Wall Street Ends Mixed as Alphabet Slumps, Middle East Developments and Fed Outlook Weigh on Markets 
Japan Manufacturing Growth Accelerates in June as Orders Surge Despite Iran War Cost Pressures 
100+ Global Companies Push Governments to Prioritize Electrification for Economic Growth 
US Dollar Hits One-Year High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Overshadows Middle East Developments 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Rebounds Amid Fed Rate Hike Fears 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Yen Near 40-Year Low as USD/JPY Approaches Key 162 Level, Raising Intervention Concerns 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low; Gold Falls and Oil Mixed 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Gold Prices Mixed as Stronger Dollar Offsets Safe-Haven Demand Amid U.S.-Iran Peace Talks 
China Keeps Loan Prime Rates Unchanged for 13th Straight Month as Policymakers Prioritize Credit Demand Recovery 
Trump Says No Hormuz Strait Tolls During 60-Day Iran Ceasefire 
Gold Price Rises as Investors Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks and Fed Policy Outlook 
Russian Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low 
Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
Japan Keeps Markets Guessing as Yen Nears 40-Year Low, Raising Intervention Risks 
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.
