Last week saw a blend of inflation trends and political challenges. In the US, mixed inflation data, cooling labor markets, and weakening consumer sentiment kept expectations of a Fed rate cut in place. In Europe, political instability in France added to economic pressure, while the ECB held rates steady. China grappled with deflationary pressures, and Japan prepared for snap elections. Major global equity markets ended the week higher, while US Treasury yields dipped, the US dollar weakened, and oil prices edged up. After gains last Monday, Gold settled around the US$3,640 level for the rest of the week (up 1.6% ... (full story)