Finance & economics | Golden moment

Will interest-rate cuts turbocharge oil prices?

As policymakers prepare to ease policy, traders (and presidential candidates) hold their breath

A gas station's prices are displayed in San Antonio, Texas, United States
Photograph: AP

When commodity prices move in tandem, it is usually because real-world events jolt markets. China is the world’s biggest consumer of raw materials, so its economic leaps and stumbles matter. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hindered the trade of fuels and grains, causing prices to surge. But every once in a while it is news in the financial sphere that prompts traders to act. And the most common source of such news is America’s Federal Reserve.

This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “Golden moment”

From the September 7th 2024 edition

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