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Four European countries still offering golden visas to property buyers
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Business Standard
15 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Gold rate outlook: Yellow metal slips as investors assess tariff scenario
Performance: On July 8, spot gold traded between $3,287 and $3,346 per ounce. The yellow metal fell in the US session as Japan and the US will reportedly start tariff negotiations vigorously. At the time of writing this report, both spot gold and the MCX August gold contract were down by 1 per cent on the day. The spot gold was hovering around $3,295, while the MCX August gold contract was at ₹96,300. Tariff developments: US President Donald Trump announced his much-awaited tariff plans to impose higher rates of 25 per cent-40 per cent on key trading partners. As per the new proposition, tariffs on Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Tunisia, would be 25 per cent, while Laos and Myanmar would face a 40 per cent rate. South Africa and Bosnia to face 30 per cent, Indonesia 32 per cent, Bangladesh and Serbia 35 per cent, Thailand and Cambodia 36 per cent tariffs. Tariff deadline has been extended from July 9 to August 1. Additional tariff letters will be sent shortly. India and the US may reach a mini-trade deal shortly. US President Trump said on Tuesday that the August 1 tariff deadline will not be extended, though earlier he had said that the deadline may not be 100 per cent firm depending on the trade deal developments. Trump to announce semiconductor tariffs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused China of distorting trade and limiting access for European firms. She, addressing the EU Parliament stressed at the need of a genuine rebalancing. Trump plans 50 per cent tariff on copper imports: On Tuesday, President Trump announced that he will be implementing a new 50 per cent tariff on copper imports. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that copper tariffs could go into effect in July-end/August 1. ALSO READ: Gold price climbs ₹10 to ₹98,850; silver falls ₹100, trades at ₹1,09,900 New York Fed Survey: The New York Fed's Survey of Consumer Expectations shows that respondents in June saw inflation at 3 per cent 12 months from now, which is at the same level as it was in January. Inflation expectations eased 0.2 per cent from May. Tariff-induced Inflation is yet to show up in most of the inflation data. Expectations at the three- and five-year horizons were unchanged at 3 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. Upcoming data: FOMC minutes of the Fed's June 18 FOMC meeting will be released on July 9. China's PPI and CPI data (June) will be released on July 9. Fitch Ratings on trade war: Fitch Ratings, in its latest 'Fitch-20 Economic Monitor', highlighted that the trade war has resulted in volatility in global trade flows and foreign-exchange rates in recent months. Gold ETF and COMEX inventory: As of July 7, total known global gold ETF holdings stood at 90.491MOz, up around 9.22 per cent holdings posted the first weekly decline after five straight weeks of build-up. Nonetheless, holdings continue to hover around two-year high. COMEX gold inventories continue to decline as investors take hold of physical metal. As of July 7, inventories stood at 36.71MOz, down over 18 per cent since they reached a record-high level of 45.07MOz on April 4. Perth Mint Gold Sales: Perth Mint gold coins and minted bars rose to 32,901 MOz in June from 28,244 Oz in May. Outlook: Spot gold is well supported by strong ETF inflows, tariff tensions and investors scrambling to take possession of physical gold. A firmer Dollar is weighing on the metal though. In the very short-term, gold's direction is likely to depend on tariff news flow. As Trump has extended the tariff deadline to August 1, safe haven flows are somewhat subdued, which is why gold is under pressure. It won't be surprising to see the deadline getting extended further. At the same time, markets may become concerned over trade wars as even the August 1 deadline is not far off. Weighing in all the positive and negative factors, gold is expected to range trade between $3,272 ( ₹95,600) and $3,350 ( ₹98,000). The next major support is at $3,247 (₹94,800). Interim resistance is at ₹97,100. Traders entertaining the possibility of Trump imposing tariffs on precious metals imports carries an upside risk. In the very short-term, selling into rallies with a tight stop-loss is the preferred trade.
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Business Standard
15 minutes ago
- Business Standard
How to trade silver amid strong dollar and firmer yields? Analyst decode
Performance: On July 8, spot silver traded between $36.29 and $36.89. The metal fell in the US session as the US Dollar and yields rose amid a flurry of tariff announcements by the US President Trump. At the time of writing this article, spot silver was changing hands at $36.42, down around 1 per cent on the day, while the MCX September at ₹ 107,400 was down by nearly 0.85 per cent. Tariff developments: US President Donald Trump announced his much-awaited tariff plans to impose higher rates of 25 per cent-40 per cent on key trading partners. As per the new proposition, tariffs on Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Tunisia, would be 25 per cent, while Laos and Myanmar would face a 40 per cent rate. South Africa and Bosnia to face 30 per cent, Indonesia 32 per cent, Bangladesh and Serbia 35 per cent, Thailand and Cambodia 36 per cent tariffs. The tariff deadline has been extended from July 9 to August 1.+ Additional tariff letters will be sent shortly. India and the US may reach a mini-trade deal shortly. US President Trump said on Tuesday that the August 1 tariff deadline will not be extended, though earlier he had said that the deadline may not be 100 per cent firm depending on the trade deal developments. European Commission President U₹ula von der Leyen accused China of distorting trade and limiting access for European firms. She, addressing the EU Parliament stressed the need for a genuine rebalancing. Trump plans 50 per cent tariff on copper imports: On Tuesday, President Trump announced that he will be implementing a new 50 per cent tariff on copper imports. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that copper tariffs could go into effect in July-end/August 1 US Dollar Index and yields: The US Dollar Index at the time of writing was noted at 97.66 as the Index firmed up for the second straight day. It has recovered nearly 1.40 per cent from its nearly four-year low of 96.37-- to which it fell on July 1. Ten-year US yields rose for the fifth consecutive day as the yields at 4.42 per cent were up 4 bps. New York Fed Survey: The New York Fed's Survey of Consumer Expectations shows that respondents in June saw inflation at 3 per cent 12 months from now, which is at the same level as it was in January. Inflation expectations eased 0.2 per cent from May. Tariff-induced Inflation is yet to show up in most of the inflation data. Expectations at the three- and five-year horizons were unchanged at 3 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. Upcoming data: FOMC minutes of the Fed's June 18 FOMC meeting will be released on July 9. China's PPI and CPI data (June) will be released on July 9. Silver ETF and COMEX Inventory: Total known global silver ETF holdings, currently at 773.58 MOz, are up 7.9 per cent YTD and are at a three-year high. COMEX silver inventory at 49.80MOz is down roughly 1.40 per cent from its all-time high level of 50.50MOz recorded on May 12. Perth Mint June silver sales: Perth Mint June silver coins and minted ba₹ fell to 464,197 Oz from 496,197 MOz in May. Outlook: The extension of tariff deadline is somewhat positive for the metal. Silver is getting good support from positive ETF inflows and deficit concerns. It is likely to do well unless and until tariff concerns start weighing on risk assets heavily. Dips should be treated as a buying opportunity. Strength in copper may support the metal. In addition, notion of a possibility of tariffs on silver imports in line with copper may also support it. Support is at $35.7 (₹1,05,200)/ $35 (₹1,03,200). A decisive breach of resistance at $37.50 (₹1,10,600) will open the way to $40 (₹1,17,000).
Euronews
17 minutes ago
- Euronews
Consumer groups fear EU plans to ease rules for chemicals sector
The European Commission presented on Tuesday its sixth 'omnibus' simplification package since the start of Ursula von der Leyen's mandate. This time, the target is the EU's chemical sector, a cornerstone of European industry, according to Commission Vice-President for Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, but one that he says is 'increasingly under threat'. The reform package, officially titled the Action Plan for the Chemical Industry, combines new support measures for Europe's ailing producers with a set of rule changes designed to ease red tape and cut costs. The Commission claims it will save the industry over €360 million annually by simplifying how hazardous chemicals, cosmetics and fertilisers are labelled, regulated and authorised. But not everyone is convinced the latest push to modernise EU law is entirely harmless. Green lawmakers warn the simplification could undermine years of progress on health and environmental protection, accusing the Commission of siding with big industry at the expense of consumers. Speaking in Strasbourg, Stéphane Séjourné defended the plan as an 'industrial package above all', not merely a chemicals policy. 'We're talking about a sector that has seen its global market share nearly halved in the last 20 years,' he said, warning that Europe was risking the loss of its production base if it didn't act swiftly. He pointed to the closure of around twenty large chemical sites in recent years, and described steam crackers - essential, high-emission chemical plants - as ageing and in need of major investment. Séjourné said the aim was to keep these strategic assets in Europe while using the green transition to modernise them and improve competitiveness. 'We fully stand by our decarbonisation strategy,' he added, 'but it must also support our industrial resilience.' The action plan promises to lower energy costs through extended state aid rules and speed up investment in green technologies like hydrogen and chemical recycling. It also outlines the creation of a Critical Chemicals Alliance to identify vulnerable supply chains and reduce Europe's dependence on imports for key substances used in sectors like automotive, defence and healthcare. Simpler labelling for cosmetics and fertilisers Alongside these broader industrial goals, the Commission's Chemicals Omnibus introduces a raft of changes to EU rules, including simpler formats for chemical labelling and lighter procedures for cosmetics and fertilising products. These changes, the Commission insists, will not compromise safety. 'This is about reducing the administrative burden, not the level of protection,' said Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment and Circular Economy. 'We know that Europeans care deeply about chemical safety, and we believe that strong environmental standards can go hand in hand with strong business.' Roswall highlighted public concerns over harmful substances, particularly PFAS, also known as the 'forever chemicals', which have been found in the blood of nearly the entire Dutch population, according to recent research. The Commission said it is preparing a wide ban on PFAS in consumer goods, and plans to allow their continued use only in strategic sectors like health and defence, under strict conditions. But the Green group in the European Parliament is warning of a dangerous shift in priorities. 'Health protection is thrown overboard to increase the profits of the chemical industry,' said Greens/EFA co-president Bas Eickhout in a statement on Tuesday. He accused the Commission of weakening legislation, particularly on cosmetics, by allowing the continued use of substances previously banned due to cancer or reproductive toxicity risks. The Greens also criticised the move to undo some of the labelling rules introduced just last year, arguing it punishes companies that already made costly investments to comply, while rewarding those that lagged behind. While the Commission insists the reforms are part of a wider industrial strategy, the new chemicals package adds to a growing list of sector-specific 'omnibus' packages adopted in recent months, covering everything from farming to defence.
