Headlines:
- Reminder: US markets are closed for Labor Day – what traders need to know
- USD/JPY tumbles lower, breaks below 155 for the first time since February
- Oil prices climb as US-Iran missile strikes keep Hormuz risks elevated
- Saudi Aramco facility attacked again; extent of the damage still being assessed
- Gold erases Waller-driven gains as rate hike odds rise after hot NFP; all eyes on US CPI next
- China’s gold buying spree rolls on as reserves climb again in August
- Germany factory output slumps in July as autos hit the brakes
- Eurozone investor confidence jumps to four-year high
- Eurozone Q2 GDP gets a trade boost as growth accelerates to 0.6%
Markets:
- WTI crude oil up 0.9% to $92.30
- USD/JPY down 1% to 154.65, lowest since February
- Gold down 0.8% to $4,390
- Germany DAX -0.4%, France CAC 40 flat
- US markets closed in observance of Labor Day
Despite it being an extended weekend in the US, there was plenty of market action to start the new week.
Oil prices continue to grind higher, as US and Iran tensions continue to pick up through the weekend. Fresh strikes were exchanged near the Strait of Hormuz and that is keeping markets on edge, with oil moving up. WTI crude is up 0.9% to $92.30 and Brent crude up over 1% to $97.50 on the day. $100 oil seems to be coming sooner rather than later.
Besides that, the Japanese yen caught a strong bid as USD/JPY came crashing down from around 156.00 to a low of 154.05 during the session. The drop was swift and definitely exacerbated on a break below the 155.00 mark, the first since February this year.
The currency pair is still down 1% on the day to 154.65, as traders weigh a daily break below the figure level.
In other markets, European stocks kept more cautious as higher oil prices and rate expectations are keeping things in check. That as investors are also eyeing the ECB policy decision later this week for more clues.
And in the commodities space, gold is sent lower to $4,390 – down 0.8% on the day – as precious metals are off to a slow start this week.
With it being a US holiday, there won’t be any trading in US stocks and bonds today. So, that will keep things a bit more quiet as we look to North America trading later.
This article was written by Justin Low at investinglive.com.