Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
Dollar Struggles as Policy Uncertainty Weighs on Markets Despite Official Support 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Retreats After Fed Decision 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Indonesian Stocks Plunge as MSCI Downgrade Risk Sparks Investor Exodus 
Indonesia Stocks Face Fragile Sentiment After MSCI Warning and Market Rout 
Copper Prices Hit Record Highs as Metals Rally Gains Momentum on Geopolitical Tensions 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
Oil Prices Hit Four-Month High as Geopolitical Risks and Supply Disruptions Intensify 
Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
Gold prices edged higher in Asian trade on Friday, supported by renewed safe haven demand after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 35% tariff on Canada starting August 1. The move, which exceeded previous threats and surprised Ottawa amid thawing trade relations, triggered risk-off sentiment across markets. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East also helped lift demand for havens like gold and the Japanese yen.
Spot gold rose 0.5% to $3,341.27 an ounce, while gold futures for September gained 0.9% to $3,354.60. Despite Friday’s gains, gold remained range-bound between $3,300 and $3,500, pressured by a stronger dollar and ongoing speculation over the U.S. interest rate outlook.
Silver and platinum continued to outperform gold, posting strong weekly gains. Silver futures rose 2.2% to $38.14 an ounce, marking their highest level in nearly 14 years and a third consecutive week of gains. Platinum futures gained 0.3% to $1,420.25, nearing an 11-year high and extending their weekly win streak to six, driven by tight supply concerns and bullish industry forecasts.
In industrial metals, copper prices pulled back after recent highs. COMEX copper futures slipped 1.2% to $5.5620 per pound following profit-taking, despite briefly hitting record levels earlier this week on Trump’s separate threat of a 50% tariff. London Metal Exchange benchmark copper was flat at $9,700.55 per ton.
Overall, while gold regained ground amid geopolitical and trade tensions, silver and platinum continued to shine brighter, fueled by bullish fundamentals and investor interest in alternative precious metals.
