Gold falls on trade deal progress, tariff reprieve extension
Spot gold fell 0.6% to $3,314.21 per ounce by 0232 GMT. U.S. gold futures were down 0.6% to $3,322.
The U.S. is close to finalising several trade agreements in the coming days and will notify other countries of higher tariff rates by July 9, Trump said on Sunday, with the higher rates scheduled to take effect on Aug. 1.
Trump announced in April a 10% base tariff on most countries, with additional duties of up to 50%. He later postponed the effective date for all but 10% of those tariffs until July 9. The new date grants a three-week reprieve to most affected nations.
"This short-term reprieve (by the U.S.) is causing this intraday weakness in the gold price right now," OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong said.
"What I foresee will be another round of so-called trophy price movement at around the $3,320 level, then we have the top side coming in at $3,360, short-term resistance."
Concerns of tariff-driven inflation have led to expectations of slower rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Rate futures show traders no longer expect a Fed rate cut this month and are pricing in a total of just two quarter-point reductions by the year-end.
Last week, Trump signed into law a massive package of tax and spending cuts at the White House, which as per nonpartisan analysis will add more than $3 trillion to the country's $36.2 trillion debt.
Spot silver fell 0.8% to $36.81 per ounce, platinum shed 0.8% to $1,380.55 and palladium lost 1% at $1,123.31. (Reporting by Anmol Choubey in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Subhranshu Sahu)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
20 minutes ago
- Zawya
Octa Broker: Malaysia's BNM May deliver a surprise rate cut
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 July 2025 - This Wednesday, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will announce its policy rate decision. While most analysts expect Malaysia's central bank to keep the rate unchanged, Octa Broker suggests a surprise rate cut is possible due to subdued inflation, strong ringgit, and a high probability for Federal Reserve(Fed) rate cuts later this year. Malaysia inflation and interest rate vs USDMYR exchange rate On Wednesday, 9 July, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the nation's central bank, will reveal its policy rate decision. Like most other central banks around the world, BNM strives to maintain a balance between low inflation and sustainable economic growth. Its key monetary policy instrument is the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR). By adjusting the OPR, BNM influences interest rates throughout the Malaysian economy, impacting borrowing costs for businesses and consumers and ultimately influencing economic activity and inflation. The BNM has kept its base rate unchanged for almost two years, a policy that sets it apart from many of its regional counterparts, such as Bank Indonesia, the Bank of Thailand, the Philippine central bank, and the Bank of Korea. They all have opted to lower interest rates in an effort to stimulate their respective economies. The last time the BNM adjusted its monetary policy was in May 2023, when it unexpectedly increased its OPR to 3.00% to combat persistently high inflation, which was being fueled by robust household spending and tight labour market conditions. Since that time, the Malaysian economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience, showing only an insignificant slowdown; however, some of the most recent data prints have begun to suggest a potential shift in underlying economic trends, prompting closer scrutiny and analysis of future policy directions. Although Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded at a solid 4.4% annual rate in Q1 2025, it was slower than during the previous quarter and below the 4.5% expansion rate expected by the market. At his press conference in May, Abdul Rasheed, the BNM Governor, stressed that growth in major trading partners due to trade restrictions would affect spending and investment activities in Malaysia and said that 'the balance of risk to the growth outlook is currently tilted to the downside'. Indeed, the most recent economic data has consistently underperformed expectations over the past several months, raising concerns regarding the future trajectory of the Malaysian economy. In April, Malaysia's industrial production saw only a 2.7% increase year-over-year (y-o-y), substantially below the 3.9% expansion rate expected by the market. In May, the country experienced an unexpected 1.1% annual decline in exports, primarily due to reduced shipments of petroleum products, chemicals, iron, and steel. This contrasted sharply with economists' predictions of a 7.5% export growth. Consequently, Malaysia's trade surplus for May was significantly lower than anticipated, reaching only 0.8 billion ringgit (MYR). Most importantly, Malaysia's consumer price index (CPI) rose just 1.2% y-o-y in May, less than the 1.4% increase forecast by the market. ' BNM's upcoming policy rate decision arrives on the back of rather disappointing data prints', says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker. 'With inflation at four-year low and exports slowing sharply to the point of almost pushing the trade balance into the negative territory, I do not think BNM can afford to keep the rates at 3.00% for much longer. BNM is actually well-positioned to act now. Slowing inflation provides room for a rate cut, while slowing exports and external growth uncertainties provide a good reason for it'. Although it is relatively uncommon for central banks to make surprise policy rate decisions so as not to unnerve the markets, BNM is facing substantial external pressure to act preemptively. Starting from July 9, Malaysian exports to the U.S. will be subject to a 24% tariff, unless a successful negotiation for a lower rate can be achieved. There has been little progress on that front lately. Moreover, USDMYR has dropped by almost 13% since April last year and risks falling further as investors' monetary policy expectations regarding the U.S. central bank remain decidedly dovish. Indeed, traders are currently pricing in a 72% chance of a rate cut by the Fed in September. Meanwhile, the latest interest rates swaps market data factors in a roughly 33% probability that the Fed's rate will decline by 75 basis points (bps) to 3.50-3.75% by the end of the year, substantially reducing the interest rate differential between the U.S. and Malaysia. This will likely exert an additional bearish pressure on USDMYR, potentially hurting Malaysian exports even further. Kar Yong Ang concludes: 'While global investors might be overly optimistic regarding the Fed's propensity for rate cuts, Malaysia still faces significant external growth challenges regardless of relative monetary policy stances. The global economy will almost certainly slow down due to U.S. tariffs, and given Malaysia's openness as an export-oriented economy, it is highly vulnerable to the resulting downturn in global trade and weaker demand from major trading partners, alongside the direct impact of the tariffs on its own exports'. On balance, as the BNM will be announcing its policy rate decision amidst growing external pressures and a string of disappointing economic reports, the chances for a surprise rate cut have increased considerably. Octa broker analysts believe that subdued inflation allows for a rate cut, while slowing exports and external growth uncertainties provide a good reason for it. Indeed, the looming 24% U.S. tariff on Malaysian exports and ostensibly dovish Fed further complicates the outlook and underscores the need for preemptive action to mitigate downside risks. ___ Disclaimer: This press release does not contain or constitute investment advice or recommendations and does not consider your investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Any actions taken based on this content are at your sole discretion and risk—Octa does not accept any liability for any resulting losses or consequences. Hashtag: #Octa The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Octa Octa is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools. The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including improving educational infrastructure and funding short-notice relief projects to support local communities. In Southeast Asia, Octa received the 'Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024' and the 'Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023' awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively. Octa


Zawya
21 minutes ago
- Zawya
Euro zone bond yields tick higher as focus shifts to US tariff deadline
Euro zone bond yields rose on Monday as markets remained focused on developments around U.S. tariffs, with officials flagging a delay to a July 9 deadline, while specifics on the changes remained murky. Germany's benchmark 10-year Bund yields increased 2 bps to 2.583%, largely in line with moves in 10-year Treasuries which were last at 4.3556%. "Today is all about what Trump does in terms of his tariffs," said Mohit Kumar, chief financial economist for Europe at Jefferies, who said markets were in a holding pattern until it became clear which countries might face higher tariffs. President Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States was close to finalising several trade agreements in the coming days and would notify other countries of higher tariff rates by July 9, with the higher rates to take effect on August 1. "Where euro zone markets are concerned, the key question is: is Europe going to be part of that list or not?," said Kumar, whose base case is that the region will not feature, though he thinks Japan might be included. Whatever the outcome, markets have been braced for heightened volatility this week ahead of the original July 9 deadline, with more concrete details on Trump's plans for import tariffs with the United States' major trading partners set to become clear. German two-year yields, typically more sensitive to shifts in interest rate expectations, were up by 1 basis point to 1.82% but remained close to a three-week low. Italian 10-year yields rose 2.4 bps to 3.495%, with their premium over German Bunds at 90.4 bps, according to LSEG data. Meanwhile, Britain's 10-year gilt yield was down 1.3 basis points at 4.54%, though yields remain elevated following a sharp sell-off in UK government bonds last Wednesday, which was spurred by a U-turn on planned government cuts to welfare spending. Elsewhere, German industrial production rose more than expected in May thanks to the automotive industry and energy production, the federal statistics office said on Monday. Investor sentiment in the euro zone improved more than expected in July to hit its highest level in more than three years, a survey showed on Monday, as the bloc's economic recovery broadened. Markets are currently placing a 86% bet on no change at the European Central Bank's next meeting, set for July 23 , with an outside chance of a 25 bps rate cut. "The ECB is in a fantastic place, in the sense that rates are neutral, inflation is going to 2%, growth is fine - it's not great - but we're far from recession level," said Kumar. "They can really afford to just wait and watch," he said.


Al Etihad
24 minutes ago
- Al Etihad
Tesla slides 7% as Musk's 'America Party' reignites investor angst
7 July 2025 14:24 (REUTERS)Tesla shares fell nearly 7% in premarket trading on Monday, after CEO Elon Musk's plans to launch a new US political party reignited investor concerns about his commitment to the electric-vehicle maker's the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), unveiled the 'America Party' on Saturday, voicing his displeasure over President Donald Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill'.Musk's move marks a fresh escalation in his feud with Trump and comes close on the heels of Tesla posting a second straight drop in deliveries, further denting investor confidence in the stock that has lost more than 21% so far this and Musk's relationship erupted into an all-out social media brawl early June over the tax bill, with the US president threatening to cut Musk's government contracts and who spent nearly $300 million backing Trump and other Republicans last year, said in May he would scale back political spending and remain Tesla CEO for another five years, aiming to ease investor concerns over his focus and government ties."Investors had cheered Musk stepping back from frontline politics but are now worried he's going to (get) sucked back in and take his eye off Tesla," said Neil Wilson, UK investor strategist at Saxo first signs of investor unease surfaced soon after Musk's announcement, with investment firm Azoria Partners delaying the listing of a Tesla exchange-traded fund, Azoria CEO James Fishback said in a post on on Sunday called Musk's plans to form the "America Party" "ridiculous," saying the Musk ally he once named to lead NASA would have presented a conflict of interest given Musk's business interests in with Trump, struggling sales and an aging vehicle line-up have weighed heavily on Tesla's stock, even as the company bets on growth from autonomous vehicles. The stock, which soared to over $488 in December after Trump's November re-election, has lost 35% since then and closed last week at $315.35.