Crude Oil Futures: Further recovery looks likely

Pablo Piovano FXStreet

Considering advanced prints from CME Group for crude oil futures markets, open interest rose by around 19.5K contracts after three consecutive daily pullbacks on Tuesday. Volume followed suit and went up by nearly 20K contracts, reversing at the same time three straight daily drops.

WTI: Next target emerges near $95.00

Prices of WTI charted decent gains on Tuesday following many sessions of losses. The daily uptick was accompanied by increasing open interest and volume and leaves the door open to the continuation of the recovery in the very near term. On the upside, the commodity continues to target the 2023 high around the $95.00 mark per barrel.

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Pablo Piovano

FXStreet

Born and bred in Argentina, Pablo has been carrying on with his passion for FX markets and trading since his first college years.

GBP/USD extends the drop to 1.3360

GBP/USD builds on Monday’s decline and briefly clinches five-day lows near 1.3360 on Tuesday. Cable’s extra pullback follows the better tone in the Greenback as uncertainty in the Middle East prompts investors to adopt a cautious stance. Meanwhile, an apathetic UK labour market report also collaborates with the selling pressure on the British Pound.

EUR/USD holds gains above 1.1400 on hawkish ECB expectations despite US-Iran tensions

The EUR/USD pair trades with mild gains around 1.1405 during the early Asian session on Wednesday. A hawkish tone from the European Central Bank provides some support to the Euro against the US Dollar. Traders await the upcoming ECB interest rate decision on Thursday.

Gold hits one-week high, near $4,100 as bulls shrug off Fed hike bets and firmer USD

Gold advances to an over one-week high during the Asian session on Wednesday, with bulls now awaiting a move beyond $4,100 before positioning for additional gains. However, concerns about energy-driven inflation risks continue to fuel Fed rate-hike bets and act as a tailwind for the US Dollar amid escalating US-Iran tensions, which, in turn, could cap the bullion.

XRP rebounds on rising on-chain activity

Ripple (XRP) ticks up and trades around $1.13 at the time of writing on Tuesday. This rebound aligns with a broader recovery in the cryptocurrency market, attributed to reports that mediators between the United States (US) and Iran are seeking a 10-day cessation of strikes to find a way back to the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The Iranian war has again risen

The Iranian war has again risen to the top of the economics factor list. There is no end in sight. Intelligence experts say the current level of offense/retaliation will not change minds in Tehran, while in Washington, Trump fears all-out war, which would mean boots on the ground.

US Dollar mid-year outlook: Exceptional currency, exceptional risks?

The US Dollar enters the second half of 2026 in a markedly different position from a year ago. The King currency has recovered, reflecting persistent US inflation, changing expectations for Fed policy, geopolitical tensions and renewed demand for defensive assets.