Canada Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Goods Take Effect 
Japan GDP Growth Beats Forecast, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Bets 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
China Exports Surge 25% in August as Trade Surplus Hits $119 Billion 
ECB Set for September Rate Hike as Energy Prices Fuel Inflation 
Japan Foreign Reserves Plunge $79.6 Billion After Record Yen Intervention 
Hungary Industrial Output Beats Forecasts With 4.7% July Growth 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Yen Rallies on BOJ Bets 
Yen Rebounds as BOJ Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Japan, U.S. Stay Aligned on Yen as Currency Surges 
Iran Plans New Gulf Restricted Zone as Hormuz Tensions Push Oil Higher 
OPEC+ Expected to Hold October Oil Output Steady 
Uranium Prices Could Top $100 as Nuclear Demand Grows 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Strong Jobs Data Boosts Fed Rate Hike Bets 
South Korea GDP Surges on Chip and AI Boom 
UK House Prices Fall for First Time Since 2023 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Optimism Fuels Chipmaker Surge 
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Gold prices surged on Friday, positioning the precious metal for strong February gains as investors sought safe-haven assets amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. Spot gold climbed 1.5% to $5,261.81 per ounce, while April gold futures advanced 1.7% to $5,280.26 per ounce. For the month, spot gold is up more than 8%, rebounding sharply from early February lows near $4,404.12 per ounce after a brief speculative pullback.
The rally in gold prices has been fueled largely by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Washington increased its military presence in the Middle East and warned of possible action if Tehran failed to agree to a nuclear deal. Although recent talks ended without an agreement, both sides signaled further discussions, sustaining uncertainty and supporting bullion demand.
Concerns over the U.S. economy have also strengthened gold’s appeal. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down most of President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs added volatility to financial markets. Trump’s response—announcing new tariffs under a different legal framework—has heightened fears of further economic disruption, keeping investors cautious. Equity market sell-offs, particularly around shifting expectations for artificial intelligence growth, have also prompted portfolio reallocation into gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and physical gold.
Institutional demand remains a major driver. According to Bernstein, strong central bank purchases and rising ETF inflows could push gold to $4,800 per ounce in 2026 and as high as $6,100 by 2030. Surveys indicate that 95% of central banks expect global gold reserves to increase over the next year, with many planning to reduce U.S. dollar exposure.
Meanwhile, other precious metals also posted solid February gains. Silver rose nearly 11% this month, platinum gained over 12%, and copper prices edged higher as Chinese demand showed signs of recovery following the Lunar New Year holiday.
