U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
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 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Oil Prices Climb on Venezuela Blockade, Russia Sanctions Fears, and Supply Risks 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Gold prices inched higher during Asian trading on Monday, supported by safe-haven demand amid rising global trade tensions and political uncertainty in Japan. Spot gold rose 0.4% to $3,364.21 per ounce, while September gold futures gained 0.4% to $3,371.42. The precious metal held within a $200 range since April, even as investors turned cautious ahead of the looming August 1 U.S. tariff deadline.
Concerns escalated after the Wall Street Journal reported that the European Union was preparing retaliatory measures against new U.S. tariffs. The proposed duties, ranging from 20% to 50%, include a baseline 15% tariff on European imports, sparking uncertainty over trade policy. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reaffirmed Sunday that August 1 was a firm deadline.
Additional haven demand emerged after Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost its majority in the upper house over the weekend. The political shift raised concerns over Japan’s economic and trade strategies, pushing the yen slightly higher.
The dollar eased slightly after a two-week climb, supporting broader gains in metals. Platinum rose 1% to $1,439.59 per ounce, while silver gained 0.3% to $38.3045. Both metals have significantly outperformed gold in 2025, driven by tighter supply expectations and growing industrial demand. Platinum is up 29.2% year-to-date, nearing an 11-year high, while silver, up 53.5%, approaches a 14-year peak.
In industrial metals, London Metal Exchange copper futures rose 0.6% to $9,846.45 per ton, and COMEX copper futures edged up 0.2% to $5.6170 per pound, buoyed by a softer dollar and steady demand expectations.
Markets remain focused on developments surrounding U.S. tariffs and global political shifts, key factors likely to influence safe-haven flows and commodity prices in the near term.
