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Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority Monitoring Tensions in Red Sea 

A Suez Canal Authority (SCA) tugboat works to salvage a navigational emergency and technical malfunction sustained by a container vessel “ONE ORPHEUS” during its transit through the Suez Canal in Egypt December 6, 2023. (Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Reuters)
A Suez Canal Authority (SCA) tugboat works to salvage a navigational emergency and technical malfunction sustained by a container vessel “ONE ORPHEUS” during its transit through the Suez Canal in Egypt December 6, 2023. (Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Reuters)
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Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority Monitoring Tensions in Red Sea 

A Suez Canal Authority (SCA) tugboat works to salvage a navigational emergency and technical malfunction sustained by a container vessel “ONE ORPHEUS” during its transit through the Suez Canal in Egypt December 6, 2023. (Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Reuters)
A Suez Canal Authority (SCA) tugboat works to salvage a navigational emergency and technical malfunction sustained by a container vessel “ONE ORPHEUS” during its transit through the Suez Canal in Egypt December 6, 2023. (Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Reuters)

Egypt's Suez canal authority said on Sunday it was closely monitoring the impact of tensions in the Red Sea after recent attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militias on vessels in the southern part of the basin.

Two major freight firms including MSC, the world's biggest container shipping line, said on Saturday they would avoid the Suez Canal as Houthi militants stepped up their assaults.

The authority is "closely following the consequences of current tensions," the body's chairman, Osama Rabie, said in a statement. Maritime traffic in the canal was currently normal, he added, without going into further detail.

The Houthis have launched attacks against vessels in the region in protest against Israel's bombardment and invasion of Gaza that has killed almost 19,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

Since Nov. 19, 55 ships have rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, while 2,128 have crossed the canal in the same period, the Suez canal authority said.

Rabie said that on Sunday, 77 ships crossed the canal, including some ships belonging to shipping lines that had announced temporary diversions. Those were vessels that were already in the Red Sea region before the announcements were made.

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Gold Hits One-month High as Prospects for Fed Cuts Rise on Softer US Inflation Data

Gold prices firmed near one-month highs hit earlier on Thursday - File Photo
Gold prices firmed near one-month highs hit earlier on Thursday - File Photo
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Gold Hits One-month High as Prospects for Fed Cuts Rise on Softer US Inflation Data

Gold prices firmed near one-month highs hit earlier on Thursday - File Photo
Gold prices firmed near one-month highs hit earlier on Thursday - File Photo

Gold prices firmed near one-month highs hit earlier on Thursday after a softer-than-expected core US inflation print increased chances of two Federal Reserve rate cuts this year, with the first likely in June.

Spot gold gained 0.3% to $2,704.56 per ounce as of 0934 GMT after hitting its highest level since Dec. 12 earlier in the session. US gold futures gained 0.7% to $2,736.50.

Further gains in safe-haven bullion were, however, limited as Hamas and Israel reached a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza after 15 months of conflict and heightened Middle East tensions, according to Reuters.

Gold rallied to multiple-record highs and is still up nearly 50% since the war began in October 2023.

"Although de-escalating geopolitical tensions can dilute demand for safe havens, bullion is still holding on to most of its post-CPI gains, suggesting that the Fed rate outlook remains the primary driver for gold prices," said Exinity Group chief market analyst Han Tan.

"Gold should find itself in a supportive environment, so long as market participants can hold on to expectations for Fed rate cuts in 2025."

Interest rate futures traders are pricing in near-even odds that the Fed would reduce rates twice by the end of this year, with the first reduction to come in June. Before the inflation data on Wednesday, futures were only pricing a single quarter-point interest-rate cut in 2025.

Core US inflation increased 0.2% in December after rising 0.3% for four straight months.

Central bank officials noted US inflation continues to ease after Wednesday's data, but foresee uncertainty due to anticipated Trump administration policies.

Investors are worried that the potential for tariffs after Donald Trump re-enters the White House next week could stoke inflation and limit the Fed's ability to lower rates to a greater extent.

Non-yielding bullion, a hedge against inflation, loses its appeal with higher interest rates.

Elsewhere, spot silver rose 0.7% to $30.87 per ounce and platinum firmed 0.6% to $944.23, while palladium fell 0.8% to $953.49.