DBT Bureau
Pune, 16 Dec 2025
- Gold prices retreated slightly from near record highs as traders adopted a cautious stance ahead of the release of U.S. employment figures later today, which could provide fresh clues on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy outlook. Silver also softened, pulling back from levels close to record high hit last week.
- U.S. Fed lowered interest rates by 25 basis points to a target range of 3.50%– 3.75% in this month’s policy meeting, while signaling a likely pause in further cuts as officials await clearer indications on labor market trends and inflation, which remains somewhat elevated.
- Copper production from Chilean state-run miner Codelco fell 14.3% in October, falling to 111,000 metric tonnes. Meanwhile production at BHP’s Escondida mine, the world’s largest copper mine, climbed 11.7% from the same month a year earlier to 120,600 tonnes. At Collahuasi, another major copper mine jointly run by Glencore and Anglo American, output fell 29.3% to 35,000 tonnes.
- Crude oil prices continued to decline, adding to the previous session’s losses, as optimism over a potential Russia-Ukraine peace agreement strengthened. The improving outlook raised expectations that sanctions could be eased, further pressuring prices.
- OPEC+ decided to keep oil output unchanged for the first quarter of 2026, signaling a slowdown in its efforts to reclaim market share amid concerns over a potential supply glut.
- China’s crude oil imports rose 4.88% to 12.38 million barrels per day in November from a year earlier, with daily import volumes reaching the highest level since August 2023.
- NYMEX natural gas futures extended the decline to a fresh six five week low, pressured by forecasts for milder weather over the next two weeks, near record production levels, abundant storage, and weaker global prices.
- China’s manufacturing PMI signaled contraction in November, reflecting sluggish demand and indicating that progress in U.S. trade talks has yet to translate into a meaningful demand recovery.
