Gold gains as dollar eases with U.S. inflation data in focus
Gold prices rose on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar weakened. Investors are watching upcoming inflation data that could influence expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next policy move.
Gold prices rose on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar weakened. Investors are watching upcoming inflation data that could influence expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next policy move.
Bloomberg News Now’s audio report highlights the day’s top stories, including Canada’s expected tariff action and Iran and Oman nearing a pact on the Strait of Hormuz, alongside other global business news.
Iran says a deal with Oman concerning Hormuz is nearing completion, while Canada plans to impose tariffs on the United States.
Bloomberg reports that a deal involving Iran and Hormuz is imminent, while Canada is set to impose tariffs.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has global repercussions, with inflation, oil and diesel prices rising in Turkey and elsewhere. He warned that oil costs may keep climbing until the Strait of Hormuz situation is resolved, while Central Bank data puts the conflict’s inflationary impact at about 7 percentage points.
Bloomberg’s audio news update highlights reports that an Iran deal involving the Strait of Hormuz could be reached within days, alongside Canada’s planned response to Donald Trump’s tariffs and other global business stories.
Copper climbed for a second consecutive session to a record high, supported by tight near-term supplies and expectations that the US will impose tariffs on imports of refined metal.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed at the beginning of the week after Iran warned on Monday that it would retaliate against any new U.S. attacks.
Asian shares lacked a firm direction in Tuesday’s session, even as the yen strengthened sharply. Regional indicators delivered mixed signals, while new Iranian warnings tied to the Persian Gulf lifted both oil and bond yields.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, has risen this month but remains below $100 a barrel even after a recent escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict disrupted Gulf exports through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
Iran threatened the United States with “economic warfare” on Tuesday and said it had fired an advanced missile at U.S. warships. The claims highlighted the risk of further escalation just days after the two sides exchanged fire again.

Oil prices continued to rise Tuesday as concerns grew that escalating tensions in the Middle East could develop into a prolonged conflict after the U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes over the weekend.
The eighth China Grain Trading Conference ended Monday in Changsha, Hunan Province, with transactions and intended deals worth 87.87 billion yuan, or about $12.96 billion. The three-day event covered trade in 29.2 million metric tons of grain and oil products and 2,111 grain-machinery units, drawing more than 3,100 companies and 20,000 industry professionals.
China’s central bank bought gold for a 22nd consecutive month in August, lifting holdings by 650,000 ounces to 76.73 million ounces. It was the largest monthly increase since purchases resumed in November 2024. An analyst said concerns over U.S. fiscal risks and the dollar’s credibility may have accelerated the buying, as China seeks to optimize its reserve structure.
China’s deeper opening of its services sector is expected to strengthen the global competitiveness of Chinese providers and create new opportunities for businesses worldwide. Broader market access and regulatory liberalization could expand both services imports and exports, with digital and technology-intensive services emerging as key growth drivers. The 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services will be held in Beijing with participation from about 90 countries, regions and international organizations. Services trade totaled nearly 4.45 trillion yuan in the first seven months of 2026, up 8.3% year on year.
Iran introduced higher gasoline prices for its heaviest users early Tuesday, state media reported, adding to the economic pressure caused by months of war.

Analysis says Washington has abandoned talks with Iran in favor of an aggressive economic pressure campaign. A cornered Tehran is now threatening military escalation and a wider war in an effort to force negotiators back to the table.

Oil prices have climbed to nearly six-week highs as escalating US-Iran strikes disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route. Brent crude is near $97 a barrel, while US petrol and diesel costs rise, increasing household expenses and economic pressure ahead of the midterm elections.
Oil prices are approaching $100 as the prospect of another supply crunch emerges. The newsletter also highlights a leadership vacuum at India’s biggest private bank and China’s $53bn injection into banks and insurers.
Nornickel President Vladimir Potanin and BELAZ General Director Sergey Lesin signed an agreement to establish a joint venture. The companies will cooperate on next-generation underground mining equipment, unmanned mining technologies and other innovations, while creating a full-service repair and maintenance hub. Initial machinery is being tested at Norilsk mines.
High crude prices are helping clean technologies become more competitive, laying the groundwork for oil’s eventual decline.
Petrol and diesel prices rose again to record levels, prompting a go-slow convoy and mass horn-blaring in Portugal. Fuel prices also reached record highs elsewhere across Europe.
A slow-moving convoy and the sound of car horns marked protests in Portugal as petrol and diesel prices climbed again to record levels. Fuel prices also reached unprecedented highs elsewhere across Europe.
Rising food prices in Nigeria are changing the cost and ingredients of traditional soups. At a cooking festival in Lagos, chefs and attendees describe how a family staple has become increasingly difficult to afford: a pot that once cost 5,000 naira now cannot be made with 10,000 naira.

U.S. buyers are increasingly sourcing copper from the Democratic Republic of Congo, driving record imports from the African producer. Industrial consumers are taking advantage of discounts compared with COMEX-approved brands.
Aliko Dangote is targeting 10 million shareholders as he prepares to float his $49bn refinery business on the Nigerian stock exchange, seeking to raise $1.6bn in what would be Africa’s largest IPO.
Oil prices closed near $100 as traders warned that a renewed supply crunch was approaching. They said “something has to break” as shipping attacks continue and inventories erode.
Analysts at the British Center for Strategic Advantage say Russia could directly or indirectly control one-third of global uranium production within 15 years. Including Uranium One’s overseas mines, Russia accounted for nearly a quarter of global mining capacity in 2024, a share the group projects could reach 36% by 2040. Industry representatives are seeking government guarantees before investing in new production.
Brent crude futures for November delivery on London’s ICE exchange rose above $98 per barrel for the first time since July 24. The contract was up 1.83% at $98.04 by 6:05 p.m. Moscow time before easing slightly, while October WTI futures gained 1.91% to $93.23 per barrel.
Copper climbed to a record high on the London Metal Exchange after a weeks-long rally driven by expectations that President Donald Trump will broaden US tariffs to cover refined-metal imports.
Experts warn that a potentially record-strength El Niño, bringing hot and dry conditions to eastern Australia’s growing regions, could lift food prices over the next year. The weather event may add to household cost pressures and make it harder for the Reserve Bank of Australia to bring inflation under control, although other costs and global commodity shocks also influence prices.

Oil prices rose to a six-week high on Monday after renewed attacks between Iran and the United States in the Iran war. Saudi Aramco facilities were reportedly hit.

Europe is accelerating gas injections into underground storage ahead of winter despite prices reaching four-year highs in late August and early September. On September 5, storage was 66.59% full, 16.58 percentage points below the five-year average and the lowest level for that date since records began in 2011.
Spain’s renewable-energy boom is approaching the limits of what can be supported without batteries or other energy storage to provide backup.
Russia’s international reserves reached $769.022 billion on September 1, 2026, up 6.76%, or $48.674 billion, from the start of August, the Central Bank reported. Foreign-currency reserves rose 1.88% to $435.539 billion, while monetary gold increased 13.87% to $333.484 billion.
China’s foreign exchange reserves increased by more than expected in August, central bank data showed on Monday, as the dollar’s weakness continued.
China’s foreign exchange reserves grew by $19.5 billion in August from July to $3.4383 trillion, a 0.57% increase, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange said. Official gold holdings rose by 650,000 ounces to 76.73 million ounces. The agency attributed the gains to shifts in global indicators, monetary-policy expectations, the dollar index, asset prices and exchange rates.
More than six months after the conflict between the United States and Iran began, average US regular-gas prices remain substantially higher than in late February. AAA put the nationwide average at $2.98 a gallon then, compared with $4.15 on Sunday.

Reduced crude supplies and refiners’ preference for more profitable diesel are tightening the market for ship fuel. Disrupted routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, along with Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, have further constrained supplies, potentially raising global freight costs and affecting consumers and manufacturers.
As the Iran war drives countries to seek new sources of supply, US producers hope to export their fracking practices around the world. Australia’s remote gas frontier is becoming a test ground for that push.
Russia could account for 36% of global uranium output by 2040 if existing and planned projects operate at full capacity, the Financial Times reported, citing the Center for Strategic Advantage. The report said Western producers face insufficient investment and permitting delays, while Russia’s mining capacity is expected to expand. It warned this could create dependence comparable to Europe’s reliance on Russian oil and gas in 2022.
A report forecasts that mines controlled by Russia will provide a larger share of an already tight nuclear fuel market by 2040, raising concerns about the security of uranium supplies.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called for expanded cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in energy, transport, ports and logistics during talks with AIIB President Zou Jiayi. He said future cooperation should match Egypt’s development priorities, while Zou reaffirmed the bank’s support for the country’s plans.

A Sept. 7 day-ahead look says bitcoin is reacting less than gold when Treasury yields move.

India is boosting coal deliveries by rail to power plants after fuel inventories at several generators fell to critically low levels, the coal ministry said on Monday.
Goldman Sachs said oil could climb as high as $120 a barrel if attacks on shipping in the Middle East increase, Bloomberg News reported. The bank also recommended positions in natural gas and diesel to capture potential gains.
France’s EDF Energy is reportedly discussing the acquisition of smaller British supplier So Energy, whose Irish parent has put it up for sale. The deal would add to a renewed wave of consolidation among UK gas and electricity retailers.
China’s private soybean processors are heading into a costly fourth-quarter supply squeeze as inventories tighten in top exporter Brazil and tariffs leave most U.S. cargoes out of reach.
Goldman Sachs analysts said an escalation in attacks on vessels in Middle Eastern waters could drive oil prices to $120 per barrel. Prices could fall to $80 if regional oil exports return to normal. The report also reviewed US-Iran military actions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and their impact on energy transit.

US consumers have paid an extra $100bn for petrol and diesel in the six months since the US-Israel war on Iran began, according to a Brown University tracker. That amounts to about $763 per household. Petrol prices rose 39% and diesel more than 60%, adding costs throughout the food supply chain.

Bitcoin fell nearly 1% as escalating U.S.-Iran hostilities pushed oil prices higher.
Oil prices rose further on Monday after tit-for-tat attacks by the United States and Iran on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere heightened fears that Middle East supply disruptions could persist.
Iran will raise petrol prices as the war with the US triggers fuel shortages. Authorities warn that subsidies, which have kept fuel among the world’s cheapest, are no longer sustainable.
South Korea and the United States have agreed that Seoul’s planned investment in a Texas gas project will total about $22.3 billion, Korean outlet Edaily reported, citing unidentified officials and politicians.
U.S. gasoline prices reached a record high for Labor Day weekend, averaging $4.14 per gallon, as the Iran war and refinery problems drove prices higher.

The Indian rupee edged higher on Monday despite oil prices remaining near their highest level in more than a month. The Reserve Bank of India continued selling dollars to support the currency, limiting the impact of oil-market pressure.
Investment banks say gold could test US$5,000 an ounce by the end of 2026, supported by central-bank demand to diversify foreign reserves. Strong labour data and the Federal Reserve’s hawkish tone have raised monetary-tightening concerns, but RBC Capital Markets forecasts US$4,929 by year-end and US$5,296 in 2027, joining bullish calls from Goldman Sachs and State Street Investment Management.

Chinese financial outlet Cailianshe reported Saturday that China had put approvals for new energy-storage battery plants on hold. It described China as the world’s largest producer of such batteries.
Wayne Cole looks ahead to European and global markets, highlighting diesel as the factor that could disrupt the outlook of US inflation doves.
US gas prices have reached a record Labor Day weekend high, averaging $4.14 per gallon, with the Iran war and refinery problems cited as key factors.

Tata’s Titan jewellery chain says consumers continue to view the precious metal as an investment, underscoring gold’s enduring appeal in India.
Experts say a contentious oil agreement between Venezuela and the United States could conflict with Venezuela’s constitution. The concern was raised by a leading opposition politician and analysts.
ArcelorMittal says it has “no real visibility” on whether buyers will accept the additional costs of its new electric-arc furnace, putting the pricing of green steel to the test at its flagship low-carbon plant.
Asian shares rallied on Monday after a strong U.S. jobs report was viewed as supportive of global growth, though it reduced the chances of an interest-rate increase. Oil prices edged higher after the United States and Iran attacked ships in the Gulf.
Fuel oil used by ships and power plants could face a shortage in the third quarter as wars disrupt crude processing and tanker traffic. Increasingly pressured refiners are prioritizing diesel and other products instead.
The Dutch central bank has moved 86 tonnes of gold from the United States and Canada to London, saying the relocation will improve its preparedness for worsening geopolitical turmoil and make the reserves readily available in a crisis. France and Germany have also relocated gold. Analysts say the trend reflects changing reserve-management priorities, not an imminent economic disaster.

A brutal European summer is underscoring the urgency of the energy transition, while Spain’s renewable-energy model is beginning to reach its limits.
Iran will increase gasoline prices from Tuesday for users who consume more than 110 litres a month, a government spokesperson said. The measure comes as authorities intensify efforts to address problems caused by the war and punishing U.S. economic sanctions.
A Brazilian judge ordered the suspension of environmental licenses and mining operations at Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo mine, according to a court document seen by Reuters.
OPEC says Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman will keep their required October production at September levels. Russia’s quota is set at 9.949 million barrels per day, while the seven countries’ combined quota, excluding compensation, will be 31.01 million barrels per day.
Sugar prices surged this week as the global supply outlook deteriorated sharply. The report examines what is fueling sugar’s strong performance and where prices may head from here.

OPEC+ is expected to leave its October oil output policy unchanged at Sunday’s meeting, according to two people familiar with the discussions. The producer group must first agree new quotas before deciding on its next production steps.
Hong Kong imported almost 100 tonnes of gold from Russia in the first seven months of the year, sending shipments to a record high after western sanctions.
Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said the company will start supplying 30 million tons of oil annually from its Vostok Oil project in the second half of 2027. Volumes are projected to reach 50 million tons by 2030 and could eventually rise to 100 million tons, depending on market demand and economic conditions. The project has attracted 4 trillion rubles in investment.
Reuters, citing sources, reports that Latvia and Lithuania are weighing an end to Russian grain shipments through their ports. Latvia’s government is due to discuss a comprehensive ban on Russian grain exports on Tuesday, while Lithuania says using its port infrastructure for such exports is no longer acceptable but has announced no specific measures.
General Motors and Ford are pursuing new avenues for growth, including military contracts and energy-storage businesses, extending their century-old rivalry beyond traditional auto manufacturing.
As the war in the Middle East continues to drive up energy costs, Americans are facing record-high gasoline prices over Labor Day weekend, just as campaigns for midterm congressional elections begin.
Americans are likely to face the highest Labor Day gasoline prices on record over the holiday weekend. That is another setback for Trump, who campaigned on affordable energy while promoting “drill, baby, drill,” and he is scrambling for answers.
A jobs report is fueling expectations of higher interest rates, while Donald Trump is calling for rate cuts.
Fitch Ratings has removed Qatar from its “Rating Watch Negative” list and kept its sovereign rating at AA, while retaining a negative outlook. The agency said risks to Qatar’s LNG facilities have eased since March, but gas exports remain exposed to disruption from the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump has boasted that his sweeping oil agreement with Venezuela may be “the best deal ever signed.” In practice, the arrangement gives the United States control over much of the country’s oil wealth, unsettling US oil executives.
President Donald Trump has hailed a sweeping oil accord with Venezuela as possibly “the greatest deal ever made,” saying it effectively gives the US control over much of the country’s crude wealth. The agreement has caught the US oil industry off guard.

U.S. and Venezuelan officials have approved a deal giving the United States access to tens of billions of dollars’ worth of Venezuela’s oil reserves. Critics fear the arrangement will benefit only the U.S. while further weakening Venezuela’s autonomy.

The United States has reached an agreement with Venezuela giving it access to some of the country’s oil reserves. At the same time, Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. are being told to leave or face possible removal.
AI is making electricity a central cost and capacity constraint for data centers. Wall Street is packaging their rents, service fees, property and customer contracts into securitized debt, with outstanding data-center securitizations growing from about $4 billion in 2020 to $61 billion by July 2026.

Petrol and diesel prices in Europe could stay elevated, adding to inflationary pressure. The problem is not simply crude oil supply or pricing: constrained refining capacity, disrupted trade flows and shortages of finished fuels, especially diesel, are also pushing up pump prices.
The FAO said global food prices reached a four-year high in August 2026, with Russia’s attacks on Black Sea shipping routes and Ukrainian ports disrupting grain exports. Wheat, corn, barley and rice prices rose worldwide, while weather concerns and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz also contributed.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said expanding China-Russia oil and gas cooperation has helped support global energy market stability amid geopolitical conflicts. Speaking at the China-Russia Energy Business Forum in Vladivostok, he called for deeper political trust, broader practical cooperation and secure, reliable energy supply chains.


Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said expanding China-Russia oil and gas cooperation has helped stabilize global energy markets amid geopolitical tensions. Speaking at the China-Russia Energy Business Forum in Vladivostok, he urged deeper mutual trust, broader practical cooperation and secure, smooth energy supply chains.
The Netherlands moved 86 tonnes of gold from the US and Canada to London, saying the transfer would strengthen its resilience and preparedness amid rising geopolitical unrest. France and Germany have also relocated some reserves. Analysts say inflation, interest rates and the ability to trade gold quickly are also influencing storage decisions, rather than an expectation of imminent economic collapse.

Analysts said on Friday that Italian oil company Eni has improved its prospects of recovering more than $2.3 billion owed by Venezuela after signing a new oil project deal in the country this week.
The Minutes Reader extension turns the original page into a focused reading view and translates articles and video subtitles on demand. It is in limited beta.