Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
2024 Expected to be the Hottest Year on Record
According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), 2024 is "virtually certain" to surpass 2023 as the hottest year since global records began. This announcement comes just ahead of the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, where countries are expected to discuss increasing funding to combat climate change.
Record Temperatures Driven by Climate Change
From January to October, global temperatures were significantly above average, and only an unprecedented drop in temperatures would prevent 2024 from becoming the hottest year recorded. C3S Director Carlo Buontempo emphasized that the main cause of this record is climate change, which is impacting all continents and ocean basins.
2024 will also mark the first time the planet exceeds a 1.5°C increase in global temperature compared to the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period. This milestone highlights the urgency of addressing climate change, as carbon emissions from fossil fuels remain the primary driver.
Urgent Action Needed at COP29
ETH Zurich climate scientist Sonia Seneviratne expressed concern over the slow pace of global climate action and urged governments at COP29 to accelerate efforts to reduce fossil fuel dependence. The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C, but C3S now predicts the world will exceed this limit around 2030.
Extreme Weather Events Intensified by Climate Change
The impact of rising temperatures is already evident. In October, catastrophic flooding in Spain, severe wildfires in Peru, and devastating floods in Bangladesh underscored the increasing frequency of extreme weather events driven by climate change.
