IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement With Egypt, Opening Path to $3.8 Billion in Funding 
Japan Revises Economic Growth Forecast as Stimulus Fuels Consumption and Investment 
Taiwan Stock Market Ends Higher as Semiconductor and Energy Shares Lead Gains 
China’s Power Market Revamp Fuels Global Boom in Energy Storage Batteries 
Global Demand for Yuan Loans and Bonds Surges as China Pushes Currency Internationalization 
U.S. Dollar Slips as Yen Finds Support on Intervention Signals and Geopolitical Risks Rise 
Yen Stabilizes Near Lows as Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene Amid Dollar Weakness 
UBS Warns of Short-Term Risks as Precious Metals Rally to Record Highs 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady After S&P 500 Hits Record on Strong Economic Data 
Oil Prices Ease in Asia as Geopolitical Risks Clash With Weak Demand Outlook 
Asian Stocks Rise as Wall Street Tech Rally Lifts Markets, Yen Slumps Despite BOJ Rate Hike 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as Strong U.S. Growth and Supply Risks Support Market 
RBA Signals Possible Interest Rate Hike in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Asian Stock Markets Trade Flat as Holiday Liquidity Thins and BOJ Minutes Watched 
Platinum Price Surges Past $2,000 as Demand and Supply Dynamics Tighten 
BOJ Governor Signals Gradual Rate Hikes as Japan’s Inflation Nears 2% Target 
Gold prices remained steady on Monday, hovering near recent record highs as safe-haven demand surged due to concerns over a U.S. economic slowdown and escalating trade tensions. Spot gold edged up 0.1% to $2,940.18 an ounce, while April gold futures held at $2,952.97 an ounce.
Last week, the precious metal hit an all-time high of $2,954.97 an ounce, driven by market uncertainty following weak U.S. economic data and President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats. Sluggish services PMI and consumer sentiment reports raised fears of slowing private spending, adding to worries sparked by lower-than-expected January retail sales.
A weakening U.S. dollar further supported gold’s rally. The dollar index slipped 0.3% to a 2.5-month low, while Treasury yields declined, fueling expectations of more interest rate cuts. This also impacted other metals, with platinum futures rising 0.6% to $994.0 an ounce, while silver remained flat at $32.998 an ounce.
Industrial metals saw mixed movement. London Metal Exchange copper futures fell 0.2% to $9,535.95 per ton, while March copper futures steadied at $4.6170 per pound. Copper has surged in recent weeks, supported by optimism over China’s economic outlook.
With ongoing inflation concerns, trade policy uncertainty, and economic headwinds, investors continue to seek gold as a hedge against volatility, keeping the metal near its historic highs.
