Real-time News

Interest rate futures indicate that the Bank of England will raise interest rates by about 52 basis points by December, compared to about 60 basis points on Tuesday.

The Nikkei 225 index closed down 746.18 points, or 1.23%, at 59,804.41 on Wednesday, May 20.

Jansson, Deputy Governor of the Swedish Central Bank: All monetary policymakers are thinking about how far-reaching the impact of supply disruptions following the Middle East wars will be.

Both WTI and Brent crude oil prices fell by more than 1% during the day.

Bharat Oil Corporation of India: The company is purchasing Russian oil from entities that have never been subject to sanctions.

On May 20th, official data showed that the UK's April CPI annual rate slowed to 2.8% from 3.3% in March, lower than the market expectation of 3.0%, mainly due to the fading base effect of the sharp rise in water and electricity prices last April. Before the US-Israel conflict with Iran, the Bank of England had projected April inflation to be close to its 2% target, but the energy shock caused by the war led to a significant upward revision of its forecast, with inflation potentially reaching 6.2% by early next year in the worst-case scenario. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Reeves is expected to announce further measures on Thursday to help reduce the cost of living, including the possible cancellation of the fuel tax increase scheduled for September. The UK Treasury has also urged supermarkets to introduce voluntary price limits on key food items in exchange for relaxed regulations. The key question facing the Bank of England now is whether rising overall inflation will evolve into long-term price pressures. Officials say a weak labor market may dampen workers' demands for wage increases and businesses' ability to pass on costs. Tax data shows that both payroll employment and wage growth have slowed significantly. Financial markets are betting that the Bank of England will raise interest rates twice this year (25 basis points each), and possibly a third time, while a Reuters poll shows that most economists expect rates to remain unchanged in 2026.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi: The possible additional budget is mainly aimed at dealing with the situation in the Middle East.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre reports a 5.6-magnitude earthquake in the Türkiye-Syria border region.

On May 20, Hesai Technology announced that following its recent L3 cooperation with Mercedes-Benz, it has secured another order from a top European OEM, with orders exceeding 1 million units, covering more than ten models of its Chinese joint venture brands.

Market news: The South Korean oil tanker UNIVERSAL WINNER, carrying 2 million barrels of Kuwaiti crude oil, has departed the Strait of Hormuz and is bound for Ulsan, South Korea.

Singamas Container Holdings Limited (00716.HK): Trading in the company's shares was temporarily suspended from 1:49 p.m.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung: Israel has kidnapped a South Korean citizen on unjust grounds in violation of international law. Most European countries have stated they will arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and we must also make our own judgment. Israel's actions are "excessive."

Bharat Oil Corporation of India: Russian oil processing share increased to 31% in the March quarter, compared to 25% in the December quarter.

Chairman of the Petroleum Association of Japan: There are still seven very large crude carriers (VLCCs) transporting crude oil purchased by Japan in the Gulf.

UK Treasury: Chancellor of the Exchequer Reeves is expected to announce a series of major reforms to give Parliament the power to approve key energy projects.

Futures News, May 20th: Economies.com analysts' latest view: Spot gold prices continued their recent decline in intraday trading, remaining below the key support level of $4500, further confirming the validity of the bearish breakout and the continuation of selling pressure in the short term. Spot gold is also currently below its 50-day exponential moving average (EMA50), a technical signal that continues to exert negative pressure and reinforces the current downtrend. Since breaking below the major short-term uptrend line, the bearish outlook for spot gold has further strengthened, indicating that market dominance has shifted to the bears. Furthermore, momentum indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) continue to release negative signals, suggesting that with selling momentum dominating, the probability of further declines in spot gold prices remains high.

May 20th, Futures News: Economies.com analysts' latest view: WTI crude oil futures prices have been fluctuating within recent intraday ranges, attempting to accumulate more upward momentum to help break through the stubborn resistance level of $104.00. Currently, the price is finding solid technical support trading above the 50-day exponential moving average (EMA50), further solidifying the stability of the main bullish trend. Meanwhile, the price is moving along the primary and secondary uptrend lines, providing strong support for this positive movement. On the other hand, the negative signal from the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is limiting the price's ability to rebound further, which explains the current volatility and suggests that the market may maintain a cautious trading atmosphere until the price gains sufficient buying momentum to break through the aforementioned resistance level.

May 20th, Futures News: Economies.com analysts' latest view: Brent crude oil futures have been fluctuating within a range recently, while preparing to challenge the strong resistance level of $109.00. Prices remain supported by trading above their 50-day exponential moving average (EMA50), further solidifying the stability of the short-term bullish trend, while the upward trendline provides strong support for this positive structure. Furthermore, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is releasing positive signals after the previous overbought conditions eased, leaving more room for prices to test higher resistance levels in the short term.