South Korea Inflation Edges Up in November as Food and Service Costs Climb 
U.S. Cyber Monday Online Sales Surge Past $9.1 Billion as Holiday Shopping Momentum Builds 
Japan’s Finance Minister Signals Alignment With BOJ as Rate Hike Speculation Grows 
U.S. Stocks Slip as Investors Await Fed Rate Decision and Monitor Market Shifts 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
South Korea Posts Stronger-Than-Expected 1.3% Economic Growth in Q3 
Trump Administration Plans Major Rollback of Biden-Era Fuel Economy Standards 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Oil Prices Rise as Geopolitical Tensions and Supply Risks Intensify 
Dollar Slips as Weak U.S. Manufacturing Data Increases Pressure for Fed Rate Cuts 
Gold prices slipped in Asian trading on Monday as renewed risk appetite and a surge in expectations for a December U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut reduced demand for the safe-haven metal. Markets reacted to a rebound in equities and improved sentiment across risk-driven assets, alongside reports suggesting the U.S. is working toward facilitating a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire.
Despite the downward pressure, gold remained above the $4,000 per ounce mark, supported by ongoing concerns over global fiscal stability and heightened geopolitical tensions stemming from a China-Japan diplomatic dispute. Anticipation of several key U.S. economic reports scheduled for release this week also helped limit deeper losses, reinforcing expectations of potential near-term rate reductions.
Spot gold edged down 0.3% to $4,052.53 per ounce, while December gold futures dropped 0.7% to $4,086.10 by 01:07 ET (06:07 GMT). The metal lagged behind other precious commodities as traders sharply increased their bets on a 25-basis-point rate cut at the Fed’s December 9–10 meeting. According to CME FedWatch, the probability jumped to 67.3%, up significantly from last week’s 39.8%. Comments from New York Fed Governor John Williams, who noted easing inflation risks and potential threats to the labor market, fueled the shift in expectations.
Other precious metals outperformed gold, with spot platinum climbing 1.4% to $1,537.65 per ounce. Spot silver was slightly lower at $49.92385 per ounce.
Investors are now focused on a packed week of long-delayed U.S. economic data releases, expected to provide fresh insight into the country’s economic trajectory heading into December. Reports due include industrial production, capacity utilization, PPI, retail sales, building permits, durable goods, weekly jobless claims, and importantly, third-quarter GDP numbers. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE price index, is also set for publication.
These data points—delayed due to an extended government shutdown—may help clarify the economic outlook, though the lack of October figures means the Federal Reserve could still face uncertainty heading into its final meeting of the year, where policymakers remain split on further rate cuts.
