Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Gold prices stayed close to record highs in Asian trading on Monday, supported by expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this week. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $3,645.03 per ounce at 01:29 ET (05:29 GMT), just below last week’s record of $3,673.95. U.S. gold futures dipped 0.1% to $3,682.70 per ounce.
The precious metal gained 1.5% last week, marking a fourth straight weekly rise, and is up nearly 40% year-to-date as investors flock to safe-haven assets amid global economic uncertainty and trade policy concerns under President Donald Trump.
Markets are pricing in over a 96% chance that the Fed will cut rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, with some bets on a deeper cut. Confidence in a rate reduction strengthened after revised U.S. labor data revealed weaker job growth. August payrolls added only 22,000 jobs, pushing unemployment to 4.3%, the highest in months. Despite a slightly hotter August Consumer Price Index at 0.4% monthly growth, annual inflation held steady at 2.9%. Analysts believe the Fed will prioritize the cooling labor market over inflation concerns.
Gold is particularly sensitive to interest rate changes, as lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets while typically pressuring the dollar, further boosting bullion demand.
Other metals showed limited movement. Silver futures slipped 0.2% to $42.76 per ounce, while platinum futures hovered at $1,410.45. Copper prices gained modestly, with London Metal Exchange futures up 0.3% to $10,083.3 a ton and U.S. copper futures rising 0.2% to $4.66 a pound.
Meanwhile, weak Chinese economic data weighed on broader metal sentiment. Industrial production growth slowed to its weakest pace in a year, while retail sales also underperformed expectations, highlighting ongoing challenges for the world’s largest commodity consumer.
