Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Gold prices fell in Asian trading on Friday, pressured by a resilient U.S. dollar and mixed signals surrounding President Donald Trump’s trade tariff agenda. Spot gold dropped 0.7% to $3,293.44 an ounce, while August gold futures slipped 0.8% to $3,316.67 by early morning trade.
The yellow metal is on track for a weekly loss, driven by sustained dollar strength and profit-taking following record highs earlier in May. Despite brief gains after an appeals court reinstated Trump’s proposed tariffs, uncertainty surrounding his shifting stance limited support for bullion. Earlier in the week, gold prices declined when Trump delayed imposing steep tariffs on the EU, followed by a court ruling temporarily blocking those tariffs.
The dollar held firm, supported by better-than-expected U.S. GDP data showing a smaller contraction in Q1 and Federal Reserve comments suggesting no near-term rate cuts. These developments bolstered the dollar, applying downward pressure on gold and other precious metals. Platinum fell 0.6% to $1,074.85 per ounce, and silver slid 1% to $33.075. Industrial metals also weakened, with LME copper down 0.1% to $9,564.40 per ton and U.S. copper futures dipping 0.4% to $4.6535 per pound.
Markets are now focused on the upcoming PCE price index data—considered the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge—which is expected to show persistent inflation above the central bank’s 2% target. This could further reinforce the Fed’s cautious stance on interest rates.
Meanwhile, social media buzzed with the term “TACO” (“Trump Always Chickens Out”), mocking the president’s inconsistent trade policy moves, which have added volatility but little clear direction for the gold market.
