Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Gold Prices Stabilize as Demand for Safe Haven Assets Grows
Gold prices saw a slight increase in Asian trading on Thursday, recovering from recent lows but still below record highs due to ongoing anxiety surrounding the U.S. presidential election and shifting interest rate expectations favoring the dollar.
Despite Wednesday’s declines, gold continues to trade higher for the week, supported by strong safe-haven demand. As of 00:23 ET (04:23 GMT), spot gold rose 0.3% to $2,724.70 an ounce, while December gold futures increased by the same margin to $2,737.15 an ounce. Earlier this week, spot prices reached a peak of $2,758.53 an ounce.
Safe Haven Demand Drives Gold Prices
The yellow metal maintains its strength as geopolitical tensions and domestic political uncertainty keeps investors wary. Harsh rhetoric from Israeli officials regarding Iran has heightened fears of potential escalations in the ongoing conflict, while tensions continue between Israel and Hamas.
In the U.S., Republican nominee Donald Trump is perceived to be gaining an advantage over Vice President Kamala Harris just weeks before the election, leading to a climate of uncertainty that favors safe haven assets like gold.
Broader Market Trends in Precious Metals
The strengthening of haven demand has helped gold and other precious metals withstand the dollar's gains, supported by expectations of slower interest rate cuts. Other precious metals also recorded gains, with platinum futures up 0.7% to $1,037.80 an ounce and silver futures rising 0.6% to $34.050 an ounce.
Industrial Metals Update: Copper Prices Rise
In the industrial metals sector, copper prices rose by 0.7% to $9,581.50 a ton, while December futures climbed to $4.3637 a pound. Market attention is now focused on upcoming purchasing managers index reports from the U.S. and Eurozone, with traders looking for indications of potential fiscal stimulus in China.
