US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Brent Oil Jumps 16% for Best Week Since April as US-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Trump Threatens Higher Canada Tariffs as Wildfire Smoke Sparks U.S. Air Quality Crisis 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Gold Prices Surge to New Heights
Gold prices reached a record high during Asian trading on Monday, extending last week's rally amid growing safe-haven demand due to uncertainties surrounding the U.S. presidential election and escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly Israel's threats against Iran.
Precious Metals Rally
Spot gold climbed 0.4% to an all-time high of $2,732.86 per ounce, while December futures increased by 0.6% to $2,747.70. Silver also saw significant gains, surging 3.1% to $34.328 per ounce, marking its highest level since September 2012. Platinum futures rose by 0.6% to $1,031.15 per ounce.
Economic Factors Impacting Prices
Despite the dollar hovering near its highest levels since early August, precious metal prices strengthened as traders anticipated a slower pace of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Analysts expect a 25 basis point cut in November, as the U.S. economy shows signs of resilience.
Industrial Metals Gain Momentum
Copper prices also firmed following an unexpected interest rate cut by China, the world's top copper importer. Benchmark copper futures rose 1.2% to $9,746.00 per ton, while December futures increased to $4.4450 per pound. However, uncertainty surrounding the timing and scale of China's stimulus measures has led to cautious trading.
