Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
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 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
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.
