International News 06 October 2025
-
Gold Prices Hit Fresh Record, Extend Weekly Winning Streak on U.S. Shutdown Fears
Gold prices surged to another all-time high on Friday (Oct 3 2025), marking their seventh straight weekly gain as mounting concern over the prolonged U.S. government shutdown and expectations of imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts drove investors toward safe-haven assets. Spot gold rose 0.8% to US$ 3,886.54 per ounce, briefly touching an intraday record of US$ 3,896.49, while December futures climbed over 1% to US$ 3,908.90. The metal advanced 3.37% this week, bringing its year-to-date rally to nearly 47%. Analysts said the longer the government remains closed, the stronger the bullish support for gold. With U.S. non-farm payroll data postponed, traders relied on softer labor indicators and priced in 97% odds of a 25-bp rate cut in October and 85% in December, per CME FedWatch. UBS projected prices could reach US$ 4,200 per ounce in the coming months, citing declining real yields and a weakening dollar. As political gridlock and economic uncertainty deepen, gold continues to shine as the asset of choice for risk-averse investors.
Japan’s LDP Leadership Race Enters Final Round with Stark Choices
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has entered the second and decisive round of internal voting to select its next leader—and effectively the nation’s next prime minister. The two finalists are Sanae Takaichi, age 64, a hardline nationalist and the only woman in the race, and Shinjiro Koizumi, age 44, a charismatic young reformist and political scion. The winner will be chosen by a combination of 295 LDP parliamentarians and 47 prefectural votes, with the result expected by 06:30 GMT and a parliamentary confirmation scheduled for October 15. Takaichi has championed a return to bold “Abenomics”-style stimulus, criticized the Bank of Japan’s rate hikes, and floated reactivating investment-tariff deals with the U.S., while also promoting constitutional revision and a more assertive foreign posture. Her nationalist leanings, including visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, raise tensions with neighboring countries such as South Korea and China. Koizumi, on the other hand, promises wage hikes and relief for households squeezed by inflation—albeit within the fiscal constraints of prior administrations. Polls suggest Koizumi holds stronger support among LDP lawmakers, while Takaichi is more popular among rank-and-file members, setting up a dramatic intra-party showdown.
Vietnam’s GDP Growth Hits 8.22% in Q3 Despite U.S. Tariffs and Storm Damage
Vietnam’s economy expanded 8.22% year-on-year in Q3 2025, up from 7.96% in the previous quarter, marking the country’s fastest quarterly growth since 2011 (excluding the 2022 post-pandemic rebound), according to the Ministry of Finance. The strong performance came even as the United States imposed 20% tariffs on Vietnamese imports and the country endured eight major storms, including Typhoon Bualoi, which caused an estimated 16.5 trillion dong (US$625 million) in damages. Over the first nine months of 2025, Vietnam’s GDP grew 7.84%, keeping the nation on track to meet its ambitious annual target of 8.3–8.5%, well above forecasts from the World Bank (6.6%) and IMF (6.5%). Inflation remained contained, with consumer prices rising 3.27% year-on-year from January to September and 3.38% in September alone. The General Statistics Office is expected to release detailed trade and growth data soon, as Vietnam continues to balance robust domestic demand with external headwinds from global trade tensions.
https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/ekonomi-vietnam-tumbuh-822-pada-kuartal-iii-2025