White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Gold prices edged higher on Monday in Asian trading as the U.S. dollar weakened, while uncertainty over trade tariffs and geopolitical tensions supported safe-haven demand. Spot gold gained 0.3% to $2,865.69 per ounce, while April gold futures climbed 0.9% to $2,873.59.
The U.S. dollar slipped 0.4%, retreating from a two-week high amid uncertainty surrounding additional tariffs. President Donald Trump confirmed a 10% tariff increase on China and reaffirmed 25% levies on Mexico and Canada. However, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that final tariff decisions would be made on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, stalled talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump raised concerns over prolonged geopolitical instability, further bolstering gold’s appeal. A weaker dollar also lifted other precious metals—platinum futures jumped 1.2% to $949.10, while silver futures climbed 0.7% to $31.73.
Economic data added to market speculation about future Federal Reserve policy. U.S. consumer sentiment dipped 0.2% in January, marking its first decline in nearly two years. The Atlanta Fed projected a 1.5% annualized economic growth rate for Q1 2025, down from 2.3% in the prior quarter. While expectations for rate cuts rose, inflation remained firm, with the Fed’s preferred PCE price index increasing 0.3% in January, the same as in December.
Copper prices saw modest gains, supported by a weaker dollar and strong manufacturing data from China. The Caixin PMI hit a three-month high, signaling better-than-expected factory activity. Benchmark copper futures on the London Metal Exchange edged up 0.3% to $9,985.70 per ton, while April copper futures hovered at $4.5595 per pound.
