US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Gold prices edged higher in Asian trading Monday, recovering from a one-month low as a weaker U.S. dollar boosted demand, despite easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Spot gold rose 0.5% to $3,290.25 per ounce, while August gold futures gained 0.4% to $3,300.00 by 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT). The metal had slumped nearly 3% last week—its steepest drop since early May—wiping out prior gains tied to global conflicts and leaving it flat for the month.
The dollar’s decline, with the U.S. Dollar Index down 0.2% and hovering near a three-year low, made gold more attractive to foreign investors. Market expectations of a potential Federal Reserve rate cut by September further pressured the greenback, supporting bullion.
Risk appetite improved after U.S. President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, reducing safe-haven inflows into gold. Optimism also grew following a U.S.–China trade agreement in Geneva, which eased rare-earth tensions and trade friction, and the launch of a U.S.–U.K. trade deal that cuts car tariffs and removes duties on aircraft parts.
Still, concerns linger over the upcoming July 9 deadline, which may trigger renewed tariffs on global steel, aluminum, and other imports if no agreements are reached.
Other metals also gained. Platinum futures jumped 1.9% to $1,377.00, putting the metal on track for a 30% monthly surge despite recent pullbacks. Silver held steady at $36.045 per ounce. Copper futures on the London Metal Exchange were flat at $9,888.95 per ton, while U.S. copper rose 0.7% to $5.132 per pound. Gains were tempered by weak Chinese manufacturing data, signaling softer demand from the world’s top copper importer.
