Energy prices led the charge at the Thursday, 21 May 2026 commodity market open, with WTI crude oil posting the most pronounced move of the session so far. The US benchmark climbed $0.90, or 0.92%, to $99.16 per barrel, while Brent crude rose in tandem, adding $0.92, or 0.88%, to trade at $105.94. Natural gas also firmed on the day, gaining $0.03, or 0.93%, to reach $3.03 per million British thermal units — broadly in line with the upward momentum seen across energy complex prices at the open.
Gold edged marginally higher, rising $0.70, or 0.02%, to $4,536.00 per troy ounce in international spot markets. Translated to domestic terms, gold’s approximate MCX equivalent works out to roughly ₹1,21,130 per 10 grammes, based on the prevailing exchange rate. The yellow metal’s gains at the open were negligible in percentage terms, though the price remained at a historically elevated level in absolute terms.
Silver moved in the opposite direction, slipping $0.30, or 0.40%, to $75.88 per troy ounce. On the MCX, silver’s approximate equivalent translates to around ₹2,02,490 per kilogramme. The divergence between gold and silver at the open meant that the gold-to-silver ratio widened fractionally, with the two metals trading in differing directions for the session.
Among industrial metals, copper edged lower by $0.01, or 0.23%, to $6.32 per pound, adding a note of softness to the base metals segment at the open. The modest decline kept copper’s move contained, though it reinforced the split picture emerging across the broader commodity complex on Thursday morning.
Agricultural commodities opened on the back foot. Wheat fell 5.75 US cents, or 0.87%, to 654.75 US cents per bushel, representing the steepest percentage decline among all tracked commodities at the open. Corn also traded lower, shedding 2.25 US cents, or 0.48%, to 463.50 US cents per bushel.
Taking the opening data as a whole, the commodity complex presented a broadly mixed picture on Thursday, 21 May 2026. Energy — comprising crude oil and natural gas — was the clear area of strength, with all three energy prices advancing. Precious metals were split, with gold posting a fractional gain and silver declining. Industrial metals and agricultural commodities were softer, with copper, wheat, and corn all opening in negative territory.
Market data sourced from Yahoo Finance. Prices reflect closing/last traded values as of Thursday, 21 May 2026, 10:00 AM IST (MCX open). Data may be delayed by approximately 5 minutes. This article is for informational purposes only.
