Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
U.S. stock indexes closed lower Monday but rebounded from earlier steep losses after President Donald Trump delayed new tariffs on Mexico. Trump granted a one-month pause after Mexico agreed to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops to curb illegal drug trafficking, especially fentanyl.
Over the weekend, Trump had announced 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10% on China, warning of short-term economic pain. Analysts fear prolonged tariffs could further pressure markets and drive inflation. The Dow Jones fell 122.75 points (0.28%) to 44,421.91, while the S&P 500 lost 45.96 points (0.76%) to 5,994.57, and the Nasdaq dropped 235.49 points (1.2%) to 19,391.96. Defensive sectors like healthcare and consumer staples gained, while tech and consumer discretionary stocks lagged.
Automakers, hit hard by tariff concerns, recouped some losses, with Ford slipping 1.9% and GM dropping 3.2%. The Cboe Volatility Index spiked before settling at 18.6. Meanwhile, AI-driven market disruptions persisted, with Nvidia sliding 2.8% as semiconductor stocks dipped 1.8% following concerns over Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s breakthrough.
The small-cap Russell 2000 index briefly touched a three-week low before closing down 1.3%. Investors sought safety in bonds and gold, pushing spot gold to a record high. Treasury yields edged lower.
Earnings season continued, with Tyson Foods rising 2.2% after an upbeat sales forecast and IDEXX Laboratories surging 11.1% on strong earnings. Economic data showed U.S. manufacturing expanded for the first time in two years.
Declining stocks outnumbered advancers by a 2.18-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and 2.37-to-1 on the Nasdaq. Trading volume reached 16.34 billion shares, above the 20-day average of 15.57 billion.
