Gold steadied early on Friday as markets assessed risks of inflation stemming from the recent U.S.-Iran military escalation in the Middle East, with renewed rate-hike expectations putting the non-yielding metal on course for a weekly decline.

FUNDAMENTALS

Spot gold held its ground at $4,122.09 per ounce, as of 0047 GMT, and was headed for an over 1% weekly fall. U.S. gold futures for August ‌delivery were ⁠down 0.2% ⁠at $4,131.50.

Iranian armed forces launched attacks on U.S. military infrastructure in Gulf states on Thursday following U.S. strikes on Iran’s southern coastal and eastern provinces, further eroding a three-week-old ceasefire.

The latest round of strikes has fuelled inflation concerns and reinforced the probability of the U.S. Federal Reserve raising interest rates this year. Markets are pricing in a 64% chance of a September rake hike from around 54% a ⁠week before, according ‌to CME’s FedWatch tool.

Minutes from the Fed’s June meeting, released earlier this week, showed growing concerns among policymakers about elevated inflation, with ⁠a few participants seeing a case for raising interest rates.

New York Fed President John Williams said on Thursday he did not expect energy prices to rise persistently for the rest of the year despite renewed hostilities in the Middle East.
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting the labor market remained stable despite a slowdown in job growth in June.
HSBC cut its average gold ‌price forecasts for 2026 and 2027 on Thursday, citing a hawkish shift in U.S. monetary policy expectations and a stronger dollar.
The National Bank of Poland (NBP) has 632.4 tons ⁠of gold reserves worth about 308 billion zlotys ($81.68 billion), NBP Governor Adam Glapinski said on Thursday.

Fortuna Mining expects to receive the final permit for its Diamba Sud gold project in Senegal within weeks, its chief executive told Reuters.

Elsewhere, spot silver eased 0.1% to $59.94 per ounce, platinum gained 0.2% to $1,614.22 and palladium added 0.4% to $1,252.75. All three metals were on track for a weekly loss.

DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

0300 China Overall Comprehensive Risk Q3

0300 Japan Overall Comprehensive Risk Q3

0600 Germany HICP Final YY June

0645 France CPI (EU Norm) Final MM, YY June

0645 France CPI YY, MM NSA June

0800 China Total Social Financing June

0800 China M2 Money Supply YY June

Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs has barred employees from trading on prediction-market contracts linked to financial markets and political events, ‌a ⁠source familiar with ⁠the matter said on Thursday.

A memo was issued some time back in which the policy prohibits staff from participating in event-based ⁠contracts that could ‌create real or perceived conflicts of interest ⁠with the bank, its clients or the broader financial industry.

Bloomberg News, which first reported the policy, said repeated violations could result in disciplinary action, including termination, and ‌that employees may be required to forfeit gains from prohibited ⁠trades.

The restrictions do not apply to prediction-market contracts related to sports and entertainment, the source said.

Asian stocks gained as investors piled back into semiconductor stocks on renewed optimism over AI-driven demand. Oil fell.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index climbed 0.5%, led by a 2.6% rally in South Korea’s Kospi, though the regional benchmark remained on track for a weekly loss. SK Hynix Inc. swung between gains and losses in Seoul trading after raising $26.5 billion in its American depositary share offering.

Futures for the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index slipped 0.4%, signaling a more cautious tone.

Brent crude dropped 0.3% to about $76 a barrel, extending Thursday’s decline as traders judged the US-Iran conflict was unlikely to escalate into a broader disruption to energy supplies. That helped Treasuries hold gains from Thursday, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year at 4.55%. Government bonds of similar tenor in Japan and Australia edged higher.

Optimism toward technology shares resurfaced as investors focused on signs that the AI investment boom remains intact after a sharp bout of selling in chip stocks earlier this week.

Amid ongoing debate about inflation, interest rates and geopolitics, the market’s direction over the next month may come down to earnings, according to Anthony Saglimbene, a strategist at Ameriprise.
“Companies will need to do more than just beat estimates,” he said. “They will need to show that margins are holding at high levels, that guidance remains firm and probably even better than analysts currently project, and that tech-led profit growth still has enough breadth to support the market’s valuation.”Spending by chip companies is at the center of that debate. In the latest capital expenditure announcement, Micron Technology Inc. said it plans to increase spending on new plants in the US to $250 billion to help meet demand fueled by the artificial-intelligence boom.

SK Hynix’s ADR sale is expected to help fund growing spending plans amid soaring demand for equipment used in AI computing. The company and Samsung Electronics Co. are poised to ramp up investment in South Korea as part of a government-led initiative worth $880 billion. The ADRs are set to begin trading Friday on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol SKHYV, which will change to SKHY when they begin regular trading July 13.

AI is likely to remain a key driver of markets during the second half of 2026, but the narrative is evolving, and this transition may create a more selective environment, according to Jeff Buchbinder at LPL Financial. Investors should focus less on who is spending the most and more on who is generating measurable returns from those investments, he said.

Costco has been hit with a class action lawsuit alleging that one of the products it sells contains “dangerous” levels of heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and cadmium.

The lawsuit centers on Orgain protein powders, including the Vanilla Bean and Creamy Chocolate Fudge varieties, which are marketed in stores and online as providing “good, clean nutrition.”

Seven plaintiffs from across the U.S. allege Costco failed to properly screen the products for toxic heavy metals or disclose their presence to consumers, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington state.

The plaintiffs are seeking to hold the warehouse retailer accountable for marketing the protein powders as safe and healthy despite the alleged presence of the contaminants.

COSTCO QUIETLY DISCONTINUES AWARD-WINNING KIRKLAND ITEM FANS CALL ‘ONE OF THE BEST’ IN THE MARKET

“Many consumers who buy and use protein powder do so routinely as part of a continuing focus on their fitness and health,” Steve Berman, managing partner and co-founder of law firm Hagens Berman, said. 

“These same health-conscious consumers have unknowingly ingested alarming levels of toxic heavy metals — lead, cadmium and arsenic — again and again, trusting that Costco’s quality assurance would not allow something like this to happen.”

Orgain pushed back on the allegations, saying its products are safe to consume.

“Orgain products are safe to consume,” the company said in a July 9 statement provided to USA Today. “While trace amounts of substances that occur in the environment can be present in plant-based ingredients, our products comply with applicable food safety standards and guidance. We stand behind the safety and quality of our products.”

Costco sells at least four Orgain product lines on its website. The retailer’s protein powder listings include a disclaimer stating, “Product details have been supplied by the manufacturer and are hosted by a third party.”

SURPRISE RIVAL KNOCKS COSTCO’S FAMOUS ROTISSERIE CHICKEN OFF ITS PERCH AS BEST BIRD

According to the complaint, independent testing commissioned by the plaintiffs found that Orgain’s Vanilla Bean flavor contained lead levels exceeding California’s Proposition 65 limits by more than 600%.

The allegations also cite separate 2025 reports from nonprofit organization Clean Label Project and Consumer Reports that identified elevated levels of heavy metals in certain protein powders.

Consumer Reports flagged Orgain’s Vanilla Bean flavor for containing lead at 143% of its level of concern. The publication classified the product as “okay to eat occasionally” but recommended limiting consumption to roughly four servings per week.

The complaint further cited findings that plant-based protein powders, particularly organic varieties, contained higher levels of heavy metals compared with nonorganic and whey or beef-based counterparts.

COSTCO MAKES PAYMENT CHANGE THAT COULD SPEED UP CHECKOUT FOR MEMBERS

In response to the findings, California lawmakers introduced a bill im February requiring mandatory testing and public disclosure of heavy metals in protein products.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also announced in early June that the state had launched an industry-wide investigation into the manufacturers over related concerns. 

“Consumer Reports tested 23 products and found that lead levels in plant-based protein powders were, on average, nine times higher than those made with dairy proteins such as whey and twice as high as beef-based products,” Paxton’s office said in a June 8 statement. 

Ticker	Security	Last	Change	Change %
COST	COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP.	912.97	-40.16	-4.21%

According to the Food and Drug Administration, there is no known safe level of lead exposure. 

Studies suggest that the metal can accumulate in the body faster than it can be eliminated, meaning repeated exposure may increase health risks. 

Chronic lead exposure has been linked to immune suppression, reproductive problems, kidney damage and elevated blood pressure.

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Children, pregnant women and older adults are particularly vulnerable to heavy metal exposure.

Orgain and Costco did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.

President Trump gave three brilliant speeches over July 4th weekend. First at the freedom and faith convention, then at Mount Rushmore, and then on July 4th on the National Mall at Washington D.C.

He emphasized two large-scale thoughts. First, America’s greatness both past, present and future. And second, godless communism is a mortal threat that must be extinguished without delay. And he hammered these points again and again. Essentially giving GOP officials and candidates their talking points for the midterm elections.

Meanwhile, the superb Democratic pollster, Mark Penn, writes that Democrats are unwisely choosing candidates who are completely unqualified for the Senate or House. Graham Platner is a perfect example. And Mr. Penn writes that “antisemitism is anti-Americanism and no tent of any party should be big enough to make room for it.”

Republican strategist Karl Rove writes that socialists spell trouble for Democrats. They can win in deep blue districts, but they’ll weigh down the party elsewhere. And he talks about some of the platforms of these socialist–communist Democrats “all cops are bastards” and “no more police at all ever” from Darializa Avila Chevalier at New York City or another socialist communist, Manny Rutinel in Colorado, who wants to shift money away from the military, policing, and prisons.

All this will be banner headline ads by Republicans who already hold a vast fundraising advantage over Democrats, due in large part from the recent Supreme Court decision that will allow, say, the Republican National Committee pulling money in with the Senate and House campaign committees, and thereby helping federal races state-by-state. It’s a tremendous thing.

Jim McLaughlin writes that President Trump has a 50 percent approval rating among likely voters, with 60 percent approval among Hispanics and 32 percent with blacks. Senator Chuck Schumer is a dead man walking with a 29 percent favorable rating.

For sure the Mamdani-Sanders-AOC socialist communist tail is wagging the Democratic party dog. Yet that dog is not going to hunt come November.

A California city is weighing a ban on drive-throughs after some residents expressed concern that a proposed In-N-Out could hurt air quality, worsen traffic and create safety issues for pedestrians and cyclists.

The City Council in Culver City, California, passed a 45-day moratorium last month to prohibit permits for new drive-throughs while staff drafted a potential ban, according to LAist. This comes after the city’s mobility subcommittee voted to recommend staff draft the ban in May.

If the city council approves a ban, only new businesses would be affected.

In-N-Out would be the first new drive-thru in Culver City since 1997, according to a city staff report. The proposed fast-food restaurant would include 61 parking spaces and a drive-thru lane that could fit 26 vehicles.

IN-N-OUT TO ENTER NEW MARKET WITH MULTIPLE RESTAURANTS BY YEAR’S END: REPORT

The burger chain had not submitted the formal application for a permit it was preparing when the city passed the moratorium, a city spokesperson told LAist.

FOX Business reached out to In-N-Out for comment.

“As a private, family-owned company, we generally don’t comment publicly on business matters,” a spokesperson for In-N-Out told LAist.

Critics of In-N-Out’s plan have slammed the proposal for potentially hurting the city’s ability to be safe and walkable.

“Density is inevitable, and development is inevitable,” Vanessa Martin, a city resident organizing support for the drive-thru ban, told LAist. “We want to be proactive and smart about it.”

Martin’s wife, Cynthia, created an online petition calling on residents and the city council to oppose the In-N-Out “mega drive-thru,” arguing it would create traffic congestion, worsen air quality and pose safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists.

Another resident, Paul Hewitt, began handing out flyers to his neighbors calling the project a “terrible idea.”

Culver City Councilmember Bubba Fish, who sits on the city’s mobility subcommittee, said the city needs to create “more walkable, bikeable, safer streets for people of all modes, and drive-throughs are the antithesis of that.”

But opponents of the ban said drive-throughs are an important option for consumers, including people with disabilities and families with children.

Jot Condie, the president of the California Restaurant Association, said he believes drive-thru bans are generally “shortsighted.”

“You’re essentially banning quick-service restaurants without specifically stating that,” Condie said.

A DAD REVEALED HOW HIS FAMILY OF 5 EATS AT CHICK-FIL-A FOR UNDER $45

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Around 70% of all fast-food sales come from drive-thru orders, according to the American Planning Association.

This is not the first attempt at a drive-thru ban in the Golden State.

Culver City already bans drive-throughs in its downtown area, while Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo have had citywide bans for decades, according to LAist. Carlsbad recently eased a citywide ban that began in the late 1990s to allow for consideration of new drive-throughs on a case-by-case basis.

When San Diego considered a partial drive-thru ban in 2021, the California Restaurant Association sent a letter arguing that a ban would prevent certain groups, including people with disabilities, from accessing products and services, the outlet reported.

South Korean computer chip maker SK Hynix has raised $26.5bn (£19.8bn) in its New York share offering, marking the largest ever listing by a foreign firm in the US.

The company, a key supplier to artificial intelligence (AI) chip giant Nvidia, said on Thursday that it had sold 177.9 million American depositary shares for $149 each. The shares are set to begin trading on Friday on the Nasdaq.

In May, SK Hynix saw its market value top $1tn in its home country, lifted by the boom in demand for AI chips.

Its share price has more than tripled in South Korea this year, which along with Samsung Electronics has helped boost the benchmark Kospi index by more than 70% over the same period.

The offering gives US investors a way to buy SK Hynix shares without having to trade via an overseas stock exchange.

This gives the company easier access to the huge amounts of potential investment from the world’s biggest economy.

The company is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of advanced memory chips used in AI infrastucture such as data centres.

Demand for the offering was reportedly over seven times more than the number of shares available, highlighting the strong investor appetite for a key company in the AI supply chain.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the government’s emergency decree allowing 400 billion baht ($11.95 billion) in borrowing to address the energy crisis. Judges ruled 7-2 to maintain provisions for renewable energy transition funding, rejecting lawmakers’ constitutional challenge, enabling the government to proceed with its economic support plan.

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Key Points

• Thailand’s Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the government’s emergency decree allowing 400 billion baht ($11.95B) in borrowing to address the energy crisis, rejecting claims from 133 lawmakers that it bypassed normal legislative процесс.

• The court ruled 7-2 to approve using funds for renewable energy transition, with 200 billion baht easing living costs amid Middle East-driven price hikes.

• This decision provides legal backing for Thailand’s energy support and clean energy investment plans.

Constitutional Court Upholds Emergency Borrowing Decree

On July 9, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled that the government’s emergency decree authorizing a 400-billion-baht (about $11.95 billion) loan to address the energy crisis is constitutional. A panel of nine judges unanimously approved the core provision empowering the Ministry of Finance to borrow funds to counter the effects of volatile global energy prices. By a 7–2 vote, the court also upheld the clause allocating budget resources toward transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The ruling followed a challenge by 133 members of the House of Representatives, who argued that the decree bypassed normal legislative procedures reserved for genuine emergencies or economic crises.

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Allocation and Purpose of the Loan

The 400-billion-baht plan, approved by the Thai cabinet in May, is divided into two main components. Approximately 200 billion baht will help ease the cost-of-living burden on citizens amid rising global energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict. The remaining funds are earmarked for energy transition initiatives, supporting Thailand’s shift away from fossil fuel dependency toward cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. The government emphasizes that this dual-purpose funding strategy aims to stabilize the economy in the short term while laying the groundwork for a resilient, diversified energy sector capable of adapting to future global market fluctuations.

Broader Implications for Thailand’s Energy Strategy

The Constitutional Court’s decision provides the government with a solid legal foundation to proceed with its large-scale economic support package. Officials view this ruling as pivotal in accelerating investment in energy infrastructure and diversification programs over the coming years. As many nations intensify efforts toward emission reduction and energy security, Thailand’s approved borrowing plan positions the country to align with these global trends. Beyond immediate economic relief, the initiative reflects a broader strategic vision—balancing short-term financial stability with long-term structural reform, reinforcing Thailand’s commitment to sustainable growth and energy resilience amid ongoing international market uncertainties.

Source : Thailand officially approves emergency loan of nearly 12 billion USD

Other People are Reading

Digital platforms now provide multiple services within one system. Instead of relying on separate services for communication, customer management, accounting, and reporting, businesses can access these functions on a single platform.

For example, Microsoft 365 includes email, file storage, meetings, and collaboration, while HubSpot combines CRM, marketing, and support within one environment.

This model is not limited to business software. Consumer platforms follow the same structure. Netflix, for instance, started as a streaming service but now offers films, series, mobile games, and personalised content within one platform.

The same applies to platforms like Amazon, which combine shopping, streaming, cloud services, and subscriptions. A similar approach can be seen in online gaming platforms such as MrQ Casino, which offers slots, live casino games, bingo games, and jackpot games within one platform.

Software Fragmentation Is Creating Operational Inefficiencies

Many UK businesses operate with multiple software tools across departments. Sales, finance, customer support, and internal communication are often managed through separate systems. While each tool addresses a specific function, this structure creates fragmentation at the operational level.

The primary issue is not the number of tools, but the separation of data and workflows. When systems operate independently, information must be transferred manually or through integrations. This introduces delays, duplication, and inconsistencies.

In practice, this leads to:

• Multiple versions of the same data
• Delayed reporting and decision-making
• Increased administrative workload
• Higher risk of errors in financial and customer records

These inefficiencies become more visible as businesses grow and processes become more complex.

Integration-Based Systems Have Structural Limitations

Most multi-tool environments rely on integrations to connect systems. These integrations are typically API-based and allow data to move between applications.

However, integration does not eliminate fragmentation. It only creates a link between separate systems.

Common limitations include:

• Data synchronisation delays
• Inconsistent data structures between tools
• Partial or failed data transfers
• Increased maintenance requirements

For example, customer data may be updated in a CRM system but not immediately reflected in accounting or support platforms. This results in misaligned records and incomplete reporting. As the number of tools increases, the number of integrations grows, adding further complexity.

Platform-Based Systems Use a Shared Data Structure

In contrast, platform-based systems operate on a unified architecture. Multiple business functions are managed within a single environment, supported by a shared data layer.

This approach eliminates the need for data transfer between systems.

Key characteristics include:

• Centralised data storage
• Unified user identity and access control
• Built-in workflows across departments
• Real-time updates across all functions

Examples of platform-based systems used in the UK include:

• Microsoft 365, which combines communication, document management, collaboration tools, and automation within one environment
• HubSpot, which integrates CRM, marketing, sales, and customer support on a single data model
• Zoho One, which provides a suite of business applications covering finance, HR, operations, and customer management
• Sage, which combines accounting, payroll, and compliance functions tailored to UK regulatory requirements

In these systems, actions performed in one area are immediately reflected across the platform.

Workflow Continuity Improves Operational Efficiency

A key advantage of platform-based systems is workflow continuity. Processes can operate across departments without interruption or manual intervention.

In a fragmented system:

• Data must be exported or re-entered
• Teams rely on manual updates
• Processes are delayed at each transition point

In a platform-based system:

• Data flows automatically between functions
• Processes are triggered in real time
• Reporting reflects current operational activity

For example, when a sale is recorded in a unified platform:

• The customer record is updated automatically
• Billing processes can be triggered immediately
• Support systems have access to the same information
• Reports are updated without manual input

This reduces administrative effort and improves data accuracy.

Regulatory Requirements Support Platform Adoption in the UK

Regulatory developments in the UK are reinforcing the move toward integrated systems.

The introduction of Making Tax Digital requires businesses to maintain digital financial records and submit data using compatible software. This increases the importance of accurate, consistent data across financial processes.

Using multiple disconnected tools increases the risk of:

• Inconsistent financial records
• Manual reconciliation errors
• Delays in reporting

Platforms such as Sage address these challenges by combining accounting, payroll, and reporting within a single system. This reduces the need for data transfers and supports compliance requirements.

Artificial Intelligence Requires Integrated Data Environments

The adoption of artificial intelligence is further accelerating platform consolidation. AI systems depend on access to structured, consistent data. In fragmented environments, data is incomplete or distributed across multiple systems, limiting the effectiveness of AI tools.

In platform-based environments:

• AI can access a complete dataset
• Automation can operate across workflows
• Insights are based on real-time information

This allows businesses to implement automation and analytics at a broader operational level, rather than within isolated tools.

Platform Adoption Introduces Dependency Considerations

While platform-based systems reduce complexity, they also introduce dependency on a single provider.

Key considerations include:

• Data portability and export capabilities
• Integration options with external tools
• Long-term pricing structures
• Vendor lock-in risks

In the UK cloud market, switching between providers remains limited due to the complexity of migration and system dependencies. As a result, platform selection becomes a strategic decision.