2h agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 8:24pmMarket snapshotASX 200 futures: +0.8% at 8,895 pointsAustralian dollar: +0.4 at 69.18 US centsS&P 500: +0.7% to 6,960 pointsNasdaq: +0.6% to 25,759 pointsDow Jones: +0.7% to 49,434 pointsFTSE: +0.1% to 10,149 pointsEuroStoxx: +0.2% to 610 pointsSpot gold: 1.2% to $US5,045/ounce Brent crude: -0.4% to $US65.65/barrel
Iron ore: -1% to $US103.55/tonneBitcoin: +1.6% to $US87,842

Prices current around 7:20am AEDT

14m agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 10:30pmGold’s movement

Given all the talk of gold and the record highs the precious metal is having, here is a look at its movement over the past five or so months.

31m agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 10:13pmTrump says he is raising tariffs on certain South Korean imports to 25 per cent

US President Donald Trump says he will increase tariffs on South Korean imports into the United States related to autos, lumber and pharmaceuticals to 25% while accusing the ally’s legislature of “not living up” to its trade deal with Washington.

“South Korea’s Legislature is not living up to its Deal with the United States,” Trump wrote on social media.

“Because the Korean Legislature hasn’t enacted our Historic Trade Agreement, which is their prerogative, I am hereby increasing South Korean TARIFFS on Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%.”

– Reuters

49m agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 9:55pm

Hoping to start your finances afresh in 2026? These tips will help

Anna Chrisholm from ABC Lifestyle has put together this story with money experts to talk about what you can do this year to feel more in control of your personal finances.

1h agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 9:40pmWhat to watch out for today

The National Australia Bank (NAB) will release its December business confidence and conditions reports at 11:30am.

The report provides key insights into the Australian economy’s health.

Coming into December, NAB economists predicted the economy looked to end the year with private sector growth strong and the labour market healthy.

Let’s see what happens later this morning.

1h agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 9:25pmChina’s aging population is saving its way towards economic stagnation

Unlike many Western economies, Chinese households stash away more than 40 per cent of their income. But the pressure to boost local consumption is mounting for Beijing.

Here is the latest piece of analysis by chief business correspondent Ian Verrender: 

1h agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 9:10pm

How the Atlas Network is shaping your life, even if you’ve never heard of it

If you didn’t get the chance yesterday, I encourage you to pour yourself a tea and get stuck into this latest piece by business reporter Gareth Hutchens, something he spent months preparing.

The analysis looks at Friedrich Hayek, the Nobel Prize-winning Austrian-born economist’s influence on Australia’s economy, specifically the network of “free market” think tanks that were created by his followers.

They are now one of the objects of interest in a federal parliament inquiry investigating how “misinformation” and “disinformation” about climate change and energy is financed, produced and disseminated. 

1h agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 8:55pm

Gold’s new record

If you’re wanting to read more on gold prices, here is a piece from yesterday afternoon that looks at investor movement and political tensions. 

2h agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 8:38pmPrecious metals soaring

The price of precious metals are reaching new records, after gold briefly hit $US5,100/ounce, and silver $US110/ounce.

Analysts say these numbers are evidence of a deepening crisis of confidence in the US dollar and the broader monetary order.

“The move underscores a shift in investor behaviour: precious metals are no longer being treated merely as tactical hedges, but increasingly as alternative stores of value in a world defined by political fracture, fiscal strain and monetary uncertainty,” says Senior Market Analyst Daniela Hathorn.

“The recent surge in precious metals does not appear to be driven by speculative excess alone. Physical demand, central bank accumulation, and longer-term allocation shifts have all played a role. Central banks, particularly outside the Western bloc, have continued to diversify reserves away from the dollar, lending structural support to gold prices. Meanwhile, investor flows suggest that precious metals are increasingly being used not just as portfolio insurance, but as core holdings against systemic risk.”

She says these results reflect more than short term market stress, and are more like symptoms of a global system under strain.

“They are signalling a re-pricing of trust. Trust in currencies, in institutions, and in the stability of the post-Cold War economic order. While sharp pullbacks remain possible after such explosive moves, the underlying drivers suggest that precious metals are operating within a powerful secular trend rather than a transient spike.”

Analysts at Metals Focus forecast gold prices to peak about $US5,500 in 2026.

As of 7:20am, gold is up +1.2% to $US5,045/ounce, while silver is up +5.6% to $US109/ounce.

2h agoMon 26 Jan 2026 at 8:19pmOpening the blog

Good morning everyone and welcome to another day of the markets live blog, where we’ll bring you the latest price action and news on the ASX and beyond.

It’s the first day of domestic trading for the week, after the ASX was closed for the long weekend.

But when it opens in a few hours, it is predicted to have strong gains, with futures pointing up +0.8% to 8,895 points.

Wall Street is rallying in afternoon Monday trade, with all three major share markets up:

S&P 500 is up +0.7% to 6,960 points.Dow Jones Industrial Average is up +0.7% to 49,434 points.Nasdaq Composite is up +0.6% to 25,759 points.

The Aussie dollar is trading at 69 US cents.

Grab yourself a coffee and see you back here soon!