US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Goldman Sees Foreign Investors Driving India Stock Market Recovery 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Dollar Holds Steady Ahead of U.S. CPI as Oil Surge, Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Australian Business Conditions Hold Steady as Easing Cost Pressures Face New Oil Price Risks 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Platinum prices surged sharply at the start of the week, rallying more than 4.6% on Monday to break above the $2,000 per ounce level for the first time since 2008. The move marks a 17-year high for the precious metal and underscores renewed momentum across the broader precious metals market, as investors position for shifting macroeconomic and industrial trends.
The platinum price rally comes amid growing expectations that global interest rates could decline in the coming year, a scenario that typically boosts demand for non-yielding assets such as precious metals. Alongside platinum, gold, silver, and palladium have also extended recent gains, supported by stronger investment inflows and tightening supply conditions.
Investor sentiment toward platinum has been further strengthened by developments in Europe’s automotive policy landscape. The European Commission’s plan to ease its proposed 2035 ban on combustion engine vehicles has raised expectations that internal combustion engines, particularly diesel-powered vehicles, may remain in use longer than previously anticipated. Combined with slower-than-expected electric vehicle adoption, this shift has reinforced demand forecasts for platinum, a critical material used in autocatalysts to reduce vehicle emissions.
Adding to the bullish outlook, UBS strategists Giovanni Staunovo and Wayne Gordon recently revised their platinum and palladium price forecasts higher following the sharp rally in both metals. UBS increased its platinum price outlook by $300 per ounce, citing stronger investment demand and signs of a tightening market as supply struggles to keep pace with consumption.
Platinum’s strong performance highlights growing investor confidence in its industrial and strategic value, especially in the automotive sector where it remains essential for catalytic converters. As expectations for lower interest rates, sustained industrial demand, and constrained supply converge, platinum prices may continue to find support, keeping the metal firmly in focus for investors and industry participants alike.
