Nikos Tzabouras

XAU/USD continues to face difficulties this week as the greenback has emerged as the safe haven of choice, but bullion's structural demand drivers don't go away.

The central bank of Australia delivered a back-to-back increase as the spike in energy prices can push inflation higher, but the Aussie was volatile as four of nine voters opted for a hold.

USOIL remains firm as the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt the flow of oil, but a push to secure transit and the release of stockpiles could offer relief.

Ahead of next week's Fed and BoJ decisions, the pair rises to nearly two-year highs as the greenback attracts risk-off demand while the yen fails to benefit.

Solid results and guidance push Oracle shares higher, but business risks linger and the technical outlook remains unfavourable.

USOIL rebounds from pullback as a sizeable release of stockpiles fails to ease supply disruption fears, with the US-Iran conflict continuing.

Seven major central banks announce their rate decisions within days of each other, as stagflation risks stemming from the US-Iran conflict complicate their monetary policy paths.

Lockheed Martin, Northrop and other military contractors can benefit from the conflict, which can enhance spending amid already ballooning security budgets, but supply and macro risks linger.

USOIL jumps to the highest in nearly four years as the military campaign enters its second week, with oil facilities hit and the Straits of Hormuz remaining effectively shut.

XAG/USD heads for a weekly decline as the dollar outshines it as a safe haven and economic risks weigh, but structural demand drivers can lead to new all-time highs.

Strong Australian growth boosts chances of another RBA rate hike but the pair remains under pressure on safe-haven demand for the US dollar.