Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Gold prices remained largely unchanged in Asian trade on Friday, poised for a third consecutive weekly decline as a stronger U.S. dollar outweighed safe-haven demand driven by escalating trade tensions.
Spot gold edged up 0.2% to $3,396.25 an ounce, while gold futures held steady at $3,348.10 per ounce by 01:58 ET (05:58 GMT). The U.S. Dollar Index climbed to its highest in over two months and is on track for its best weekly performance in nearly three years, following the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged. A firmer dollar typically makes gold more expensive for international buyers, reducing demand.
Investor sentiment was further pressured by renewed trade uncertainty after President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing steep “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from more than a dozen countries. The new tariffs, effective August 1, range from 15% on South Korean goods to 25% on Indian exports. Additionally, Trump raised tariffs on Canadian goods to 35% from 25%, citing Canada’s insufficient action on fentanyl shipments.
While heightened trade tensions usually support safe-haven assets like gold, the dollar’s rally capped potential gains.
In other precious metals, platinum futures rose 0.4% to $1,298.35 per ounce, while silver futures dipped 0.1% to $36.68. On the industrial metals front, benchmark copper futures on the London Metal Exchange gained 0.5% to $9,655.95 a ton, though U.S. copper futures eased 0.2% to $4.423 a pound after plunging 19% earlier in the week when refined copper was excluded from planned tariffs. Starting August 1, a 50% tariff will apply to semi-finished copper products but not to ores, concentrates, or cathodes.
