
Gold steady as investors await US trade updates, central bank meetings
Spot gold held its ground at $3,352.19 per ounce, as of 0250 GMT. U.S. gold futures were steady at $3,358.70.
"Dollar has made a subdued start to the week, which has left the door open for gold to post gains early doors with tariff deadlines looming large," KCM Trade Chief Market Analyst Tim Waterer said.
"The closer we move towards the key August 1 deadline without any new trade deals emerging, the more likely gold is to start fancying another run to towards the $3,400 level and perhaps beyond."
Investors are eyeing developments in trade negotiations ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's August 1 deadline, as U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick remains optimistic about reaching a deal with the European Union.
Trump might visit China before going to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit between October 30 and November 1, or he could meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC event in South Korea, reports said.
At its meeting later this week, the European Central Bank is expected to hold interest rates steady at 2.0% following a string of cuts.
Last week, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he still believes that the U.S. central bank should cut rates at its policy meeting next week.
Gold, often considered a safe-haven asset during economic uncertainties, tends to do well in a low interest rate environment.
In Japan, the ruling coalition lost control of the upper house in an election on Sunday, further weakening Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's grip on power as the U.S. tariff deadline looms.
Elsewhere, spot silver edged 0.1% higher to $38.22 per ounce, platinum added 0.3% to $1,425.11 and palladium gained 0.2% to $1,243.47.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
SergeFerrari Group: Revenue of €178.7 Million in the First Half of 2025
Continued sales momentum in the 2nd quarter of 2025 Growth exceeds 10% in the first six months of 2025 SAINT-JEAN-DE-SOUDAIN, France, July 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: SergeFerrari Group (FR0011950682 – SEFER), SergeFerrari Group (FR0011950682 - SEFER), a leading global supplier of innovative flexible composite materials, listed on Euronext Paris – Compartment C, today announced its revenues for the first half of 2025. Breakdown of sales by geographic area (unaudited) (€ thousands) 2ndquarter2025 2ndquarter2024 Ch. atcurrentscope andexchangesrates Ch. atconstantscope andexchangesrates H1 2025 H1 2024 Ch. atcurrentscope andexchangesrates Ch. atconstantscope andexchangesrates Europe 69,068 66,730 +3.5% +3.2% 128,589 120,519 +6.7% +6.5% Americas 14,979 8,325 +79.9% +86.4% 23,399 16,003 +46.2% +48.7% Asia – Africa – Pacific 15,512 13,387 +15.9% +16.0% 26,743 25,382 +5.4% +5.4% Total revenues 99,558 88,442 +12.6% +13.0% 178,731 161,904 +10.4% +10.5% Sébastien Baril, SergeFerrari Group's chairman of the Executive Board, stated: "Signs of improvement in our historic markets are gradually materializing. Serge Ferrari recorded an increase in revenues of over 10% in the first half of the year. This performance encourages us to continue our efforts to increase our operating leverage, our customer service and the flexibility of our cost structure in an environment where adaptability and responsiveness remain key." Q2 2025 activity The Group reported revenue of €99.6 million in the 2nd quarter of 2025, up 12.6% on a current scope and exchange rate basis, and up 13.0% on a constant scope and exchange rate basis compared with the same period last year. This change is due to: A currency effect of -0.4 %; A volume effect of -3.0%, due mainly to a fall in volumes of modular structures, for which the end markets are declining; A favorable price-mix effect of +16.0%, driven by a confirmed recovery in activities that have traditionally been profitable for the Group, such as Solar Protection and the new Solutions business lines, as well as the impact of price increases introduced to mitigate the negative effect of high inflation on certain raw materials. H1 2025 activity The Group posted sales of €178.7 million in the first half of 2025, up by more than 10% on both current and constant scopes and exchange rates. Half-year sales trends by geographical region are as follows: Europe posted solid revenue growth of 6.7% on a current scope and exchange rate basis and 6.5% on a constant scope and exchange rate basis, with sales of almost €129 million over the period, thanks to historic markets that remain well oriented. After a difficult 2024 exercise in North American markets, sales in the Americas rebounded strongly in the first half. Growth accelerated sharply between the 1st and 2nd quarters, taking half-year sales up to €23.4 million, representing growth at constant scope and exchanges rates of +49%. Sales in the Asia-Africa-Pacific region were up 5.4% on H1 2024, both on a current and constant scope and exchange rates basis, due to good momentum in the various markets. Outlook Based on a seasonal history between the first (driven by solar protection activity and tense architecture) and the second half of the fiscal year, the group will focus (despite an uncertain context, particularly on the geopolitical level) on maintaining its trajectory initiated with Transform 2025 that aims at increasing its adaptability and profitability. Financier calendar Publication of first half 2025 results on September 10, 2025, after market close. ABOUT SERGEFERRARI GROUP The Serge Ferrari Group is a leading global supplier of composite materials for Tensile Architecture, Modular Structures, Solar Protection and Furniture/Marine, in a global market estimated by the Company at around €6 billion. The unique characteristics of these products enable applications that meet the major technical and societal challenges: energy-efficient buildings, energy management, performance and durability of materials, concern for comfort and safety together, opening up of interior living spaces etc. Its main competitive advantage is based on the implementation of differentiating proprietary technologies and know-how. The Group has manufacturing facilities in France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Asia. Serge Ferrari operates in 80 countries via subsidiaries, sales offices and a worldwide network of over 100 independent distributors. At the end of 2024, SergeFerrari Group posted consolidated revenues of €323.6 million, more than 80% of which was generated outside France. SergeFerrari Group is listed on Euronext Paris – Compartment C (ISIN code: FR0011950682). SergeFerrari Group shares are eligible for the PEA-PME and FCPI investment schemes. View source version on Contacts Valentin Chefson Head of Relations Investisseursinvestor@ NewCap Investor Relations – Financial Communication Théo MartinTel. : 01 44 71 94 94sferrari@
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
5 Reasons Trump's Trade Deal With China Is Bad News for the Middle Class
President Donald Trump's latest trade deal with China may look like a diplomatic win, but for the American middle class, it comes with hidden costs. Trending Now: Find Out: While tariffs are being reduced in exchange for promises from Beijing, households could still face higher prices, disrupted supply chains and reduced job growth. Here are four reasons Trump's trade deal with China is bad news for the middle class and what families can do to protect their finances. Higher Consumer Prices Despite Tariff Relief Even as the U.S. and China approach an August trade deal deadline, prices on many consumer goods remain elevated, and middle-class households continue to feel the strain. Some experts argue that the new tariffs may not drastically shift average import prices. However, middle-class families are more likely to feel the impact in specific categories, such as electronics, tools and household goods. 'U.S. companies scrambled to import as many goods as possible to stockpile before new tariffs were fully implemented, mitigating the immediate impact of tariffs on prices,' said Bryan Riley, Director of the Free Trade Initiative at the National Taxpayers Union. Riley said that since imports from China account for just 13.2% of total U.S. imports, increases in the price of specific Chinese goods may not push up the overall import average. However, they can still significantly affect middle-class budgets for everyday items. Read More: Erosion of Real Incomes and Job Losses An analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco warned that Trump's trade measures could cut national real income by around 0.4%, while losses in services and agriculture might offset job gains in manufacturing. 'What's pitched as economic growth is actually a slow bleed: Manufacturing jobs won't magically return, and small businesses relying on predictable import costs are about to face more whiplash,' said Patrice Williams Lindo, CEO of Career Nomad. 'Wages stay stagnant while everyday costs climb. And here's the kicker — there's no workforce investment baked into this deal. That means your job security, benefits and opportunities to grow could evaporate, especially if your industry leans heavily on exports or global sourcing.' Volatile Markets and Supply Chain Instability Although the China deal eased recession fears, experts said that uncertainty around ongoing tariffs still disrupts manufacturing and logistics. Businesses may hold back investment or retool supply chains, raising costs for middle-class consumers and slowing hiring. For example, uncertainty remains one of the most significant threats to economic momentum, particularly for businesses making long-term decisions. 'The real issue is that this deal doesn't create clarity. It reinforces an environment of 'wait and see,' Robert Khachatryan, CEO and founder of Freight Right. 'That's not how you build confidence in the economy.' Khachatryan added, 'You can't expect small and midsize businesses, who employ a huge portion of America's middle class, to plan for the future when they're stuck playing defense against the next round of tariffs.' Missed Middle-Class Priorities in the Deal While the latest Trump-China deal touts manufacturing wins, some economists warn it overlooks the broader economic trade-offs that directly affect the middle class. 'We have an experiment,' said Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, in a recent interview on Conversations with Jim Zirin. 'In 2018, President Trump imposed 25% tariffs on steel. Seven years later, we have 1,000 more steelworkers, but 75,000 fewer workers in manufacturing sectors that relied on steel, and a 30% drop in steel sector productivity.' This kind of trade-off may deliver political wins, but it overlooks how tariff-driven policies ripple into everyday life for the middle class. 'Over time, reduced job stability in trade-sensitive sectors and a slowdown in wage growth may exacerbate economic insecurity for families already stretched thin by inflation and debt servicing costs,' said Jean-Baptiste Wautier, a private equity CIO and World Economic Forum speaker. How To Protect Your Budget Middle-class families can shield themselves by using rewards or rebate programs and strategically stockpiling essentials before potential tariff increases. Julian Merrick, founder and CEO of Supertrader, a fintech firm focused on global markets, recommends starting with a small emergency fund, even setting aside $200 to $300, which can help families avoid debt when unexpected expenses arise. 'It also helps to cut back on spending in categories where prices are rising — things like tech, clothes or imported goods,' Merrick said. 'Families should avoid taking on new high-interest debt right now, especially for non-essentials. And for those with investments, make sure the money is spread out across different industries.' Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on More From GOBankingRates 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From in Retirement This article originally appeared on 5 Reasons Trump's Trade Deal With China Is Bad News for the Middle Class Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Buzz Feed
5 minutes ago
- Buzz Feed
This Hilarious Video Of Trump Being Drowned Out By Bagpipes Is Going Viral
Welcome back to another post about Donald Trump in Scotland. On Monday, Trump met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at one of his golf courses. As they say, the comment section did not disappoint. "How disrespectiful, talking while they're playing bagpipes.." one person said. "This is so wrong...i can still hear his voice we could've played the bagpipes louder than that," another person "joked." And this person asked: "Wait someone turn the bagpipes up i can still hear him." Another top comment asked, "Can we make it more like a permanent thing and not geographically bounded just to Scotland?" Then there was this realization: "This looks like it came straight out of an office episode." We have this American asking: "Do we have bagpipes in the USA asking for a friend." And another person wondering, "Why is trump speaking in bagpipes." Honestly, the whole comment section turned into a bagpipe appreciation zone. "Never been happier to hear bagpipes." This person summed it up perfectly: "This is the most Scottish thing I've ever seen. I love it, hear those beautiful bagpipes." I guess we'll see what happens on Trump's big trip next!