Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
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 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Gold prices edged lower in Asian trading on Monday, retreating from record highs amid signs that U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned April 2 tariffs may be less severe than expected. Reports from Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal suggested that Trump may exclude key sectors like automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and commodities from the tariffs. The potential narrowing of targets to just 15 countries with large trade imbalances reduced safe-haven demand for gold and boosted market sentiment.
Spot gold slipped 0.2% to $3,018.51 per ounce, while May gold futures held steady at $3,049.30. Last week, spot gold had touched a record high of $3,057.50. A softer U.S. dollar helped limit gold’s losses, but investor appetite for risk grew as Wall Street futures climbed.
Still, uncertainty lingered as the White House did not confirm the tariff reports. With a week left before the deadline, concerns remain that new trade policies could drive inflation and slow the U.S. economy, keeping gold demand supported. Ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Middle East unrest, also contributed to underlying demand for precious metals.
Other precious metals saw modest gains, with platinum futures up 0.3% at $981.15/oz and silver futures climbing 0.7% to $33.735/oz.
Copper prices rose on expectations of tighter supply. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange added 0.6% to $9,927.90 per ton, while May futures gained 0.3% to $5.1305 per pound. Concerns grew as Trump proposed a 25% tariff on copper imports, and several Chinese smelters reportedly considered production cuts. Optimism over potential stimulus in China, the world’s largest copper consumer, also supported prices.
