The yen jumped briefly against the dollar on Friday, putting traders on alert for signs of fresh intervention by Japanese authorities, who likely stepped in the previous day to prop up a currency still close to its lowest in 38 years.

The dollar fell as much as 1% to a one-month low of 157.30 yen, but pared some of those losses to trade down 0.55% at 158.01 yen. The euro was last down 0.2% at 172.28 yen.

 Brent crude oil has been trading in a tight range of $75-$90 a barrel since late 2022 as OPEC+ cuts keep a floor under prices while sizeable spare capacity, demand uncertainty and sanctions policy prevent the market breaking higher.

After a series of gradual production increases that started in early 2021 which unwound historic cuts agreed during the coronavirus pandemic, OPEC+ announced new production cuts in October 2022 and since then has cut output further.

Gold prices fell slightly in Asian trade on Friday, but were sitting on strong gains from the prior session as softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data ramped up bets on a September interest rate cut.

The yellow metal blew past the closely-watched $2,400 an ounce level on Thursday and was less than $50 away from a record high, as it benefited from a sharp drop in the dollar. Gold was also set for a strong weekly performance.

Gold prices rose slightly in Asian trade on Wednesday as comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell sparked increased speculation over when the central bank will begin cutting interest rates.

Among industrial metals, copper prices sank, wiping out a bulk of a recent recovery following mixed inflation signals from top copper importer China. 

Bitcoin price rose higher on Wednesday, recovering further from recent losses as bargain hunters took advantage of recent price declines, although sentiment remained negative in the face of increased supply due to Mt Gox and the German government. 

World no.2 token Ether also advanced, extending a recent recovery as markets awaited a key decision from the Securities and Exchange Commission on a spot exchange-traded fund. 

Gold prices rose in Asian trade on Tuesday, recouping some overnight losses as traders held out for dovish signals from an upcoming testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. 

The yellow metal retreated on Monday, but was still sitting on some gains through the past week as a swathe of soft labor market readings pushed up expectations for an interest rate cut in September. A weak dollar also aided gold’s advance.

Spot gold rose 0.4% to $2,367.97 an ounce, while gold futures expiring in August jumped 0.5% to $2,374.40 an ounce by 00:21 ET (04:21 GMT). 

The U.S. dollar edged higher in early European trade Tuesday, bouncing off its lowest level in a month ahead of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony to the Senate, while the euro has held its ground amid a volatile French political climate.

At 04:45 ET (08:45 GMT), the Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, traded 0.1% to 104.737, just above the overnight low of 104.622.

Oil prices settled down about 1% to a one-week low on Monday as Hurricane Beryl shut U.S. refineries and ports along the Gulf of Mexico, and on hopes a possible ceasefire deal in Gaza could reduce worries about global crude supply disruptions.

Brent futures fell 79 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $85.75 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 83 cents, or 1.0%, to settle at $82.33.Hurricane Beryl lashed Texas with strong winds and heavy rain as it churned inland. Oil ports closed, hundreds of flights were canceled and over 2.7 million homes and businesses lost power.

Oil prices notched a fourth-weekly despite settling lower Friday, as traders cheered signs earlier this week that usual pick in summer energy demand is underway at time when weather-related supply disruptions remain in focus.  

At 14:30 ET (18:30 GMT), Brent oil futures fell 1% to $86.54 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate Crude futures fell 0.9% to $83.16 a barrel.

Crude prices were headed for a fourth week of strong gains, amid expectations that oil markets will tighten further in the coming months, although trading volumes were muted on account of the U.S. market holiday on Thursday.

The U.S. dollar retreated in early European trade Friday ahead of the key monthly jobs report, while sterling edged higher after the result of the U.K general election.

At 03:55 ET (07:55 GMT), the Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, traded 0.4% lower at 104.635, near its lowest point since mid-June.