Trump Questions USMCA Renewal as Trade Talks Continue 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Asian Stocks Advance as Nikkei Nears Record High Ahead of Fed Decision 
Asian Currencies Stabilize as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High After Fed Hawkish Signal 
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Signals Policy Overhaul as Hawkish Rate Outlook Rattles Markets 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
German Auto Suppliers Turn Bearish as Investment and Jobs Shift Overseas 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
ASX Proposes New Share Dilution Limits for Public Takeovers 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Gold prices tumbled sharply on Friday, recording their biggest weekly decline since mid-March as a stronger U.S. dollar and growing expectations of Federal Reserve rate hikes weighed heavily on the precious metals market. Rising inflation concerns tied to escalating Middle East tensions and higher oil prices also pushed investors toward the dollar, reducing demand for non-yielding assets like gold.
Spot gold fell 2.4% to close at $4,540.14 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures dropped 3% to settle at $4,543.60 per ounce. On a weekly basis, spot gold lost 3.7%, and gold futures declined 4%, reflecting increased market volatility and shifting investor sentiment.
Other precious metals also faced steep losses. Spot silver plunged 9% to $75.9795 per ounce, while platinum slipped 5.1% to $1,985.20 per ounce. Copper prices also weakened, with London Metal Exchange benchmark copper futures falling 1.5% to $13,938.50 per ton and U.S. copper futures dropping 4.9% to $6.2895 per pound.
The U.S. dollar strengthened significantly after hotter-than-expected U.S. CPI and PPI inflation reports signaled that rising oil prices linked to the Iran conflict were driving broader inflationary pressures. Investors now expect the Federal Reserve to maintain a more aggressive monetary policy stance, increasing the likelihood of additional interest rate hikes in the coming months.
A stronger dollar typically hurts gold prices because it makes bullion more expensive for overseas buyers. Analysts also noted that elevated metal prices may be starting to weaken industrial demand, particularly in China.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump concluded his visit to China without major breakthroughs on trade, artificial intelligence, or the Iran conflict. Although Trump claimed China agreed to increase purchases of U.S. oil, Boeing aircraft, and agricultural products, few concrete details were released. Markets also remained cautious over ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
