Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
German Auto Suppliers Turn Bearish as Investment and Jobs Shift Overseas 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
ASX Proposes New Share Dilution Limits for Public Takeovers 
Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
Oil Prices Ease as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Peace Deal and Strait of Hormuz Reopening 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
Asian Stocks Advance as Nikkei Nears Record High Ahead of Fed Decision 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Gold prices slipped on Wednesday but remained positioned for weekly gains as investors closely monitored developments surrounding a potential permanent ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Spot gold fell 1% to $4,794.67 per ounce, retreating from a recent one-month peak, while gold futures edged down 0.7% to $4,817.26 per ounce.
Despite the daily pullback, bullion was still up roughly 1% for the week, reflecting a cautious return of risk appetite in global markets. Wall Street has already reclaimed record highs, erasing all losses accumulated since hostilities erupted in late February following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Gold struggled throughout March as the conflict triggered a sharp rise in oil prices, stoking global inflation fears and raising expectations of potential interest rate hikes by central banks worldwide. Since gold yields no interest, a rising-rate environment tends to weigh heavily on its appeal. Adding to the pressure, investors gravitated toward the U.S. dollar as their preferred safe haven, partly because the United States, as a net energy exporter, remains relatively shielded from oil supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump has expressed optimism that the conflict is "close to over," suggesting a permanent ceasefire could be finalized before King Charles visits the United States later this month. A second round of U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks is expected to resume imminently, following inconclusive negotiations held in Pakistan last weekend. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that diplomatic conversations remain "productive and ongoing."
A fragile two-week ceasefire is set to expire on April 21, but mediators are reportedly making headway on key sticking points, including Iran's nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz closure, and war reparations. Analysts warn that gold's next directional move hinges on whether prices can firmly establish support above the $4,800 level.
