Latest news with #geoeconomic
Zawya
16-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Gold rose 26% in H1 2025: WGC
LONDON: The World Gold Council has released its Gold Mid-Year Outlook 2025 report, which reveals that gold's remarkable H1 performance coincided with the US dollar's worst start to a year since 1973, a shift which re-defined global investment flows. Gold has continued its record-setting pace, rising 26% in US dollar terms in the first half of 2025 – and reaching double-digit returns across currencies. A combination of a weaker US dollar, rangebound rates and a highly uncertain geoeconomic environment has resulted in strong investment demand. Gold closed out the first half of the year as one of the top-performing major asset classes, rising 26% over the period. It recorded 26 new all-time highs (ATHs) in H1 2025, having broken through 40 new ATHs in 2024. The report said gold surged 26% in H1 2025, outperforming equities, bonds, and other major asset classes. This was driven by a weaker US dollar, rangebound interest rates and intensifying geoeconomic uncertainty, fuelling strong investment demand. Using its Gold Valuation Framework, the WGC outlines three potential trajectories for H2: Base case: modest upside (0–5%) as normalisation continues. Bull case: a further 10–15% rise if economic conditions worsen. Bear case: potential 12–17% pullback if trade risks ease significantly
CNA
11-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
ASEAN nations emphasise need for rules-based trade as talks wrap up in KL
ASEAN foreign ministers have wrapped up discussions in Kuala Lumpur, emphasising on unity and the importance of rules-based trade amid rising geo-economic tensions. The bloc's top diplomats did not directly name the US as they called for a transparent, inclusive and free multilateral trading system. Several Southeast Asian countries were targeted in US President Donald Trump's latest tariff blitz, and have been ramping up efforts to lower the proposed levies before Aug 1. Aside from trade, the foreign ministers also discussed the ongoing tensions in Myanmar and the Middle East. Melissa Goh reports from Kuala Lumpur.
