Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
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.
