IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Gold prices advanced in Asian trading on Monday, staying close to last week’s all-time highs as optimism over further U.S. interest rate cuts lifted demand for bullion. Spot gold gained 0.3% to $3,697.70 an ounce, while gold futures rose 0.7% to $3,733.10 by 01:33 ET (05:33 GMT). Prices touched a record $3,707.70/oz last week.
The Federal Reserve’s 25 basis-point rate cut last week, aimed at offsetting rising labor market risks, fueled bullish sentiment for gold. The Fed signaled more cuts could follow if job market weakness persists, although policymakers still flagged potential inflationary risks from tariffs. Markets now expect at least another 50 bps of cuts this year, according to CME FedWatch. Lower rates generally support gold, a non-yielding asset, by reducing the opportunity cost of holding it.
A stronger dollar, however, limited gold’s upward momentum, as the greenback recovered from its weakest level in more than three-and-a-half years.
Other precious metals also strengthened. Spot silver rose 1.3% to $43.65/oz, while platinum climbed 0.8% to $1,419.90/oz. Industrial metals saw modest gains, with London copper futures up 0.1% at $10,001.10 a ton and COMEX copper futures rising 0.1% to $4.6315 per pound.
This week’s focus shifts to key U.S. economic data and commentary from Federal Reserve officials. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak Tuesday, while Friday’s release of the PCE price index—the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge—is expected to show sticky price pressures. Core PCE inflation is forecast to remain above the Fed’s 2% target. Additional data, including September’s PMI readings and a final revision to Q2 GDP, will also guide market expectations for monetary policy.
