IST Markets Daily News Analysis – August 5, 2025

Oil Prices Drop on OPEC+ Output Hike and Demand Worries

Oversupply Concerns and OPEC+ Output Hike

Oil prices continued to drift lower after OPEC+ announced another large output increase for September. According to news reports, Brent crude futures dipped around 0.16 % to about $68.65 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate was down roughly 0.18 % to $66.17 en.apa.az. Analysts noted that it was the fourth consecutive decline, leaving prices at their lowest in a week en.apa.az. OPEC+’s decision to raise production by 547,000 barrels per day for September effectively reverses much of the group’s earlier supply cuts en.apa.az. The combination of rising supply and concerns over weakening demand has weighed on crude markets, despite potential disruptions from tighter Russian oil trade.

Berkshire Hathaway Falls After $3.8 Billion Write‑Down

Write‑Down and Operating Profit Weakness

Class A shares of Warren Buffett’s conglomerate fell more than 3 % after the company disclosed a $3.8 billion write‑down of its 27.4 % stake in Kraft Heinz and a dip in quarterly operating profit reuters.com. The write‑down reflects a significant decline in the value of the investment; Berkshire had previously taken a $3 billion write‑down in 2019 reuters.com. Operating income declined by about 4 % year on year as lower underwriting premiums and trade‑policy uncertainties weighed on the firm’s consumer businesses reuters.com. The company has not repurchased shares since May 2024 and remains cautious about market valuations amid uncertainty over tariffs and economic growth reuters.com.

Gold Rallies as Rate‑Cut Odds Rise

U.S. Economic Data Fuels Rate‑Cut Expectations

Gold prices rose for a third straight session after soft U.S. economic data boosted expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year. Spot gold climbed around 0.3 % to roughly $3,372 per ounce and U.S. gold futures settled almost 0.8 % higher at about $3,426 per ounce reuters.com. Analysts said the odds of a September rate cut have increased significantly, with further easing possible in December reuters.com. Recent data showed weaker‑than‑expected U.S. employment growth and downward revisions to nonfarm payrolls, while the Fed’s preferred PCE inflation gauge rose 0.3 % in June reuters.com. Traders now see an 87.8 % chance of a September rate cut, up from just over 63 % a week ago reuters.com. Gold typically benefits from lower interest rates because it reduces the opportunity cost of holding the non‑yielding metal and bolsters its appeal as an inflation hedge reuters.com.

Daily Forex & Commodity Signals

The table below summarises IST Markets’ daily signals for major instruments. Support and resistance levels are derived from recent price action. A positive Williams or ROC indicator suggests upward momentum, while a negative indicator points to potential weakness.