Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Trump to Announce New Federal Reserve Chair Pick as Powell Replacement Looms 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Second Week as Tariff Threats and Iran Tensions Shake Markets 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Retreats After Fed Decision 
South Korea Industry Minister Heads to Washington Amid U.S. Tariff Hike Concerns 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Indonesia Stocks Face Fragile Sentiment After MSCI Warning and Market Rout 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
U.S. and El Salvador Sign Landmark Critical Minerals Agreement to Boost Investment and Trade 
Oil Prices Hit Four-Month High as Geopolitical Risks and Supply Disruptions Intensify 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
Gold prices edged higher in Asian trade on Friday, supported by renewed safe haven demand after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 35% tariff on Canada starting August 1. The move, which exceeded previous threats and surprised Ottawa amid thawing trade relations, triggered risk-off sentiment across markets. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East also helped lift demand for havens like gold and the Japanese yen.
Spot gold rose 0.5% to $3,341.27 an ounce, while gold futures for September gained 0.9% to $3,354.60. Despite Friday’s gains, gold remained range-bound between $3,300 and $3,500, pressured by a stronger dollar and ongoing speculation over the U.S. interest rate outlook.
Silver and platinum continued to outperform gold, posting strong weekly gains. Silver futures rose 2.2% to $38.14 an ounce, marking their highest level in nearly 14 years and a third consecutive week of gains. Platinum futures gained 0.3% to $1,420.25, nearing an 11-year high and extending their weekly win streak to six, driven by tight supply concerns and bullish industry forecasts.
In industrial metals, copper prices pulled back after recent highs. COMEX copper futures slipped 1.2% to $5.5620 per pound following profit-taking, despite briefly hitting record levels earlier this week on Trump’s separate threat of a 50% tariff. London Metal Exchange benchmark copper was flat at $9,700.55 per ton.
Overall, while gold regained ground amid geopolitical and trade tensions, silver and platinum continued to shine brighter, fueled by bullish fundamentals and investor interest in alternative precious metals.
