Global Markets Navigate Gold’s Milestone, Escalating Trade Tensions, and Key Corporate Shifts

Group 1: Gold Market - Gold has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first asset globally to surpass a $30 trillion market capitalization, with prices reaching an all-time high of $4,357 per ounce, driven by safe-haven demand amidst global uncertainties [3][9] - The current market value of gold is 14.5 times larger than Bitcoin's market cap and 1.5 times greater than the combined capitalization of the "Magnificent 7" technology giants [3] Group 2: European Banking and Trade Tensions - European markets are facing rising credit concerns, evidenced by a 2.8% decline in bank stocks, amid escalating trade tensions between China and the European Union [4][9] - China has initiated an anti-dumping probe into EU pork, imposing preliminary duties of up to 62.4% on certain imports, affecting over $2 billion in exports, with the investigation extended until December 16, 2025 [4][9] Group 3: Automotive Industry Challenges - Ford Motor Company announced recalls for a total of 624,679 US vehicles due to seatbelt and rearview camera issues, as mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [6][9] - Starbucks is under pressure from investors to resume negotiations with unionized baristas, amid concerns over stalled talks and potential impacts on brand reputation and shareholder value [7][9] Group 4: Advancements in Autonomous Driving - Pony.ai Inc. and Stellantis have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate the development and deployment of robotaxi solutions in Europe, with testing set to begin in Luxembourg [10]