π° Hourly Briefing | 2026-08-08 17:00 CST
US Senate passes continuing resolution 90-0 to avoid government shutdown; Ukraine strikes two Russian oil refineries causing fires; Gold surges 2.37% to $4,341; WTI crude falls 1.32%.
π Market Snapshot
- π₯ Spot Gold $4,341.11 β² +2.37% (+100.66) β Intraday high $4,371.77, strong rally
- π’οΈ WTI Crude $76.35 βΌ -1.32% (-1.02) β Under pressure
- π S&P 500 7,757.46 β² +0.62% (+47.50) β Friday close, modest gains
- π Dow Jones 54,036.52 β² +0.28% (+151.42) β Friday close, slight gains
- π―π΅ Nikkei 225 65,553.00 βΌ -0.20% (-130.26) β Friday close, slight decline
π₯ Key News This Hour
1. US Senate Passes Continuing Resolution to Avoid Government Shutdown
The Senate passed a continuing resolution with an overwhelming 90-vote majority, funding federal agencies through December 11 and averting a shutdown before the midterm elections.
2. Ukraine Strikes Two Russian Oil Refineries
Ukrainian forces attacked Russia’s Ilsky and Syzran oil refineries, causing fires. The fire at the Ilsky refinery in Krasnodar region has been extinguished.
3. Bessent: Strait of Hormuz Will Become “Irrelevant”
Treasury Secretary Bessent stated in an August 6 NBC interview that the Strait of Hormuz will never return to its former state, but emphasized this is not the favorable outcome for Iran that Tehran portrays, suggesting a shift in US strategic assessment.
4. Senate Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General
The new Attorney General was officially confirmed by the Senate.
π§ Situation Assessment
Gold surged 2.37% to $4,341, with geopolitical risk premium clearly returning to the market.
Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refining facilities did not push oil prices higher; WTI instead fell 1.32%, indicating limited market concern over supply disruptions.
The Senate’s 90-vote landslide passage of the continuing resolution removes the government shutdown risk, supporting risk sentiment.
Bessent’s remarks about Hormuz becoming “irrelevant” suggest a shift in US strategic assessment of Iran’s ability to close the strait.
Weekend liquidity is thin, gold price volatility may be amplified; watch capital flows at Monday’s open.
β° Upcoming Key Data
No major economic data releases over the weekend. Watch for US data schedule on Monday.