BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Gold prices advanced in Asian trading on Monday, staying close to last week’s all-time highs as optimism over further U.S. interest rate cuts lifted demand for bullion. Spot gold gained 0.3% to $3,697.70 an ounce, while gold futures rose 0.7% to $3,733.10 by 01:33 ET (05:33 GMT). Prices touched a record $3,707.70/oz last week.
The Federal Reserve’s 25 basis-point rate cut last week, aimed at offsetting rising labor market risks, fueled bullish sentiment for gold. The Fed signaled more cuts could follow if job market weakness persists, although policymakers still flagged potential inflationary risks from tariffs. Markets now expect at least another 50 bps of cuts this year, according to CME FedWatch. Lower rates generally support gold, a non-yielding asset, by reducing the opportunity cost of holding it.
A stronger dollar, however, limited gold’s upward momentum, as the greenback recovered from its weakest level in more than three-and-a-half years.
Other precious metals also strengthened. Spot silver rose 1.3% to $43.65/oz, while platinum climbed 0.8% to $1,419.90/oz. Industrial metals saw modest gains, with London copper futures up 0.1% at $10,001.10 a ton and COMEX copper futures rising 0.1% to $4.6315 per pound.
This week’s focus shifts to key U.S. economic data and commentary from Federal Reserve officials. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak Tuesday, while Friday’s release of the PCE price index—the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge—is expected to show sticky price pressures. Core PCE inflation is forecast to remain above the Fed’s 2% target. Additional data, including September’s PMI readings and a final revision to Q2 GDP, will also guide market expectations for monetary policy.
