Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Gold prices edged higher in Asian trading on Friday, rebounding from sharp losses in the previous session, as concerns over the U.S. fiscal deficit and looming trade tensions supported demand. Spot gold rose 0.5% to $3,341.34 per ounce, while August gold futures gained 0.2% to $3,349.52.
Despite falling nearly 1% on Thursday after a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report dampened hopes of a July rate cut, gold remained on track for a 1.8% weekly gain—its first in three weeks. The robust jobs data reduced market expectations of a near-term Federal Reserve policy shift, strengthening the U.S. dollar and briefly weighing on bullion.
However, market sentiment was bolstered by renewed worries over the U.S. fiscal outlook. On Thursday, Congress passed President Trump’s sweeping tax bill, which includes deep tax cuts and reduced social spending. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill could add $3.4 trillion to the $36.2 trillion national debt. This added to safe-haven appeal for gold, which tends to benefit from fiscal instability.
Further supporting gold were escalating trade tensions. Trump announced that starting Friday, the U.S. would begin issuing letters to over 170 countries outlining new unilateral export tariffs between 20% and 30%, abandoning multilateral negotiations. While deals with the UK, Vietnam, and a limited framework with China are in place, broader uncertainty boosted investor demand for gold as a hedge.
In other metals, platinum futures climbed 0.5% to $1,385.80 per ounce, while silver futures slipped 0.3% to $37.00. Copper saw mixed moves—LME copper dipped 0.3% to $9,923.65 per ton, and U.S. copper futures fell 0.4% to $5.115 per pound. The U.S. Dollar Index dipped 0.1% but held onto gains from the jobs data.
