Oil prices fell in European trade for the first time in three days ahead of initial data on US crude stocks from the American Petroleum Institute.

Traders also await the release of the Federal Reserve's last meeting minutes, expected to shed light on the likely path ahead for US monetary policies.

Global Oil Prices

US crude fell 0.7% to $77.00 a barrel, with a session-high at $77.76, while Brent shed 0.6% to $81.50 a barrel. 

US crude rose 2% on Monday, while Brent rose 1.75%, the second profit in a row away from a four-month trough. 

Oil prices rebounded amid expectations of lower supplies from the OPEC+ cartel in the months to come.

Three sources told Reuters that OPEC+, which includes Russia, is discussing additional supplies cuts at the November 26 meeting.

US Stocks 

The American Petroleum Institute will release initial data on US crude stocks later today, expected to show an inventory buildup for the fourth week in a row.

Fed Minutes

Investors now await the Federal Reserve's minutes for its last policy meeting, at which the Fed held interest rates flat at 5.5%, already the highest since 2001.

Such a decision was the third of its kind in the last four meetings, and a strong sign that the US policy tightening cycle has ended.

Dollar fell in European trade on Tuesday against a basket of major rivals, sharpening losses for the third straight session and plumbing a three-month trough amid growing pressures on the greenback, with US 10-year treasury yields tumbling.

The losses came ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting minutes, scheduled for release later today. 

The Index

The dollar index fell 0.3% to 103.18, the lowest since August 31, with a session-high at 103.47, after losing 0.4% yesterday on strong selloff pressures, as investors expect the Federal Reserve to wrap up the current cycle of policy tightening. 

US 10-year treasury yields fell over 1% on Tuesday, extending losses for the second session and almost touching two-month lows at 4.381%. 

The developments in the US treasury bonds markets come as markets are fully pricing no changes in US interest rates at the Fed's December meeting.

Richmond Fed President Thomas Parkin said it's likely that inflation will remain stubborn, and could force the Fed to maintain high interest rates for an extended duration. 

Fed Minutes 

Investors now await the Federal Reserve's policy meeting later today, at which the Fed held interest rates flat at 5.5%, already the highest since 2001.

Such a decision was the third of its kind in the last four meetings, and a strong sign that the US policy tightening cycle has ended. 

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the FOMC remains committed to bring inflation towards 2%, and admitted the road to achieve such a target will be difficult and long.

Gold prices rallied in European trade on Tuesday to a two-week high, almost touching the $2000 barrier as the dollar and US yields lost ground.

The gains come ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes, expected to shed light on the likely path ahead for US monetary policies. 

Gold Prices Today

Gold prices rose 0.2% to $1,994 an ounce, the highest since November 6, with a session-low at $1,977, after closing down 0.15% on Monday, following a heavy profit last week. 

The Dollar

The dollar index fell 0.3% on Tuesday, sharpening losses for the third straight session and plumbing a three-month trough at 103.18 against a basket of major rivals. 

Such losses came as traders sell off the dollar amid improving risk appetite, with investors expecting the Fed to have wrapped up the current cycle of policy tightening.

US Yields 

US 10-year treasury yields fell 1% on Tuesday on track for another loss, almost hitting two-month lows at 4.381% and buoying non-yielding assets. 

Such developments came as investors fully expect the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates unchanged at the December meeting.

Fed Minutes 

Investors now await the Federal Reserve's policy meeting later today, at which the Fed held interest rates flat at 5.5%, already the highest since 2001.

Such a decision was the third of its kind in the last four meetings, and a strong sign that the US policy tightening cycle has ended. 

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the FOMC remains committed to bring inflation towards 2%, and admitted the road to achieve such a target will be difficult and long.

The SPDR

Gold holdings at the SPDR Gold Trust remained flat yesterday at a total of 883.43 tonnes, the highest since September 11.

Sterling rose in European trade on Tuesday against a basket of major rivals, extending gains for the third straight session against dollar and scaling a two-month high following bullish remarks from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey.

To review such prospects, investors now await a crucial hearing session in the UK Parliament dedicated to BOE officials. 

The session is expected to shed light on the likely path ahead in UK monetary policies.

GBP/USD

GBP/USD rose 0.3% to 1.2540, the highest since September 11, with a session-low at 1.2500, after rising 0.35% on Monday, the second profit in a row, amid a strong risk appetite dominating the market. 

Bailey 

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said it's still too early to talk about cutting interest rates, asserting the focus now is still on bringing inflation back to 2%. 

Bailey said the BOE will continue to monitor inflation data and gauge the sustainability of the current inflation spike. 

He opened the door for another interest rate hike if needed and asserted the need for an extended duration of high interest rates. 

Hearing Session 

Later today, a Parliamentary session dedicated for Bank of England policies will be held. 

The BOE said after its November meeting that monetary policies must remain tight for an extended duration to bring inflation towards the 2% target. 

The BOE's policymakers expected the risks threatening higher inflation to remain on the upside for some time.