• An explosive and volatile week came to an end with commodities witnessing a sharp fall. It was a week with important events from big central bank policies along with important monthly economic data.
• The U.S. central bank hiked interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) but Fed Chair Jerome Powell seemed less hawkish in his comments.
• ECB and BOE also hiked rates by 50 bps but their forward guidance was moderately on the dovish side.
• The U.S. Dollar witnessed a sharp rebound above 102.50 after having tumbled below 101, the lowest since April 2022.
• COMEX Gold hit a fresh 9-month high of $1975.2/oz as Fed Chair post policy comments were perceived as dovish.
• Silver prices slipped from $24.60/oz and closed the week with a sharp fall of around 5%.
• WTI and Brent Crude witnessed a second consecutive weekly decline as markets now look forward to tangible signs of Chinese demand recovery & assess higher flows from Russia.
• The focus this week will be on speeches by Fed Chair Powell and several FOMC members for clues on the policy outlook. Chinese inflation figures & U.K. GDP will be closely watched.
• Oil markets may take cues from the EU ban on refined oil products from February 5.
APN:
Volatile week for commodities
Chinese inflation & UK GDP in focus
Find out in our commodity outlook and trading strategy for Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, and base metals.