China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Asian markets fell Monday, mirroring Wall Street’s decline, as concerns over the U.S. economy intensified following a weaker-than-expected July jobs report. Investors now see a 90% chance of a September Federal Reserve rate cut, up from 40% before the data release. U.S. payroll revisions showed 290,000 fewer jobs than previously thought, with the three-month average dropping to just 35,000 from 231,000 earlier this year.
Goldman Sachs analysts noted the data signals below-potential U.S. growth. Market sentiment was further shaken by President Donald Trump’s firing of the Labor Statistics chief, raising fears over the credibility of economic data and the politicization of Fed policy. Trump will soon appoint a new Fed governor, expected to support lower interest rates.
Rate cut expectations drove U.S. two-year Treasury yields down to 3.661%, after Friday’s 25-basis-point plunge — the largest since August 2024. Futures now imply 65 basis points of easing by year-end. The dollar weakened, falling to 147.24 yen and $1.1585 per euro, as the dollar index dropped to 98.659 from last week’s 100.250 peak. Sterling traded at $1.3287 ahead of the Bank of England’s expected quarter-point cut Thursday.
In equities, S&P 500 futures edged up 0.1% and Nasdaq futures 0.2%, supported by strong earnings season results, with 63% of S&P 500 firms beating forecasts. Still, Asia lagged, with Japan’s Nikkei down 2.1% and South Korea’s KOSPI off 0.2%, while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index rose 0.3%.
Commodity markets saw gold steady at $3,361 an ounce after a 2% jump Friday. Oil extended losses as OPEC+ approved a major September output hike, reversing last year’s 2.2 million bpd cuts. Brent fell 0.6% to $69.24 and U.S. crude slipped 0.6% to $66.93.
