European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
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 
Gold prices remained largely unchanged in Asian trade on Friday, poised for a third consecutive weekly decline as a stronger U.S. dollar outweighed safe-haven demand driven by escalating trade tensions.
Spot gold edged up 0.2% to $3,396.25 an ounce, while gold futures held steady at $3,348.10 per ounce by 01:58 ET (05:58 GMT). The U.S. Dollar Index climbed to its highest in over two months and is on track for its best weekly performance in nearly three years, following the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged. A firmer dollar typically makes gold more expensive for international buyers, reducing demand.
Investor sentiment was further pressured by renewed trade uncertainty after President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing steep “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from more than a dozen countries. The new tariffs, effective August 1, range from 15% on South Korean goods to 25% on Indian exports. Additionally, Trump raised tariffs on Canadian goods to 35% from 25%, citing Canada’s insufficient action on fentanyl shipments.
While heightened trade tensions usually support safe-haven assets like gold, the dollar’s rally capped potential gains.
In other precious metals, platinum futures rose 0.4% to $1,298.35 per ounce, while silver futures dipped 0.1% to $36.68. On the industrial metals front, benchmark copper futures on the London Metal Exchange gained 0.5% to $9,655.95 a ton, though U.S. copper futures eased 0.2% to $4.423 a pound after plunging 19% earlier in the week when refined copper was excluded from planned tariffs. Starting August 1, a 50% tariff will apply to semi-finished copper products but not to ores, concentrates, or cathodes.
