Category: Top Story

Gold prices firmed in Asian trading on Monday, recovering part of last week’s steep decline as investors welcomed more conciliatory remarks from U.S. officials on trade relations with China. The precious metal held near record highs, supported by persistent geopolitical uncertainty and lingering concerns over the U.S. economy. Spot gold gained 0.4% to $4,267.70 per…

Oil prices slipped at the start of the week, pressured by renewed concerns over excess supply and slowing global demand as U.S.-China trade tensions intensified. By 00:32 GMT, Brent crude futures were down 24 cents, or 0.4%, at $61.05 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures fell 21 cents, or 0.4%, to $57.33, reversing…

The upcoming earnings season is expected to once again underscore the widening performance gap between U.S. and eurozone corporates, according to strategists at JPMorgan Chase & Co.. Consensus forecasts point to a 6% year-on-year increase in S&P 500 earnings, compared with a 1% decline for the STOXX Europe 600. Unlike the typical pre-earnings downgrades, analyst…

The third-quarter earnings season has arrived at a critical juncture for financial markets, shifting the focus from broad macroeconomic themes to AI-fueled optimism and company-level performance. According to strategists at Barclays, “earnings are set to take center stage, potentially pivotal for sustaining the rally,” making this a defining “show-me moment” for the AI-driven market narrative.…

HSBC analysts have lifted their price outlook for gold, projecting the precious metal could climb to $5,000 per ounce in 2026 as uncertainty across global markets deepens. In a note to clients, the brokerage said that the ongoing surge in gold prices will likely stretch into the first half of 2026, supported by its safe-haven…

Strategists at Citigroup, led by Beata Manthey, cautioned that the ongoing equity bull market may be heading into a choppier, more volatile stretch. They pointed to renewed tensions between the U.S. and China as a major source of uncertainty, emphasizing that “stakes are high and the path to resolution appears complex.” With earnings season picking…

HSBC upgraded Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) to Buy from Hold and raised its price target to $50 from $43, citing a supportive environment for copper and gold prices that should bolster earnings, even as the miner faces operational setbacks at its flagship Grasberg mine in Indonesia. Copper has outperformed other base and bulk metals this year amid…

Taoping Inc. (NASDAQ:TAOP) shares dropped 8.4% in premarket trading on Friday after the company revealed it had signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire Alphalion Holding Limited. Under the proposed transaction, Taoping would acquire 100% of Alphalion’s equity. The deal remains contingent on due diligence, negotiation of a definitive agreement, and standard closing…

Protalix BioTherapeutics Inc (AMEX:PLX) shares tumbled 20.8% in premarket trading on Friday after the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a negative opinion on the company’s application to approve an alternative dosing schedule for its Fabry disease therapy Elfabrio. The CHMP rejected Protalix’s proposal for a…