Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Gold prices declined in Asian trading on Monday, extending last week’s losses as easing U.S.-China trade tensions reduced demand for the metal’s safe-haven appeal. Spot gold dropped 1.3% to $4,060.80 per ounce at 00:44 ET (04:44 GMT), while U.S. gold futures fell 1.6% to $4,072.60. The yellow metal ended its nine-week winning streak last week after touching record highs above $4,300 per ounce, with investors locking in profits amid improving geopolitical sentiment and expectations of monetary easing.
The latest decline followed reports that U.S. and Chinese officials reached a preliminary trade framework during ASEAN meetings in Malaysia. The deal, expected to be finalized later this week when Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet in South Korea, signaled a possible extension of the trade truce and a step toward a broader agreement. U.S. Treasury official Scott Bessent noted that the “threat of a 100% tariff has gone away,” easing fears of renewed trade escalation and encouraging risk appetite among investors, which weighed on gold prices.
Despite the dip, losses were limited by growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 25 basis points at its October 29 policy meeting. A weaker U.S. CPI report last week reinforced these forecasts, with markets now anticipating further easing through year-end. Lower interest rates typically support gold by reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets and weakening the U.S. dollar, making bullion more attractive to global buyers.
Other precious metals also slipped, with silver futures down 1.4% to $47.91 per ounce and platinum futures falling 0.9% to $1,587.10. In contrast, copper surged to a record high of $11,078 a ton on the London Metal Exchange, supported by supply disruptions and optimism over U.S.-China trade progress.
