Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
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Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Gold prices remained steady on Monday, hovering near recent record highs as safe-haven demand surged due to concerns over a U.S. economic slowdown and escalating trade tensions. Spot gold edged up 0.1% to $2,940.18 an ounce, while April gold futures held at $2,952.97 an ounce.
Last week, the precious metal hit an all-time high of $2,954.97 an ounce, driven by market uncertainty following weak U.S. economic data and President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats. Sluggish services PMI and consumer sentiment reports raised fears of slowing private spending, adding to worries sparked by lower-than-expected January retail sales.
A weakening U.S. dollar further supported gold’s rally. The dollar index slipped 0.3% to a 2.5-month low, while Treasury yields declined, fueling expectations of more interest rate cuts. This also impacted other metals, with platinum futures rising 0.6% to $994.0 an ounce, while silver remained flat at $32.998 an ounce.
Industrial metals saw mixed movement. London Metal Exchange copper futures fell 0.2% to $9,535.95 per ton, while March copper futures steadied at $4.6170 per pound. Copper has surged in recent weeks, supported by optimism over China’s economic outlook.
With ongoing inflation concerns, trade policy uncertainty, and economic headwinds, investors continue to seek gold as a hedge against volatility, keeping the metal near its historic highs.
