Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Gold prices hovered close to record highs on Monday following a sharp surge last week, supported by weak U.S. labor data and growing expectations of an imminent Federal Reserve interest rate cut. Spot gold traded at $3,585.68 per ounce, slightly below Friday’s all-time peak of $3,600.03. December gold futures slipped 0.7% to $3,626.52.
The precious metal jumped more than 4% last week and has gained in nine of the last ten sessions, climbing nearly 37% so far in 2025. Safe-haven demand driven by U.S. trade policy uncertainty under President Donald Trump and robust central bank purchases, particularly from China, have been key factors behind gold’s rally.
Market sentiment shifted further after the latest U.S. jobs report revealed slowing employment growth and a rise in unemployment to 4.3%. Investors now anticipate a 25-basis-point cut at the Fed’s September meeting, with some odds of a larger 50-point move. Lower interest rates typically boost gold by reducing the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding asset while weakening the U.S. dollar. The U.S. Dollar Index remained subdued on Monday after Friday’s steep losses.
Traders are now focused on Thursday’s U.S. inflation data, which could reinforce or challenge expectations for more Fed easing and set gold’s next direction.
Elsewhere in metals, silver futures fell 0.6% to $41.30 an ounce, easing from last week’s 14-year high. Platinum held steady at $1,385.60, while copper prices were mixed. London copper futures hovered at $9,901.65 per ton, and U.S. copper inched up 0.3% to $4.56 a pound.
China’s latest trade data showed slowing exports and weaker imports in August, underscoring soft domestic demand and signaling potential headwinds for global commodities markets.
