Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Gold prices slipped slightly in Asian trading on Thursday, easing after a powerful rally earlier in the week as investors grew increasingly confident that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in December. Expectations of a more dovish policy path strengthened further amid speculation that a Fed Chair closely aligned with President Donald Trump could replace Jerome Powell when his term ends in 2026. Weak U.S. economic data also added pressure on the dollar, providing broader support to precious metals.
Spot gold dipped 0.3% to $4,152.35 per ounce in early trading, while gold futures declined 0.4% to $4,184.15 per ounce. Despite the slight pullback, gold remains up more than 2% this week as traders increasingly price in a 25-basis-point rate cut next month. According to CME FedWatch, markets now see a nearly 80% chance of a December cut—an enormous jump from roughly 24% just a week ago.
The shift in sentiment followed comments from two Fed policymakers signaling support for easing monetary policy, alongside disappointing U.S. economic indicators that reinforced concerns over slowing growth. Investors also reacted to geopolitical developments, including limited progress in ceasefire efforts between Russia and Ukraine and growing tensions between Japan and China—both of which boosted safe-haven demand for gold.
Other metals moved lower alongside gold. Spot silver fell 0.7% to $52.9525 per ounce after briefly approaching all-time highs, while platinum outperformed with a 1.7% jump to $1,616.76 per ounce, though the catalyst for its surge was unclear. Lower interest rates generally benefit non-yielding assets such as gold, as investors tend to shift away from government bonds in a declining-rate environment.
Attention is also turning to the potential successor to Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Reports suggest that White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is the leading candidate. Seen as a close ally of President Trump, Hassett is expected to advocate more aggressively for lower interest rates—a stance that could shape long-term monetary policy if he is appointed.
Several Fed officials have recently emphasized that supporting the labor market may outweigh inflation concerns in the near term, adding further momentum to expectations for rate cuts as price pressures are projected to cool in the coming months.
