Commodities & Forex
Follow the latest commodities and forex news, including updates on oil, gold, metals, agricultural products, major currency pairs and central bank drivers. edgeX News brings together market updates that help traders monitor price movements, macro forces and global supply-demand trends.
Week 36 Commodities Market Watch: Oil Reclaimed Geopolitics, Gold Hit a Jobs Shock, and Copper Stayed Tight
Week 36 brought a sharp split across major commodities. Oil rebounded as renewed U.S.–Iran tensions and Strait of Hormuz shipping concerns pushed Brent and WTI higher, supported by a larger-than-expected U.S. crude draw and still-tight gasoline and distillate inventories. Gold fell more than 2% on Friday after stronger U.S. payrolls revived rate-hike expectations, while natural gas gained on weather and LNG feedgas but stayed capped by ample supply. Copper held near late-August highs on supply and logistics issues, and grains weakened into the weekly close.
Stablecoin Utility Explained: Why Payments, Settlement, and Trading Matter More Than Supply
Stablecoin adoption is entering a phase where utility, not supply growth, determines economic value. Circle reported $73.3 billion in USDC circulation at the end of Q2 2026, up 19% year-over-year, alongside $14.8 trillion in quarterly onchain transaction volume, a 151% increase. However, the article argues that supply is a capacity metric, while meaningful adoption depends on completed workflows across payments, treasury management, collateral, and savings. Adjusted analytics, such as Visa Onchain Analytics, help filter noise from bots and internal transfers. Arc, a network designed for financial workflows with USDC-denominated fees and sub-second deterministic finality, plans a public mainnet launch on September 16, 2026, and edgeX has announced plans to deploy perpetual trading on it, though production adoption remains unproven.
Houthi Opening of New Middle East Front Drives Oil Prices Higher
Oil prices rose after the Houthis opened a new front in the Middle East conflict, according to MarketWatch, intensifying concerns about possible disruptions in a region vital to global supply. Brent crude climbed as markets reacted to the geopolitical developments, while volatility increased. Market pricing shows a 25% rise in the probability that crude will reach a new record by September 30. Investors are watching for further escalation, OPEC production responses, and diplomatic stabilization that could either amplify or ease pressure on prices.
Troilus Gold-Copper Project Featured in Canada’s Investment Summit Prospectus
Troilus Mining Corp. has been named to Canada's inaugural Investment Summit Prospectus, placing its Quebec gold and copper project before global investors who collectively manage more than $100 trillion in assets. The summit, hosted by Prime Minister Mark Carney in Toronto on September 14-15, supports the federal goal of attracting roughly $1 trillion in new investment over five years. Troilus enters the event with a completed 2026 NI 43-101 Technical Report showing an after-tax net present value of US$3.2 billion, a 22 percent internal rate of return, and a 3.6-year payback at base-case prices. The company has also secured a project financing mandate of up to US$1.2 billion as it advances engineering, permitting, and funding toward production.
Coinbase Co-Founder’s Venezuela Oil Bet Could Affect Crypto’s Macro Backdrop
Coinbase co-founder and board member Fred Ehrsam is pursuing Venezuela’s oil sector through Primavera, which has signed production-sharing agreements with state producer PDVSA and is seeking control of at least three Orinoco Belt fields. Venezuela holds the world’s largest crude reserves, but development faces operational and legal obstacles, with major new production from the region not expected until around 2035. Any substantial increase in Venezuelan output could influence oil prices, inflation, interest-rate policy and financial-market liquidity, potentially affecting demand for Bitcoin and Ether.
Brent Crude Tops $107 as US Stocks and Bonds Dip Amid Inflation Fears
Brent crude rose above $107 a barrel, weighing on US stocks and government bonds as markets focused on higher energy costs and possible supply disruptions. The S&P 500 recorded its longest losing streak since June, while Treasury yields reached multiyear highs, reflecting heightened inflation concerns. Prediction-market pricing places the probability of a new oil-price record at 3.1% by September 30 and 14% by December 31, up from 2% for the nearer date a week earlier. Traders will monitor OPEC+ policy, geopolitical developments, EIA data, discoveries and disruptions for further price signals.
Market Update: Crude Oil Breaks $100 Barrier as Apple Unveils Foldable iPhone Duo
Markets on Thursday were driven by a surge in crude prices, elevated U.S. inflation, and significant corporate developments. Brent crude jumped more than 5% to roughly $106.60 per barrel after tanker attacks and reduced shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while the August Producer Price Index rose 0.4% monthly and 5.4% annually, keeping a September Federal Reserve rate hike in play. Apple launched its first foldable smartphone, the $1,999 iPhone Duo. TSMC reported record August sales of NT$514.8 billion, up 53% year over year. AeroVironment climbed about 7% on record quarterly sales and a $1.5 billion backlog, and Nvidia and Palantir expanded their AI collaboration.
Kalshi launches 24/7 gold and silver perpetual futures after CFTC approval
Kalshi has launched gold and silver perpetual futures for U.S. traders after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission approved the products this week. The contracts began trading Thursday on Kalshi’s website, marking the first CFTC-cleared perpetuals tied to non-crypto assets and expanding the company beyond prediction markets. Kalshi said its crypto perpetuals have generated $44 billion in notional volume, while its metals and oil contracts exceeded $400 million in trading volume within seven months. The launch comes as CME Group challenges U.S. approvals for perpetual futures in court and concerns grow about their effect on traditional futures markets.
ASA president says China and other key markets continue buying U.S. soybeans
U.S. soybean growers remain positive about export prospects as China resumes purchases and demand from other markets continues. American Soybean Association President Scott Metzger said China has bought roughly 14 million metric tons toward its 25 million metric ton commitment and appears on course to meet it. He cautioned that the agreement lacks an enforcement provision, leaving the possibility of renewed tariff tensions if China falls short. Mexico, the second-largest U.S. soybean buyer, remains active, while purchases by other importing countries increased last year. Metzger called international trade a bright spot for the industry in 2026.
The Philippines Is a Landlord That Forgot to Collect the Rent
The article argues that the Philippines has failed to convert revenues from publicly owned natural resources into lasting national wealth. Malampaya generated about P290.8 billion from 2002 to 2021, but no protected fund preserved the proceeds as the field nears depletion. It warns that the proposed Pax Silica zone in New Clark City could commit substantial public water and power resources before its November framework agreement, despite uncertain water demand and a reported 5,000-MW requirement. The article calls for ownership-based contracts, resource pricing, stronger safeguards, and a separately governed patrimony fund, all achievable through legislation.
