poll Shows – GSR
They expect the Fed will raise rates by a quarter percentage point at its Dec. 18-19 meeting while dialing back the number of moves next year to two, in March and September, from the three hikes economists saw in September. Median responses in the Dec. 7-11 poll also anticipate one additional hike in mid-2020 when the rate would peak in this tightening cycle at a target range of 3 per cent to 3.25 per cent.
US Markets Decline on Trade News, Dollar Climbs
Most US stocks fell on Thursday, with small caps leading declines, as trade tensions continued to weigh on financial markets. The dollar jumped after the European Central Bank sounded a cautious note on growth.
Slowing Demand and a Supply Glut to Drain Oil’s Gains in 2019: Reuters Poll
A survey of 38 economists and analysts forecast Brent crude LCOc1 to average $74.50 a barrel in 2019, lower than the $76.88 outlook last month. The poll predicted Brent would average $73.20 in 2018, mostly in line with the $73 average for the global benchmark so far this year.
Dollar Pressured as Fed Officials Caution about Global Growth, Yen Firms
Gold Silver Reports (GSR) – The U.S. currency has enjoyed a strong run this year thanks to the Fed’s steady policy tightening on the back of a robust economy and rising wage pressures. A fourth rate hike for this year is expected next month and policy makers had indicated two more by June 2019.
UK, EU Agree Tentative Brexit Deal on Financial-Services: The Times
British and European negotiators have reached tentative agreement on all aspects of a future partnership on services, as well as the exchange of data, the British newspaper reported, citing government sources.