Inflation Dynamics: Core CPI and Asset Price Effects

Markets are on edge as gold cools off near record highs, traders brace for new U.S.–China trade fallout, and crypto faces another week of uncertainty. Bloomberg reports that gold is holding near $2,580, while analysts warn the trade has become overheated after months of relentless inflows. Meanwhile, China’s tech giants have paused their Hong Kong stablecoin plans, signaling fresh regulatory pressure in Asia. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve’s Payments Innovation Conference put a spotlight on tokenization, CBDCs, and digital payments, underscoring how central banks are racing to modernize money.