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LiveWire Economics Blog - December 9, 2010 16:02
Mortgage rates rise toward 5 per cent
National average mortgage rates are on the rise in the United States as jobless claims are improving and the economy appears to be improving. The national average 30-year fixed rate Thursday (December 9) morning is 4.91 per cent according to Bankrate.com, compared with an average mortgage rate of 4.66 per cent on Thursday last week.
Gold prices reach new high as dollar weakens
Gold prices continue to move to new all time highs with a lower dollar this week. One ounce of gold approached $1,431 in early New York NYMEX trade Tuesday (December 7) morning and currently nets $1,429.40.
Oil prices near 2010 high
Watching oil prices move in the last several months has been like watching grass grow, relative to the highly volatile action during the summer of 2008.
Euro plunges on Ireland debt worries
The US dollar is up sharply in early Wednesday (November 24th) morning currency trade following a strong unemployment report. The latest weekly report from the Labor Department for the week ending November 20th showed a seasonally adjusted total of 407,000 unemployment claims.
Commodities prices held in check by stronger dollar
Oil prices have seen restricted upward mobility and gold prices have fallen in lieu of a stronger dollar the last two weeks. The greenback has climbed higher against most major currencies and on the whole after the initial reaction to the Fed’s $600 billion Treasury bond purchase.
Dollar stronger as speculators consider global economy
Currency speculators are struggling to make sense of everything happening around them in the global economy. At the moment (November 10), the dollar is in a stronger position following the Central Bank sell off of some 10-year debt at a lower than expected yield.
Gold breaks $1,400 for the first time
After a slightly extended up-and-down effort to take hold of the $1,300 level, gold prices wasted little time moving past $1,400. The Monday (November 8) gold spot rate is $1,406.30 in lunchtime trade on the New York NYMEX.
Oil price gains halted as dollar gains
Gains in the dollar have put a brief halt in a three-day run of gains in oil prices. Benchmark crude oil scheduled for December delivery currently (October 27) trades at $81.73 in early New York NYMEX trade.
Euro looks to maintain $1.40
The euro has been flirting with $1.40 the last two weeks and the currency appears poised to firmly capture and maintain that level Thursday (October 21) morning after economic reports from Europe and the US support a stronger euro-dollar.
Oil and gas prices higher with equities
Surging equity markets have helped push oil prices through the $80 level. Benchmark crude oil scheduled for November delivery trades at $83.14 in early New York Mercantile Exchange trade Tuesday (October 19) morning.
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