22 Feb 2005 12:31 PM

Most surprisingly, the increases in fed rates did not trickle into long-term rates. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate was down to 5.48%, a 10-year low. Bond markets have beaten records as rates continue on Treasurys to fall.

17 Feb 2005 11:34 AM

OPEC threats to cut production gave boost to oil prices that rose above $48 a barrel. March crude oil rose $0.18 to $48.51 a barrel. "If the price looks to be falling now, then after winter we will propose and support a cut in production," Venezuela’s

15 Feb 2005 11:36 AM

Oil prices held steady as OPEC gave signals on a possible cut in output in the second quarter. March crude oil rose $0.16 to $47.60 a barrel. Last week prices moved up on projections of steeper demand increase and lower oil supply from non-OPEC countries in 2005, given by the IEA. At the

11 Feb 2005 10:22 AM

The Fed has grown all too predictable with its rate hikes as the US monetary policy makers have raised rates six consecutive times since last summer, and every time the rate was increased a quarter-point. Some were expecting the Fed to tighten its grip at last week’s meeting opting for a half-point rise based on the more hawkish tone of the previous meeting’s minutes. But the Fed did not deviate from its announced policy of measured

10 Feb 2005 08:37 AM

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday on a fall in crude inventories in the US. March crude oil rose $0.61 to $46.07 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration reported an addition of 500,000 barrels to gasoline inventories, which raised to 9 million barrels the surplus over last year’s levels. Forecasters

09 Feb 2005 09:51 AM

The US currency has had a number of reasons to rise over the past few days. Friday the markets were reassured about the greenback’s prospects by Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan who said that the US huge trade deficit can be reduced by market forces and a drop in the budget deficit. The optimism somewhat waned

09 Feb 2005 08:33 AM

Oil prices have taken a dip below $45 a barrel on expectations that the Energy Information Administration will report a rise in US inventories and projections of a seasonal drop in demand. March

08 Feb 2005 09:36 AM

Gold futures for April delivery fell to $412.60, the lowest rate in 16 weeks as the International Monetary Fund will probable sell some of its bullion. IMF, an owner of 2.1% of the world gold total, may add to global supply by selling its bullion amid the searching

07 Feb 2005 11:44 AM

The dollar reached record highs against the euro over a three-month period as Alan Greenspan soothed concern over the trade deficit in the U.S. on Friday. The

07 Feb 2005 11:23 AM

Oil prices dropped on the news that OPEC will most probably wait until March to make any output cuts and rising US inventories. "We will wait until March (for any output decision)," Algeria’s Energy and Mines Minister Chakib Khelil said on Saturday. March

04 Feb 2005 08:53 AM

Crude oil prices have edged up, but can be expected to extend their losses in the midterm range on ample supplies in the US, forecasts of warmer temperatures that are expected to bring down the demand for oil in the US Northeast, home to 80% of the nation’s heating oil users. The

03 Feb 2005 08:56 AM

Crude oil futures hit a three-week low as the U.S. government’s latest oil inventories report showed a larger-than-expected rise in gasoline inventories and forecasters predict warmer weather in the US Northeast, the main

02 Feb 2005 12:49 PM

Crude oil futures fell Tuesday mirroring the retreat of the fears concerning possible OPEC production cuts to shift the focus to warmer weather in the US Northeast and US oil reserves data that will be released this week. March crude oil fell $0.17 $46.95 a barrel. The market seems to pay closer attention to the Sunday decision by OPEC ministers to leave production at current

02 Feb 2005 09:48 AM

The dollar looks firm in the near term, some analysts believe as the interest rate differential between US and Europe is expected to attract more capital to the US. The Fed is believed to raise the benchmark Fed Funds rate charged for overnight loans to 2.5% compared to the analogous rate of the European Central Bank left unchanged at 2% in a policy meeting on Thursday. "Regardless

01 Feb 2005 01:46 PM

The Federal Open Market Committee is expected to raise Fed funds rate a quarter-percent to 2.5% in the two-day meeting starting today. Most analysts anticipate sixth straight increase in a row as the US monetary policy makers have been following their “accommodative” ‘measured” policy of rate increases since June 2004. The