Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates and Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Gold and silver prices surged to fresh record highs on Friday, extending a strong year-end rally as investors rushed into safe-haven assets amid escalating geopolitical tensions and a weakening U.S. dollar. Precious metals benefited from heightened global uncertainty, thin holiday trading, and growing expectations of future monetary easing by the Federal Reserve.
Spot gold rose 0.6% to $4,506.76 per ounce, after touching an intraday record of $4,530.60. U.S. gold futures for February delivery climbed 0.7% to $4,537.55. For the week, gold prices were on track to gain nearly 3%, reflecting robust demand from investors seeking protection against geopolitical risks and macroeconomic volatility.
Silver outperformed gold, with spot silver prices surging more than 4% to a new all-time high of $75.14 per ounce. The metal was set to post a weekly gain of over 7%, supported by both safe-haven flows and strong industrial demand. Silver’s critical role in electronics, renewable energy, and clean technology continued to underpin its appeal alongside rising investment inflows.
Geopolitical developments played a central role in driving demand for precious metals. Market sentiment was rattled after the United States increased pressure on Venezuela’s oil exports, fueling concerns over supply disruptions and regional instability. Additional unease emerged after U.S. President Donald Trump stated that American forces had conducted strikes against militant targets in Nigeria, reinforcing fears of expanding global conflict risks.
The rally was further supported by persistent weakness in the U.S. dollar, which slipped against major currencies. Expectations that the Federal Reserve may begin easing monetary policy in 2026, as inflation cools and economic growth slows, have weighed on the greenback. Lower U.S. Treasury yields have also boosted non-yielding assets like gold and silver, as investors shift portfolios toward long-term stores of value.
With holiday-thinned liquidity likely to exaggerate price swings, analysts believe underlying fundamentals still point to continued strength in gold and silver heading into the new year, supported by geopolitical uncertainty, monetary policy expectations, and sustained investment demand.
