Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Micron Earnings Boost AI Sentiment Ahead of CPI Data 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Gold prices edged lower in Asian trading on Monday, retreating from record highs amid signs that U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned April 2 tariffs may be less severe than expected. Reports from Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal suggested that Trump may exclude key sectors like automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and commodities from the tariffs. The potential narrowing of targets to just 15 countries with large trade imbalances reduced safe-haven demand for gold and boosted market sentiment.
Spot gold slipped 0.2% to $3,018.51 per ounce, while May gold futures held steady at $3,049.30. Last week, spot gold had touched a record high of $3,057.50. A softer U.S. dollar helped limit gold’s losses, but investor appetite for risk grew as Wall Street futures climbed.
Still, uncertainty lingered as the White House did not confirm the tariff reports. With a week left before the deadline, concerns remain that new trade policies could drive inflation and slow the U.S. economy, keeping gold demand supported. Ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Middle East unrest, also contributed to underlying demand for precious metals.
Other precious metals saw modest gains, with platinum futures up 0.3% at $981.15/oz and silver futures climbing 0.7% to $33.735/oz.
Copper prices rose on expectations of tighter supply. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange added 0.6% to $9,927.90 per ton, while May futures gained 0.3% to $5.1305 per pound. Concerns grew as Trump proposed a 25% tariff on copper imports, and several Chinese smelters reportedly considered production cuts. Optimism over potential stimulus in China, the world’s largest copper consumer, also supported prices.
