MONEY MASTER

Singapore is exploring plans to expand its gold storage capacity as it seeks to position itself as a  major global bullion trading hub , targeting central bank reserves and institutional flows. Strategic Push Into Bullion Market Authorities are evaluating potential sites — including areas near  Changi Airport  — to enhance  vaulting infrastructure for gold storage , according to sources familiar with the discussions. The  Monetary Authority of Singapore  confirmed it is  considering the use of existing facilities for gold vaulting , though it stopped short of confirming expansion plans. The move aligns with Singapore’s broader ambition to strengthen its role in  precious metals trading and financial services . Targeting Central Banks and Institutional Demand A key objective is to attract  central banks , which collectively hold around  39,000 tonnes of gold , accounting for roughly  18% of global supply , according to the World Gold...

Quick Summary Surplus liquidity in China is flooding into metals markets , pushing gold, copper and silver to record highs Money supply is growing far faster than the real economy , reflecting weak consumption and investment Speculation, not physical demand , is driving much of the rally Gold stands out as a cultural and financial safe haven  for Chinese households What’s Driving the Metals Surge With  easy money and shrinking investment options , Chinese capital is pouring into commodities. Key forces at play: Ample liquidity  as the  People’s Bank of China  continues to support growth M2 money supply grew 8.5% YoY , far outpacing  nominal GDP growth of just 3.9% Property, equities, and deposits  offer unattractive returns Result:  Speculative trading explodes in metals futures Trading volumes in  silver, copper, aluminum, nickel and tin  on Chinese exchanges have surged to record levels. A Disconnect From the Real Economy Despite soari...

Quick Summary US stock futures moved higher while  gold rebounded sharply  after recent losses. A  partial US government shutdown has delayed the  January jobs report , adding uncertainty to near-term data. Meanwhile, a  US–India trade deal ,  major AI investments , and  strong earnings from Palantir  shaped early market sentiment. Key Takeaways January US jobs report delayed  due to partial government shutdown US to cut India tariffs from 25% to 18%  under a  US$500bn+ trade deal Gold rebounds over 5%  after a two-day rout SpaceX acquires xAI , forming a vertically integrated AI ecosystem Big Tech ramps up AI spending ; earnings season remains in focus Markets Before the Bell Nasdaq 100 futures  +0.41% S&P 500 futures  +0.11% Dow futures  -0.11% Gold +5.43% , rebounding strongly Apple  +4.06% , Tesla  -2.00% Macro & Policy US–India trade deal : Tariffs on Indian goods cut to  18% from 25% ...

Asian equities began the week on a subdued note as high U.S. Treasury yields tested Wall Street's lofty valuations, keeping the U.S. dollar near multi-month highs. Market Performance : MSCI Asia-Pacific Index dipped 0.2% but remains 16% up for the year. Japan’s Nikkei slid 0.9%, still boasting a 20% annual gain. Chinese blue chips rose 0.3%, with most of their 16% yearly gain achieved after Beijing’s September stimulus promises. South Korea's index edged up 0.3% but is down 9% for the year, weighed by political uncertainties and events like Jeju Air’s recent plane crash. Global Futures : EUROSTOXX 50 futures gained 0.1%. U.S. futures saw slight declines, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures down 0.1%. Economic Drivers and Concerns U.S. Treasury Yields : Yields on 10-year Treasuries are near eight-month highs at 4.631%, up 75 basis points for the year. Rising yields reflect revised expectations of less restrictive monetary policy, raising concerns about potential impacts on corpo...