Key Takeaways
- Gold has shattered its all-time high, climbing above $3,500 per ounce, fueled by anticipation of US interest rate cuts and a weakening dollar.
- President Trump is slated to make an Oval Office announcement at 2 PM Tuesday, a development that could introduce significant market volatility.
- The Bank of Japan's (BoJ) Deputy Chief avoided any hints regarding the timing of future rate hikes, while Japan's Finance Minister Kato indicated no new economic stimulus plans are currently known, though he remains prepared to act.
- JP Morgan has raised its price target for SSE to 2,425p from 2,300p, signaling a bullish outlook for the energy company.
- ArcelorMittal South Africa (AML) faces potential job cuts that could exceed 4,000, according to union statements, nearly half its workforce.
Gold prices surged to an all-time high on Tuesday, with spot gold breaking above $3,500 per ounce in Asian trading, reaching as high as $3,501.59 per ounce. This rally is primarily attributed to growing expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and a weaker US dollar. The precious metal's appeal as a safe-haven asset is also being bolstered by ongoing political and economic uncertainties, including concerns over US President Donald Trump's global trade policies.
In a separate significant development, President Donald Trump is scheduled to make an unspecified Oval Office announcement at 2 PM Tuesday (ET). This announcement comes after a period of public absence and amid speculation regarding its content and potential market impact.
Meanwhile, central bank commentary from Japan provided a cautious tone. The Bank of Japan's (BoJ) Deputy Chief refrained from giving any indications about the timing of future rate hikes. Concurrently, Japan's Finance Minister Shunichi Kato stated he was unaware of any new economic stimulus plans but affirmed the government would assess economic conditions and act when necessary. Kato also expressed concerns about the impact of US tariffs on the Japanese economy and corporate earnings.
In corporate news, JP Morgan has increased its price target for SSE to 2,425p from its previous 2,300p, reflecting a more optimistic outlook for the company. Separately, ArcelorMittal South Africa (AML) is facing a critical period, with a union reporting that job cuts could exceed 4,000 positions, representing nearly half of its total workforce. This significant reduction is more than initially expected and extends to the main Vanderbijlpark plant, driven by structural problems including high electricity costs and rising imports.
In other commodity markets, copper prices edged up, supported by robust Chinese demand. Copper rose to $4.52 per pound on September 2, up 0.07% from the previous day, with Chinese demand remaining strong for data centers and electrification technologies.
The Indonesian Rupiah topped the list of declines in Asian currency trading, falling significantly against the US dollar. This weakness comes amid a general softness in Asian currencies, partly due to the Federal Reserve's higher-for-longer monetary policy stance and domestic factors. Additionally, long-dated dollar notes from Asian issuers outperformed shorter-dated debt for the third consecutive month, as investors sought to lock in elevated yields amidst limited supply.
Finally, Australia's Q2 economic growth received a slight boost from trade, though government spending underperformed expectations. Australia's GDP rose by a modest 0.2% in Q2 2024, bringing annual growth to just 1%, slightly below expectations.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.