U.S. Inflation Surges in March as Iran War and Tariffs Drive Prices Higher 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S. Imposes Blockade on Iranian Shipping Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
Trump Slams Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Oil Restrictions Amid Fragile Ceasefire 
Asian Stocks Rally on Ceasefire Hopes and Bargain Buying 
Colombia and Ecuador Trade War Escalates With Retaliatory Tariffs 
China's Inflation Data Misses Forecasts as Consumer Prices Slow in March 
Bank of Korea Governor Nominee Warns of Action if Korean Won Weakens Further 
U.S. Blockades Strait of Hormuz as Oil Prices Surge Past $100 
Iran War Fallout: How Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Egypt Are Struggling With Rising Energy Costs 
BCA Research Warns U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Could Collapse, Maintains Cautious Equity Outlook 
White House Warns Staff Over Insider Trading Amid Suspicious Oil Market Bets 
Federal Reserve Probes Big Banks Over Private Credit Exposure Amid Growing Systemic Risk Concerns 
Bank of America Maintains Forecast for Two Fed Rate Cuts in 2026 Despite Inflation Risks 
Asia FX Weekly Gains Hold Amid U.S. Inflation Data and Iran Ceasefire Uncertainty 
U.S. Futures Plunge as Iran Ceasefire Talks Collapse and Hormuz Blockade Looms 
Middle East Conflict Threatens Global Economic Stability, World Bank Warns 
Chinese Brands Are Taking Over Brazil — And It's Just Getting Started 
Gold prices declined on Monday as a strengthening U.S. dollar and persistent inflation concerns weighed heavily on the precious metal. Spot gold dropped 0.6% to $4,720.67 per ounce, while gold futures slid 0.9% to $4,743.20 per ounce, reflecting growing bearish sentiment among traders.
The selloff was largely driven by the breakdown of ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran. Weekend talks held in Pakistan failed to produce any meaningful de-escalation, with both sides at odds over nuclear activities, Iran's backing of regional militant groups, and control of the Strait of Hormuz. Following the collapse of negotiations, President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports and vessels, set to take effect at 10:00 ET. Tehran swiftly rejected the move, raising fears of a broader military conflict.
The geopolitical fallout sent investors rushing into the U.S. dollar as a safe-haven asset, pushing the dollar index up roughly 0.4% and adding pressure on dollar-denominated commodities like gold. Other precious metals also felt the strain, with silver falling nearly 2% to $74.3975 per ounce and platinum edging lower to $2,047.06 per ounce.
Compounding gold's struggles was a sharp uptick in U.S. consumer price index data for March. Inflation climbed 3.3% year-over-year, a significant jump from February's 2.4% reading, largely fueled by rising energy costs linked to the ongoing conflict and restricted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The hotter inflation print reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady for at least the next 12 months, according to CME FedWatch data. Since higher rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets, gold's appeal continues to diminish in the current environment.
Traders are now turning their attention to upcoming U.S. producer price index data, which could further shape the outlook for monetary policy and gold's near-term trajectory.
