{"id":53980,"date":"2025-10-02T22:08:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T02:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-in-flux-gold-shines-asian-autos-dip-us-stimulus-eyed-and-geopolitical-alliances-strengthen\/53980\/"},"modified":"2025-10-02T22:08:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T02:08:30","slug":"global-markets-in-flux-gold-shines-asian-autos-dip-us-stimulus-eyed-and-geopolitical-alliances-strengthen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-in-flux-gold-shines-asian-autos-dip-us-stimulus-eyed-and-geopolitical-alliances-strengthen\/53980\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets in Flux: Gold Shines, Asian Autos Dip, US Stimulus Eyed, and Geopolitical Alliances Strengthen"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/gold\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"gold price today\">Gold<\/a> is nearing its seventh consecutive weekly rise<\/strong>, driven by speculation of Federal Reserve easing and strong safe-haven demand, with prices hovering near record highs of <strong>$3,870 per ounce<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hang Seng auto shares slid 2%<\/strong> today, contributing to a mixed performance for the broader Hang Seng Index, despite some individual EV stocks seeing gains earlier in the week.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering $1,000\u2013$2,000 stimulus checks<\/strong> for all taxpayers, to be funded by tariff revenue, though such a proposal would require congressional approval.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a &quot;wise leader&quot;<\/strong> and reaffirmed the strong India-Russia strategic partnership, highlighting mutual trust and cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Global markets are exhibiting a diverse set of reactions to ongoing economic and geopolitical developments. Precious metals, particularly gold, are experiencing a significant rally, while the Asian automotive sector faces headwinds. Meanwhile, the prospect of new U.S. economic stimulus is being discussed, and key international alliances are being reinforced.<\/p>\n<h2>Gold&#39;s Ascent Continues Amid Fed Easing Bets<\/h2>\n<p>Gold prices are approaching their <em>seventh consecutive weekly rise<\/em>, a testament to robust investor confidence in the precious metal. The rally is largely fueled by persistent speculation surrounding potential easing measures from the U.S. Federal Reserve. Gold hovered around <strong>$3,870 per ounce<\/strong> on Thursday, staying near its record high. Analysts at Goldman Sachs (<a href=\"\/stock\/GS\">GS<\/a>) maintain a bullish outlook, suggesting further upside potential, with forecasts of <strong>$4,000 per ounce by mid-2026<\/strong> and <strong>$4,300 by the end of next year<\/strong>. Some even suggest gold could approach <strong>$5,000 an ounce<\/strong> if investment inflows continue strongly.<\/p>\n<p>The recent surge, which has seen gold prices soar nearly <em>50% in 2025<\/em>, is also attributed to strong inflows into bullion-backed exchange-traded funds and concerted central bank purchases. Weak labor data, including a decline in US private-sector employment for the second consecutive month in September, has reinforced expectations for further Fed rate cuts this year. Lower interest rates typically reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, making it more attractive to investors.<\/p>\n<h2>Hang Seng Auto Sector Experiences Downturn<\/h2>\n<p>In contrast to the bullish precious metals market, Hong Kong&#39;s automotive sector faced a challenging day, with <strong>Hang Seng auto shares sliding 2%<\/strong>. The broader Hang Seng Index (<a href=\"\/stock\/HSI\">HSI<\/a>) opened lower, down 0.24% to 27,221 points. This decline comes despite some individual electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers reporting strong sales in September, with companies like NIO (<a href=\"\/stock\/NIO\">NIO<\/a>) and XPeng Motors (<a href=\"\/stock\/XPEV\">XPEV<\/a>) achieving record delivery volumes.<\/p>\n<p>The downturn in auto shares contributed to a mixed performance across Hong Kong&#39;s technology stocks, with JD.com (<a href=\"\/stock\/JD\">JD<\/a>) declining by 1.8% and Kuaishou (<a href=\"\/stock\/1024.HK\">1024.HK<\/a>) sliding by 0.8%. The broader market sentiment in Asia has been influenced by various factors, including concerns over U.S. government shutdowns and reduced expectations for aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts in some sectors.<\/p>\n<h2>Trump Considers New Stimulus Checks Funded by Tariffs<\/h2>\n<p>On the U.S. economic front, former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a new round of stimulus checks, ranging from <strong>$1,000 to $2,000<\/strong>, for all taxpayers. These payments would be funded by revenue generated from tariffs. This proposal, previously floated as the &quot;American Worker Rebate Act&quot; by Senator Josh Hawley (<a href=\"\/stock\/R-Mo\">R-Mo<\/a>), aims to redistribute wealth generated by Trump&#39;s trade policies back to American citizens.<\/p>\n<p>While the idea has garnered attention, it remains a proposal and would require approval from Congress to become law. The U.S. Treasury Department reported a significant increase in tariff revenue, with nearly <strong>$27 billion to $30 billion<\/strong> generated in June 2025 alone, surpassing <strong>$113 billion<\/strong> for the fiscal year. However, critics note that despite increased tariff revenue, the federal government still faces a substantial deficit.<\/p>\n<h2>India-Russia Strategic Partnership Reaffirmed<\/h2>\n<p>In geopolitics, Russian President Vladimir Putin has lauded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a &quot;wise leader&quot; and underscored the enduring strength of the India-Russia strategic partnership. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin emphasized the &quot;special&quot; and &quot;trustworthy&quot; nature of the relationship, which has persisted since India&#39;s independence struggle. He highlighted that both nations have maintained a friendship free of interstate disputes.<\/p>\n<p>Putin also announced his anticipation for an upcoming visit to India in early December for an annual summit with Prime Minister Modi. This visit is expected to bolster strategic and economic cooperation, particularly amidst U.S. pressure on New Delhi to reduce ties with Moscow. Discussions are likely to cover economic issues, including greater access to Russian markets and addressing the trade imbalance, which is heavily skewed by India&#39;s significant crude oil imports. Putin stressed that India&#39;s decision to continue purchasing Russian oil is an economic calculation and that India would not &quot;bow down to any foreign pressure&quot;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Gold is nearing its seventh consecutive weekly rise, driven by speculation of Federal Reserve easing and strong safe-haven 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