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ASIA GOLD - India gold discounts reach seven-week-high as demand weakens, and China purchasing improves.
India's gold discount widened to its highest level in seven weeks as demand remained low after a price rise earlier in the week discouraged buyers. However, top consumer China experienced an increase in purchasing interest. On Friday, domestic gold prices traded at around 141.800 rupees for 10 grams, after rising earlier in the week to?146,000. "Footfalls in jewellery stores are negligible." Retail buyers wait for a meaningful price correction before they make purchases, said a jeweller in Chennai. Dealers quoted discount This week, you can save up to $56 per ounce on official domestic prices, including 15% import duty and 3% sales tax, compared to a $45 reduction last week. Jewellers do not expect the demand to recover anytime soon, said a Mumbai bullion dealer working for a private bank. Bullion in China was traded at a premium between $3 and $6 per ounce above the global benchmark spot rate The previous week, the price was at par and now it is $7 higher. "The premiums are firmer this week, as there is increased physical demand, and the market has a greater buying interest. $4,000 acts as a good level of support," said Peter Fung, Wing Fung Precious Metals' head of dealing. Physical gold is available in Hong Kong Traded at a $0.25 discount to a $1.70 price premium in Japan Gold was sold with a $0.25 discount. In Singapore Last week, gold was sold at a discount of $1 to a premium of $2, as opposed to par to a premium $2. The price of international spot gold continued to fall on Friday, after falling?more? than 2% the previous session. This was due to escalating tensions?in?the Middle East, which pushed up oil prices, raising fears about inflation and possible interest rate increases by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
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China's iron ore imports are expected to increase this year, as steelmakers compensate for declining grades
Analysts said that China's imports of iron ore are expected to increase for the third year in a row in 2026 as steelmakers purchase more to compensate for a 'declining' iron content, and Guinea's Simandou Project boosts supply. Analysts said that the top iron ore consumers imports will likely rise by as much as 4 percent to a new record just above 1.3 million metric tons. This is expected to help prevent a price decline due to oversupply. The second largest economy in the world is expected to import more steelmaking ingredients, even though its crude steel production is set to fall for a third consecutive year due to a prolonged property market slump. Sushmita Vaszirani, Kpler's lead analyst, said that the import story is more driven by supply than demand. This is largely due to Simandou ramping up production and the weakening of domestic mining. BHP's financial year that ended in June saw record production of iron ore, while Vale reported its highest second-quarter output of iron ore since 2018. Macquarie analyst Florence Sun stated that the Simandou project, located in West Africa, is expected to add 18 million tonne of iron ore this year and 45 to 48 millions next year. Iron ore imports from China increased 6.3% during the first half of this year, resulting in a rise in portside stock Steelhome's data showed that the amount of steel produced in July was 156.6 million tonnes, which is nearly 20% more than it was a year ago. The increase in iron content is partly due to aging mines. "Headline portside inventory can overstate the effective availability of iron units when viewed purely on a physical-ton basis rather than on a Fe-unit or value-in-use-adjusted basis," said research ?director David Cachot at consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Yilin Wang told a recent conference that the average iron content in Chinese port stocks was 60.2% between January and March, compared to 60.6% in 2023. Sun, a?Macquarie analyst, said: "The persistent decline of average?shipped-grade is the main driver of higher import tons despite weaker demand for iron units." Wood Mackenzie predicts that China's crude output of steel will decline by 2.9% in this year, while Kpler expects a 3.6% drop. Analysts said that iron ore prices will 'likely trend lower, but at a slower rate than the oversupply led many to believe. Macquarie estimates that the benchmark price for 62% Fe will average $103 per metric ton in 2018 and $97 per metric ton next year. Steelhome data showed that prices averaged $104 during the first half 2026. .
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Morning Bid Europe-Oil batters Bonds as AI Burns Cash
Stella Qiu gives us a look at what the day will bring for the European and global market. We're back to war watching as if June's ceasefire had never occurred. Investors were woken up by a sudden spike in oil prices, which topped $100 per barrel, after weeks of ignoring simmering tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Inflation is now back on everyone's list of fears. The Red Sea was the source of shock, as Iran-aligned Houthis sank two Saudi oil tanks, threatening global oil supplies by cutting off another important Middle East oil artery. Donald Trump's threat of "major punishment" was not subtle. It fueled fears that the conflict would spread. A protracted energy crisis could destabilize inflation expectations and exacerbate global inflation, which is the worst nightmare for central banks. Brent has risen by?nearly 40 percent this month. The 30-year Treasury yields are now on a march towards a 19 year high of 5,201%. Benchmark 10-year rates reached a new high of 4.7135%, which is 18 months old. All hopes for central bank policy ease have been dashed. The markets now see a 1 in 3 chance of the Federal Reserve raising rates as early as next week. This is a huge change from just a week earlier. They are also fully priced for 2 moves by January, next year. Oil and interest rates have sent Asian shares into the red. South Korea's KOSPI is down 6%, and Japan's Nikkei is down 2.8%. Intel Corp.'s stellar results, which sent its stock up more than 4% following the bell, didn't help local semiconductors. Investors are becoming uneasy over the tech giants' plans to increase their capex. This is adding to the gloom. Tesla shares fell around 14% after the company reported its first cash burn since two years. Alphabet shares fell by about 7% as the Google parent also burned through cash to ramp up AI spending. Trump's latest tariff wheeze was barely noticed in the midst of all the chaos, but it is a bit odd that they are making U.S. consumers pay more for imported goods. Nasdaq futures have a slight decline, but European stock exchanges will open steady. PMI surveys are due in Europe, Britain, and the United States. It is seen that the?U.S. The?U.S. Investors could push the odds of a Fed rate increase in July to 50/50 if they see any upside surprises. The following are key developments that may influence the markets on Friday: -- UK Retail Sales data for June Flash Manufacturing, Services and Composite PMIs for July in the UK, EU and US
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Copper Heads Weekly Rise Despite Mideast Pullback
The price of copper is expected to rise despite the fact that it has fallen from its mid-week peak. An escalation in the Middle East conflict will increase inflation concerns and weigh on the macroeconomic outlook for the global economy. Benchmark?copper for three months on the London Metal Exchange remained stable, adding 0.11% to $13,609.5 per metric tonne by 0300 GMT. The Shanghai Futures Exchange's most traded copper contract fell 1.4% to 104,530 Yuan ($15,426.51) per metric ton. Prices have risen 0.63% at the LME, and by 1.39% at the SHFE, since the beginning of the week. However, they are still down from their midweek highs, when the metal surged on demand expectations, inventory pressure, and supply concerns. The Middle East has had a negative impact on demand and copper prices. The Yangshan "copper premium" The previous session saw a drop in a measure of interest in importing steel to China, the world's largest consumer. Stocks at LME-registered storage facilities For the first time, metal prices were stable since two weeks ago when a wave of warrant cancellations began. Brent crude has risen above $100 per barrel for the very first time since last May, after Yemen's Iran aligned Houthis attacked two Saudi oil tanks in the Red Sea. Dollars rose, causing commodities in other currencies to be more expensive. Gold that does not yield a return fell by more than 2% as inflation fears from the war prompted bets to increase interest rates. This can have a negative impact on commodities because it dampens economic growth. Aluminium, zinc, and lead all fell in price. Nickel was barely changed at 0.04%. Tin also dropped 0.33%. Other metals on SHFE also dropped, including aluminium, zinc, lead, nickel, and tin.
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US, Mexico set more USMCA talks for September amid differences over autos content
U.S. officials and Mexican officials announced on Thursday that they would meet in September for a 'fourth round' of negotiations to revamp North American trade agreements. This follows a week-long discussion which revealed disagreements about changes to the automotive content rules, among other things. This week, U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer held a meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as well as Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard during a third round discussion on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. In a statement released after the conclusion of the talks, Greer and Sheinbaum said they discussed autos and economic security, agriculture, electronic payments, and steel and aluminum. The statement stated that "Ambassador Greer" and President Sheinbaum had agreed on the importance and urgency of bilateral cooperation, and emphasized the need to?grow North American manufacturing and strengthen regional supply chains, and address free-riding by non-parties like China. The statement stated that Greer and Ebrard had agreed to hold a fourth round of bilateral negotiations in Washington, D.C. in early September. Ebrard, in a statement released separately on Thursday, said that the conversations were "constructive" and had led to progress on topics such as steel, aluminum, and import substitution from Asia. Canada was excluded from the bilateral talks. The talks come as the two countries are renegotiating the six-year-old deal, which governed nearly $1.6 trillion of regional trade in the past that was duty-free. Negotiations could extend into next year and prolong the uncertainty in business and investments that Mexico and Canada are trying to reduce. Two sources who were familiar with the negotiations, but spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the closed door talks, said that the two sides are still far apart on important issues. Sticking Points Washington's requirement that cars contain at least 50% U.S. content in order to be eligible for preferential access is one of the main sticking points. One of the sources stated that the proposal was a non-starter with the Mexican government. Mexico will not accept "even 1 percent" of American content. One of the sources added that this provision would "open the door to a possible increase in the future". The current trade agreement requires that vehicles contain at least 75% North American-made content in order to be eligible for duty-free treatment. 40% of the vehicle's components must be produced by workers who earn at least $16 an hour, a threshold which is met both in the U.S.A. and Canada. The agreement does not specify a specific percentage of content from any country. Mexico wants Washington to lower "Section 232", national security tariffs, of 25% on automobiles and 50% on aluminum and steel from Mexico and Canada, before it makes concessions on any other issue. Trump, however, has not shown any signs of easing tariffs. Mexican auto factories currently face a cost disadvantage compared to their competitors from Japan, South Korea, and the European Union who are subject to a 15% duty to export vehicles to the U.S. without any regional content requirements. A source familiar with these talks stated that the U.S. had told Mexican officials to come up with alternative solutions to Trump's goals, which include bringing more auto production to the U.S. and replacing Asian components in the North American supply chains. The Trump administration decided not to extend the USMCA on July 1. Instead, it started a 10-year clock that would wind down the agreement unless changes could be agreed. Greer stated in his Senate testimony on Wednesday that he hopes to reach interim trade agreements this year with Mexico and Canada, while taking on the more difficult USMCA questions such as auto content standards, labor, and environmental regulations in 2027. Kevin Brady, former U.S. Representative from Texas, who chaired the influential U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means and is a supporter of the North American Trade Pact, said: "At this stage, each (negotiation round) adds value." "The negotiations are in a good place."
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Wisconsin protesters demand justice after a man is killed by police
On Thursday, hundreds of protesters gathered in Madison, Wisconsin, to demand that police be held?responsible for the death of a man, which was captured by witnesses on video. Social media went wild with the shooting death of Corey Ruiz. Local community advocates and Wisconsin media outlets identified him as Black. This rekindled some of the anger that arose after the Minnesota police killed George Floyd in 2020 and other deaths which 'have raised questions about racism in police force use in the United States. The police said Ruiz was armed with a blade that injured one of the officers who wrestled Ruiz down. According to the video, during the struggle, the officer pulled out his handgun and shot what sounded like three shots from a close range. Demonstrators gathered late on Wednesday at the scene, and also at the Capitol where a concert outside was cancelled due to the protests. Demonstrators returned on Thursday to the scene, and placed flowers in the streets. The organizers introduced Ruiz's relatives, including his daughter, to the crowd. On Thursday morning, several protesters demanded that the officers should be jailed. They held up signs like "Corrupt cops also deserve to die !!!" A video from Wednesday shows a?man being wrestled by four uniformed officers amid shouts such as "Let him go" and "He has a knife." Patterson stated that an officer had used a Taser at some point to?try and subdue this man. However, for unknown reasons, it was not successful. Ruiz was stopped by police after reports that a man had been looking in parked cars. Patterson believes that a second call at the same time, about an "unlawful entry to a home", may have increased police presence. Patterson stated that the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, is conducting an independent investigation into homicide. (Reporting and editing by Donna Bryson, Christopher Cushing, and Daniel Trotta from Vista in California)
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Japan's June core inflation increases, but remains below BOJ target
Japan's core price inflation rose in June, but it remained below the central bank's target of 2% for a fifth consecutive month. This suggests that firms have not yet aggressively passed on rising input cost to consumers. Analysts expect that consumer inflation will accelerate in the second half of this year, as the recent spike in producer prices, fueled by the rising cost of fuel and imports from the Middle East conflict, and the weakening yen, filters through to the rest the economy. Analysts say that the yen's decline to its lowest level in four decades is likely to increase inflationary pressures and maintain market expectations of future interest rate increases by the Bank of Japan. Sarah Tan, an economist with Moody's Analytics, said that the inflation outlook is heavily dependent on what happens in?the Middle East? and its impact on global commodities prices. The concern is that nominal wage increases may not keep up with inflation. This will impact real wages and consumer spending. "A renewed depreciation would intensify imported inflation." Data showed that the core consumer price index (CPI), excluding volatile food prices, increased 1.6% from a previous year in June, a rise that was in line with market expectations and faster than the 1.4% increase seen in May. This is partly due to the effect of the sharp drop in gasoline prices last year, caused by government subsidies. The data revealed that food inflation declined due to the falling price of rice. Meanwhile, service inflation fell to 1.2% in June from 1.4%, despite gains in wages. The BOJ closely monitors an index that excludes volatile fuel and fresh food, which is a better measure of inflation. It rose by 1.7% from a year ago in June after rising 1.8% in May. Next week, the central bank is expected to examine the data at its policy meeting and announce new?quarterly forecasts. Marcel Thieliant is the Asia-Pacific head at Capital Economics. He said that there are no clear signs that BOJ's fears about inflation risks are becoming a reality. "Producer price inflation accelerated in recent months," the Bank said. The Bank's concern about inflation risks will not have diminished as crude oil prices approach their recent highs - and the yen falls to new lows against the US dollar. The producer price index jumped 7.1% in June, the fastest rate in over three years. The BOJ increased?interest rates in June to a high of 31 years, a milestone in its policy normalisation. It was a sign that it is ready to tighten even more as it concentrates on taming the price pressures caused by the energy shock caused by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.
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IAEA: Military activity affects water supply at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant and nearby town
The U.N. nuclear watchdog reported on Thursday that military activity had affected water supplies in parts of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station and nearby areas of southeast Ukraine. In the first few weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces captured the largest nuclear power station in Europe, with six reactors. Since then, both sides have accused each other of actions that compromise nuclear safety. Rafael Grossi said that there is no shortage of water to keep the fuel cool in reactors. The attacks on and around Enerhodar - where many plant staff live - "targeted local electrical infrastructure and led to a loss of water supply in the ZNPP and the city." Grossi added that IAEA monitoring staff stationed in the plant had only limited access to water since 18 July. Grossi has visited the plant a number of times since the Russians took over the operation. He made no mention of either Russia or Ukraine in relation to the military activity. The IAEA?on-site?team has not been able?to?visit an emergency operations center nearby since December due to security concerns. Last week, Rosatom, the state-owned nuclear corporation of Russia said that a Ukrainian drone killed the plant's chief engineering. Grossi reiterated in his latest statement that the nuclear power plant employees "must always be protected."
Nagel: ECB is well-positioned to deal with energy price shock.
Joachim Nagel, Bundesbank president, said that the European Central Bank is in a strong position to respond to rising energy prices and should consider incoming data before deciding on whether or not to increase interest rates in September. The ECB kept rates the same on Thursday, but 'offered strong hints that a rate hike is 'likely in September since oil prices have returned to around $100 a barrel and natural gas prices also surged.
Nagel stated in a press release that "the rate hike in June has already put us in a good position to monitor future developments."
He added, "We see in the Middle East the situation is highly fragile." "We still face intense uncertainty."
ECB president Christine Lagarde stated that a rate 'hike' was being discussed on Thursday. However, the decision to stay on hold was unanimous. This is partly because of the fact that the surge in energy prices?isn't generating second round inflation impacts.
Nagel argued that the ECB shouldn't commit to any rate if move and instead should?analyse the vast?volume? of data before its next meeting, on September 10. Balazs Coranyi, Kirby Donovan and Balazs Koranyi contributed to this report.
(source: Reuters)