German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Signals Policy Overhaul as Hawkish Rate Outlook Rattles Markets 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Trump Says No Hormuz Strait Tolls During 60-Day Iran Ceasefire 
Gold prices jumped sharply during Asian trading on Friday, marking a strong start to 2026 after a historic rally last year. Renewed demand for bullion was driven by a weaker U.S. dollar and growing expectations that U.S. interest rates will move lower, reinforcing gold’s appeal as a safe-haven and inflation hedge.
Spot gold climbed 1.6% to $4,378.55 per ounce by early Asian hours, while U.S. gold futures rose 1.2% to $4,392.40 per ounce. The gains followed a brief pullback from record highs in the final week of 2025, as investors returned to the market after year-end holidays and reassessed macroeconomic conditions.
The U.S. dollar extended its recent decline, making gold cheaper for investors using other currencies. This currency weakness provided immediate support for precious metal prices and helped revive buying interest after last year’s pause.
Gold recorded an exceptional performance in 2025, surging more than 60% in what was its strongest annual gain in decades. The rally was largely fueled by a shift in U.S. monetary policy, as the Federal Reserve delivered several interest rate cuts. Lower interest rates reduced the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, encouraging both institutional and retail investors to increase exposure. Market expectations of further rate cuts in 2026 continue to underpin bullish sentiment.
Geopolitical uncertainty also remained a key driver. Ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, along with broader concerns over global political stability and economic growth, sustained strong safe-haven demand. Central banks, particularly in emerging markets, continued to purchase gold aggressively to diversify reserves and reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar.
Other precious metals also advanced. Silver jumped 3% to $73.30 per ounce, supported by both safe-haven demand and strong industrial usage linked to renewable energy, electronics, and data centers. Platinum rose 2.5% to $2,102.3 per ounce after a stellar rally last year. Meanwhile, copper prices edged higher, reflecting steady optimism around global industrial demand.
With core drivers still intact, analysts see continued support for gold prices in early 2026.
