Gold hits fresh record, Powell faces Senate grilling [Video]

The US dollar extended gains and gold hit a fresh ATH fuelled by fresh tariff threats from Donald Trump. Worries in Chinese markets and rising geopolitical tensions support further gains despite all-time high levels. Elsewhere, the early moodiness due to Trump’s new tariff threats quickly waned. The euro and Loonie recovered losses against the greenback, while the stock markets in Europe gave a mere reaction to Trump news. The energy and mining heavy FTSE 100 led gains in Europe, goldminer Fresnillo jumped almost 5% to a year-high, while BP rallied more than 7% on news that the activist investor Elliott Investment Management has acquired a substantial stake in the company to increase focus on traditional oil and gas operations and rely less on investments in renewable energy.

Across the Channel, the Stoxx 600 extended gains to a fresh ATH as well, while in the US, the S&P500 gained. US Steel Corp and Alcoa were happy about the tariff news, while the tech stocks led the rally. Nvidia extended gains by more than 2.50% as the French PM promised to invest more than 100bn euro in AI at a tech summit in France.

In the FX, the US dollar remains in demand as the Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell begins his two-day testimony in front of US politicians today and is expected to adopt a cautious approach despite mounting pressure to lower rates from the Trump government.