Markets kicked off the week with cautious gains, brushing aside Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats and looming US government shutdown risks. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq hover just below record highs, while Treasury yields slip as investors seek safety. But the real worry among investors is that a shutdown could delay critical US data releases, muddying the Fed’s policy outlook and tempting traders to take profits.
Meanwhile in Asia, Chinese stocks rally on upbeat PMI data and Beijing’s $70bn growth push, with foreign investors tiptoeing back into tech giants like Alibaba. Gold surged to record highs as investors chase safe-havens, silver eyes $50, and copper jumps on supply shocks at Freeport’s Grasberg mine. Crude oil, however, struggles to break out as OPEC hints at more supply.
