US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Gold Price Holds Near $4,000 as Middle East Tensions and Fed Rate Hike Bets Grow 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Currencies Weaken as Stronger Dollar Weighs, Yen Supported by GPIF Repatriation Hopes 
Gold Prices Fall as US-Iran Conflict, Rising Oil Prices Fuel Fed Rate Concerns 
Singapore GDP Grows 5.7% in Q2 2026 as AI-Driven Manufacturing Boosts Economy 
South Korea’s KOSPI Triggers Trading Curb as AI Chip Stock Selloff Deepens 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Dollar Rises as Middle East Conflict Fuels Inflation and Rate Hike Fears 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
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.
