Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Gold prices dipped slightly in Asian trade on Wednesday but remained close to record highs as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened fresh trade tariffs on key imports. Markets also awaited signals on interest rates from the Federal Reserve’s upcoming minutes release.
Spot gold fell 0.2% to $2,929.02 an ounce, while April gold futures slipped 0.1% to $2,946.22. The precious metal has been rangebound as investors weigh haven demand against easing geopolitical concerns, particularly amid talks of a potential U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
Trump announced plans for a 25% tariff on automobile, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor imports, citing unfair trading practices. While auto tariffs could take effect as early as April, levies on drugs and chips are expected to be delayed. Investors appeared less reactive to the news, suggesting resilience to Trump’s tariff strategy. His recent postponement of tariffs on Canada and Mexico fueled hopes that these measures might serve as negotiation tactics rather than definitive policy shifts.
Global markets saw mixed reactions. Asian stocks registered minor losses, while U.S. stock futures edged higher. Other metals also declined—platinum futures dropped 1% to $1,000.95, silver futures slipped 0.1% to $33.325, and copper retreated 0.5% to $9,418.95 a ton amid profit-taking.
Market focus now turns to the Fed’s January meeting minutes. The central bank recently signaled a slower pace of rate cuts, citing inflation concerns. Upcoming speeches from Fed officials and key PMI data from major economies will provide further insights into economic conditions, potentially influencing gold and broader market sentiment.
