Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
U.S. stock futures held steady Sunday evening after a volatile February, as investors weighed upcoming tariffs and economic data. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures each rose 0.1%, while Dow Jones futures remained flat.
The market remains cautious ahead of new tariffs set to take effect on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that President Donald Trump will finalize tariff levels on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China. While an initial 25% tariff was proposed, Trump is expected to raise an additional 10% tariff on China. February’s market losses were largely driven by concerns over these tariffs and shifting expectations in the tech sector, especially around artificial intelligence. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 4% in February, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones down 1.5% and 1.6%, respectively.
Economic data suggests the U.S. economy started 2025 on weak footing. Despite the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates by 100 basis points last year, inflation remained persistent. The PCE price index rose 0.3% in January, marking a 2.5% annual increase, slightly below December’s 2.6%. Core inflation slowed to 2.6% year-over-year. However, consumer sentiment declined 0.2%, its first drop in two years, due to inflation and tariff concerns.
The Atlanta Federal Reserve now forecasts 1.5% annualized GDP growth for Q1 2025, down from 2.3% in Q4 2024. Analysts warn that Trump’s trade policies are impacting consumer confidence and spending. The combination of trade uncertainty, slowing growth, and persistent inflation is shaping a complex economic landscape for investors.
