Global gold has slipped from a Jan-end peak of $5,598.75/oz to roughly $4,500/oz, a decline of more than $1,000/oz, prompting five major international banks to mark down price forecasts. Domestic sentiment shows yuan prices briefly below 980 yuan/gram on social media. In Beijing retail, mainstream pure-gold jewelry now retails at about 1,340–1,370 yuan/gram, down from 1,600–1,700 yuan/gram at the start of the year—a fall of more than 300 yuan/gram, roughly 20%. A Beijing Caibai store reports inv

The U.S. House passed a motion to discharge H.R.2913, which includes authorization of support for Ukraine and related measures; a floor vote on the bill is still underway.

Today (June 3) Iran's foreign ministry strongly condemned what it said were US-led strikes launched from two regional countries that hit an Iranian tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and a communications tower on Qeshm Island. The ministry said the actions violate a ceasefire and the UN Charter's prohibition on the use of force, accused Kuwait and Bahrain of bearing direct responsibility for enabling the attacks, and warned Iran will use all available means to repel aggression while exercising its inherent right to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.