Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
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 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Gold prices stayed close to record highs in Asian trading on Monday, supported by expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this week. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $3,645.03 per ounce at 01:29 ET (05:29 GMT), just below last week’s record of $3,673.95. U.S. gold futures dipped 0.1% to $3,682.70 per ounce.
The precious metal gained 1.5% last week, marking a fourth straight weekly rise, and is up nearly 40% year-to-date as investors flock to safe-haven assets amid global economic uncertainty and trade policy concerns under President Donald Trump.
Markets are pricing in over a 96% chance that the Fed will cut rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, with some bets on a deeper cut. Confidence in a rate reduction strengthened after revised U.S. labor data revealed weaker job growth. August payrolls added only 22,000 jobs, pushing unemployment to 4.3%, the highest in months. Despite a slightly hotter August Consumer Price Index at 0.4% monthly growth, annual inflation held steady at 2.9%. Analysts believe the Fed will prioritize the cooling labor market over inflation concerns.
Gold is particularly sensitive to interest rate changes, as lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets while typically pressuring the dollar, further boosting bullion demand.
Other metals showed limited movement. Silver futures slipped 0.2% to $42.76 per ounce, while platinum futures hovered at $1,410.45. Copper prices gained modestly, with London Metal Exchange futures up 0.3% to $10,083.3 a ton and U.S. copper futures rising 0.2% to $4.66 a pound.
Meanwhile, weak Chinese economic data weighed on broader metal sentiment. Industrial production growth slowed to its weakest pace in a year, while retail sales also underperformed expectations, highlighting ongoing challenges for the world’s largest commodity consumer.
