South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Gold prices edged higher in Asian trading on Friday, rebounding from sharp losses in the previous session, as concerns over the U.S. fiscal deficit and looming trade tensions supported demand. Spot gold rose 0.5% to $3,341.34 per ounce, while August gold futures gained 0.2% to $3,349.52.
Despite falling nearly 1% on Thursday after a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report dampened hopes of a July rate cut, gold remained on track for a 1.8% weekly gain—its first in three weeks. The robust jobs data reduced market expectations of a near-term Federal Reserve policy shift, strengthening the U.S. dollar and briefly weighing on bullion.
However, market sentiment was bolstered by renewed worries over the U.S. fiscal outlook. On Thursday, Congress passed President Trump’s sweeping tax bill, which includes deep tax cuts and reduced social spending. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill could add $3.4 trillion to the $36.2 trillion national debt. This added to safe-haven appeal for gold, which tends to benefit from fiscal instability.
Further supporting gold were escalating trade tensions. Trump announced that starting Friday, the U.S. would begin issuing letters to over 170 countries outlining new unilateral export tariffs between 20% and 30%, abandoning multilateral negotiations. While deals with the UK, Vietnam, and a limited framework with China are in place, broader uncertainty boosted investor demand for gold as a hedge.
In other metals, platinum futures climbed 0.5% to $1,385.80 per ounce, while silver futures slipped 0.3% to $37.00. Copper saw mixed moves—LME copper dipped 0.3% to $9,923.65 per ton, and U.S. copper futures fell 0.4% to $5.115 per pound. The U.S. Dollar Index dipped 0.1% but held onto gains from the jobs data.
