ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Gold prices edged higher in Asian trade on Friday, supported by renewed safe haven demand after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 35% tariff on Canada starting August 1. The move, which exceeded previous threats and surprised Ottawa amid thawing trade relations, triggered risk-off sentiment across markets. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East also helped lift demand for havens like gold and the Japanese yen.
Spot gold rose 0.5% to $3,341.27 an ounce, while gold futures for September gained 0.9% to $3,354.60. Despite Friday’s gains, gold remained range-bound between $3,300 and $3,500, pressured by a stronger dollar and ongoing speculation over the U.S. interest rate outlook.
Silver and platinum continued to outperform gold, posting strong weekly gains. Silver futures rose 2.2% to $38.14 an ounce, marking their highest level in nearly 14 years and a third consecutive week of gains. Platinum futures gained 0.3% to $1,420.25, nearing an 11-year high and extending their weekly win streak to six, driven by tight supply concerns and bullish industry forecasts.
In industrial metals, copper prices pulled back after recent highs. COMEX copper futures slipped 1.2% to $5.5620 per pound following profit-taking, despite briefly hitting record levels earlier this week on Trump’s separate threat of a 50% tariff. London Metal Exchange benchmark copper was flat at $9,700.55 per ton.
Overall, while gold regained ground amid geopolitical and trade tensions, silver and platinum continued to shine brighter, fueled by bullish fundamentals and investor interest in alternative precious metals.
