Yields and the dollar rose; gold weakened before "central bank week."

Last Friday, the US dollar index hovered around the 107 level and ultimately closed down 0.071% at 106.94, remaining stable at a high in over two weeks and achieving its best weekly performance in a month. The yield of US Treasury bonds continues to rise, with the two-year bond yield closing at 4.247% and the 10-year bond yield closing at 4.396%. It is worth noting that the 3-month/10-year US Treasury yield curve has ended its inverted state for the first time since early November 2022. On Monday (December 16th Beijing time), spot gold rose nearly 1%, trading near 2650, benefiting from the expectation of the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut this week. Due to market concerns that additional sanctions against Russia and Iran may tighten supply, and interest rate cuts in Europe and the United States are conducive to boosting fuel demand, the two oil companies stopped their two-week decline. WTI crude oil once approached the 71 level and ultimately closed up 1.45% at $70.67 per barrel; Brent crude oil closed up 1.24% at $74.08 per barrel.