Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises in July as Fuel Price Relief Lifts Confidence 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Slide as Oil Surge, U.S.-Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Bets Weigh on Markets 
Japanese Yen Holds Steady as Intervention Hopes Grow Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
China Trade Surplus Hits $125.6 Billion as June Exports, Imports Smash Forecasts 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Gold prices climbed during Asian trading on Wednesday, while silver prices surged to a fresh all-time high, as growing concerns over the U.S. economy fueled strong demand for safe haven assets. Investors increasingly turned to precious metals amid mixed economic data, expectations of easier monetary policy, and persistent global uncertainty, pushing both gold and silver higher.
Spot gold gained around 0.8% to trade near $4,334 per ounce, while February gold futures also advanced by a similar margin to approximately $4,365 per ounce. Gold prices are now hovering just about $50 below their record highs, reflecting sustained investor interest. Broader metal markets also moved higher, with platinum benefiting from haven buying and copper supported by optimism over additional stimulus measures in China, the world’s largest copper importer.
Silver significantly outperformed gold, rallying sharply to a record level above $66 per ounce. Spot silver jumped more than 3.5%, while silver futures climbed over 4%, highlighting strong momentum in the white metal. Market participants are increasingly pricing in a potential silver supply deficit by 2026, driven by rising industrial demand and constrained supply. Earlier this year, the U.S. government designated silver as a critical metal, further strengthening its long-term investment appeal.
Silver has also attracted haven-focused investors seeking an alternative to gold, offering similar stability at a lower entry price. This dynamic has helped propel silver prices up more than 100% so far in 2025. Analysts, including those from ANZ, expect both gold and silver to extend their gains into 2026 as economic uncertainty shows little sign of easing.
Safe haven demand was further boosted by weaker U.S. economic indicators, including a higher unemployment rate, soft nonfarm payroll data, and disappointing PMI readings. Concerns over slowing growth, liquidity conditions, and renewed Federal Reserve bond-buying have increased expectations of future interest rate cuts, a scenario that typically supports non-yielding assets like gold and silver. Investor focus now turns to upcoming U.S. inflation data for further direction.
