{"id":64463,"date":"2026-07-08T19:38:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T23:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-market-pulse-trump-claims-drug-price-victory-as-geopolitical-tensions-slam-gold\/64463\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T19:38:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T23:38:21","slug":"global-market-pulse-trump-claims-drug-price-victory-as-geopolitical-tensions-slam-gold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-market-pulse-trump-claims-drug-price-victory-as-geopolitical-tensions-slam-gold\/64463\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Market Pulse: Trump Claims Drug Price Victory as Geopolitical Tensions Slam Gold"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-market-pulse-trump-claims-drug-price-victory-as-geopolitical-tensions-slam-gold\/64463\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-market-pulse-trump-claims-drug-price-victory-as-geopolitical-tensions-slam-gold\/64463\/#Geopolitical_Escalation_Rattles_Commodity_Markets\" >Geopolitical Escalation Rattles Commodity Markets<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-market-pulse-trump-claims-drug-price-victory-as-geopolitical-tensions-slam-gold\/64463\/#Trump_Claims_%22Historic%22_Reduction_in_Prescription_Costs\" >Trump Claims &quot;Historic&quot; Reduction in Prescription Costs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-market-pulse-trump-claims-drug-price-victory-as-geopolitical-tensions-slam-gold\/64463\/#AI_Giant_Knowledge_Atlas_Seeks_4_Billion_in_Hong_Kong\" >AI Giant Knowledge Atlas Seeks $4 Billion in Hong Kong<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-market-pulse-trump-claims-drug-price-victory-as-geopolitical-tensions-slam-gold\/64463\/#South_Korean_%22Ants%22_Drive_Record_Market_Volatility\" >South Korean &quot;Ants&quot; Drive Record Market Volatility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-market-pulse-trump-claims-drug-price-victory-as-geopolitical-tensions-slam-gold\/64463\/#UK_Housing_Market_Shows_Tepid_Signs_of_Stabilization\" >UK Housing Market Shows Tepid Signs of Stabilization<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/gold\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"gold price today\">Gold prices<\/a> fell nearly 2%<\/strong> to approximately <strong>$4,075 per ounce<\/strong> as U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets triggered an oil price surge, stoking fears of persistent inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates.<\/li>\n<li><strong>President Donald Trump<\/strong> announced that U.S. drug prices have shifted from the world&#39;s highest to the lowest, citing a <strong>400%-600% price differential<\/strong> following aggressive negotiations and the expansion of the <strong>TrumpRx.gov<\/strong> platform.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Knowledge Atlas Technology (<a href=\"\/stock\/02513\">02513<\/a>)<\/strong>, also known as Zhipu AI, launched a massive share placement to raise <strong>HK$31.4 billion ($4 billion)<\/strong>, pricing 19.78 million new H shares at <strong>HK$1,588<\/strong> each.<\/li>\n<li><strong>South Korea&#39;s financial regulators<\/strong> are on high alert as chip stocks and leveraged ETFs now command over <strong>70% of total market trading volume<\/strong>, creating extreme volatility in the KOSPI.<\/li>\n<li><strong>UK housing sentiment<\/strong> remains fragile with the <strong>RICS House Price Balance<\/strong> hitting <strong>-33% in June<\/strong>, slightly better than the previous month but still reflecting a market under significant pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitical_Escalation_Rattles_Commodity_Markets\"><\/span>Geopolitical Escalation Rattles Commodity Markets<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Gold&#39;s traditional status as a safe-haven asset was overshadowed by inflationary concerns today as <strong>U.S. military strikes<\/strong> against more than 80 Iranian targets sent energy prices soaring. <strong>Brent crude<\/strong> jumped over <strong>5% toward $76 per barrel<\/strong>, leading investors to bet that the <strong>Federal Reserve<\/strong> will maintain a hawkish stance to combat energy-driven inflation. <em>The inverse relationship between rising yields and non-yielding bullion<\/em> saw spot gold slide below the <strong>$4,100<\/strong> mark, reaching its lowest level in nearly a week.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trump_Claims_%22Historic%22_Reduction_in_Prescription_Costs\"><\/span>Trump Claims &quot;Historic&quot; Reduction in Prescription Costs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a prime-time address, <strong>President Donald Trump<\/strong> declared a total reversal in American pharmaceutical costs, claiming the U.S. has moved from paying the highest drug prices globally to the lowest. Trump highlighted a <strong>400%-600% difference<\/strong> in pricing achieved through &quot;Most-Favored-Nation&quot; agreements and direct negotiations with major pharmaceutical firms. The administration also announced an expansion of <strong>TrumpRx.gov<\/strong>, which now features over <strong>600 generic medications<\/strong> and direct-to-consumer cash pricing models.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AI_Giant_Knowledge_Atlas_Seeks_4_Billion_in_Hong_Kong\"><\/span>AI Giant Knowledge Atlas Seeks $4 Billion in Hong Kong<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Chinese AI leader <strong>Knowledge Atlas Technology (<a href=\"\/stock\/02513\">02513<\/a>)<\/strong> is capitalizing on a <strong>1,500% stock surge<\/strong> since its January listing by issuing 19.78 million new H shares. The offering, priced at <strong>HK$1,588 per share<\/strong>, represents a discount of approximately <strong>13%<\/strong> to the most recent closing price. Net proceeds of <strong>HK$31.37 billion<\/strong> are earmarked for R&amp;D, including the development of custom AI chips and the expansion of its <strong>GLM-5.2<\/strong> large language model.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"South_Korean_%22Ants%22_Drive_Record_Market_Volatility\"><\/span>South Korean &quot;Ants&quot; Drive Record Market Volatility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Retail investors in South Korea, known as &quot;ants,&quot; have pushed the market into a state of extreme concentration, with <strong>Samsung Electronics (<a href=\"\/stock\/005930\">005930<\/a>)<\/strong> and <strong>SK Hynix (<a href=\"\/stock\/000660\">000660<\/a>)<\/strong> related products now dominating <strong>70% of market activity<\/strong>. The <strong>Financial Supervisory Service (FSS)<\/strong> expressed deep concern over the proliferation of single-stock leveraged ETFs, which have amplified price swings and triggered multiple circuit breakers. Analysts warn that this &quot;casino-like&quot; environment is weighing on broader investor sentiment despite the long-term growth narrative of the AI sector.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"UK_Housing_Market_Shows_Tepid_Signs_of_Stabilization\"><\/span>UK Housing Market Shows Tepid Signs of Stabilization<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)<\/strong> reported a June house price balance of <strong>-33%<\/strong>, a marginal improvement from May&#39;s <strong>-35%<\/strong> reading. While the figure was slightly worse than the <strong>-30%<\/strong> forecast, the data suggests the pace of the UK&#39;s housing market decline may be finding a floor. However, <em>buyer demand and agreed sales remain firmly in negative territory<\/em>, as high mortgage rates and macroeconomic uncertainty continue to deter prospective homeowners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Gold prices fell nearly 2% to approximately $4,075 per ounce as U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets triggered 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