Concerns over demand prospects drive international oil prices lower.

International oil prices fell during the week of September 21 to 25,dropping 2.09%in New York and 2.85%in Brent,as investors remained concerned about factors such as a potential resurgence of the pandemic impacting demand prospects.Meanwhile,gold prices in New York also declined by 4.88%,influenced by a stronger U.S.dollar and other market dynamics.

On the 25th,the most active December gold futures contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell$10.6 from the previous trading day,closing at$1,866.3 per ounce—a decline of 0.56%.Meanwhile,December silver futures ended at$23.093 per ounce,marking a weekly drop of 14.88%,while October platinum futures closed at$842 per ounce,down 10.28%for the week.

Market analysts believe that,driven by a stronger U.S.dollar,gold prices have fallen for three consecutive trading days,hitting a two-month low on the 23rd—and the gold market is now in an oversold condition.However,as investors started covering their short positions,gold prices rebounded over the following two sessions.Meanwhile,with the U.S.election approaching,the weak performance of gold is unlikely to persist for long,and the medium-term outlook for the gold market remains positive.

International oil prices edged lower on the 25th.By the close of trading on the 25th,light crude oil futures for November delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell by$0.06,settling at$40.25 per barrel—a decline of 0.15%.Meanwhile,November-delivery Brent crude oil futures in London dropped by$0.02,ending at$41.92 per barrel,down 0.05%.

On the 21st,New York and Brent oil prices plunged by about 4%amid expectations that Libya will gradually resume crude oil exports,as well as concerns over a rebound in COVID-19 cases in Europe and other regions,which are weighing on oil demand prospects.Meanwhile,data released on the 25th by U.S.oilfield services company Baker Hughes showed that the number of active oil rigs in the United States this week stood at 183,up 4 from the previous week but down 530 compared to the same period last year.

This week,corn,wheat,and soybean futures prices on the Chicago Board of Trade generally declined.On the 25th,the most actively traded December corn contract closed at$3.6525 per bushel,down 3.5%for the week;the December wheat contract finished at$5.4425 per bushel,falling 5.35%over the same period;and the November soybean contract settled at$10.025 per bushel,slipping 3.93%for the week.