Gold prices remained stable, poised for the fifth weekly gain as concerns over a global trade war driven by U.S. President Trump s tariffs boosted demand for safe-haven assets. Spot gold held at $3,109.95, while U.S. gold futures rose 0.3%. Investors await the U.S. non-farm payrolls data for insights into the Federal Reserve s interest rate path.

The Canadian dollar hit a nearly four-month high against the U.S. dollar after Canada avoided new tariffs in the ongoing trade war. Investors are moving away from the American currency, anticipating further interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The loonie gained 1% to 1.4090 per U.S. dollar.

Thursday s market plunge reflects investor anxiety over President Trump s significant global tariffs, resulting in declines for U.S. stocks, the dollar, and oil. Analysts forecast reduced U.S. growth and heightened recession risks, with China s potential currency devaluation in response being closely monitored. Economic and market uncertainty is expected to persist.

Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida stated that the central bank will keep raising interest rates if underlying inflation approaches its 2% target, despite potential risks from higher U.S. tariffs. Uchida noted that U.S. tariffs could impact global and Japanese economies, affecting trade, business confidence, and financial markets.

Japan s Nikkei share average tumbled by 1.7% following significant losses on Wall Street, as concerns arose over U.S. President Trump s tariffs potentially leading to a global economic recession. The broader Topix index also declined by nearly 2%, with the banking sector experiencing the worst performance.

Eight OPEC+ countries have agreed to increase oil output by 411,000 barrels per day in May, surpassing their initial plan. This decision aims to improve compliance among members and comes amid concerns over potential disruption to Iranian supply as U.S. President Trump ramps up pressure on Tehran.

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said that the central bank will maintain its current interest rate because of the uncertain economic environment. She expressed concerns over rising inflation due to tariffs and anticipated slower growth. Cook also highlighted the risks tariffs could pose for inflation and growth, and the challenge for monetary policy.

Infonative Solutions IPO received strong interest, being oversubscribed over 4 times. The company aims to raise Rs 25 crore for developing new products and general corporate purposes. The allotment status can be checked on BSE and Kfin Technologies websites. The shares are set to list at a Rs 5 premium.

Spinaroo Commercial s IPO saw a modest response with slight oversubscription. The company will finalize share allotment today, with investors able to check the status via BSE or registrar s websites. The IPO aims to raise Rs 10 crore by offering shares at Rs 51 apiece, with the listing set for April 8.

HDFC Bank reported a 5.4% year-on-year growth in gross advances and a 14.1% rise in deposits for Q4FY25. Retail loans increased by 9%, while average deposits saw a 15.8% jump. The corporate & other wholesale loans declined by around 3.6% over March 2024.