Asia markets edge higher as gold, silver hit record highs

December 26, 2025 (MLN): Asia markets traded higher on Friday, although activity was subdued as several major exchanges across the region remained closed for the Boxing Day holiday.

Investor sentiment was supported by strong gains in precious metals and positive cues from Wall Street, where U.S. stocks closed at fresh record highs in the previous session, according to CNBC.

Precious metals continued their remarkable rally for the year, with gold and silver both setting new all-time highs.

Spot gold jumped more than 1% to briefly touch a record $4,530 per ounce before easing slightly to $4,508.65 by late morning in Singapore.

The yellow metal has now surged more than 71% so far this year, driven by demand for safe-haven assets.

This comes amid growing concerns over elevated equity valuations and fears of an artificial intelligence led market bubble.

Investor sentiment has also been weighed down by uncertainty surrounding the timing of U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

Silver extended its historic run as well, rising 4% on Friday to reach a record $75.10 per ounce, bringing its year to date gains to an extraordinary 158%.

In Japan, equity markets advanced, led by technology and semiconductor-related stocks.

The Nikkei 225 rose 0.47%, while the broader Topix index gained 0.27%.

Technology heavyweight SoftBank Group climbed 2.86%, snapping a three-session losing streak, while semiconductor testing equipment maker Advantest rose 2.65% and chip equipment supplier Lasertec added 1.57%.

Investors also digested fresh inflation data, which showed Tokyo’s core consumer prices increased 2.3% in December from a year earlier.

Although the reading came in below market expectations and November’s pace, it remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target, reinforcing expectations that the central bank may continue raising interest rates.

Tokyo inflation figures are widely viewed as a leading indicator of nationwide price trends.

Elsewhere in Asia, South Korean stocks posted modest gains, with the Kospi rising 0.53% and the tech-heavy Kosdaq advancing 0.42%.

Shares of Samsung Electronics surged as much as 5%, recovering from losses in the previous session.

In contrast, China’s CSI 300 slipped 0.15% at the open, while Indian equities edged lower, with the Nifty 50 down 0.12% and the BSE Sensex declining 0.13%. Markets in Australia and Hong Kong were closed for the Boxing Day holiday.

U.S. equity futures edged slightly higher during early Asian trading hours, following another record-setting session on Wall Street.

The S&P 500 advanced 0.32% to close at 6,932.05, marking its second straight record finish, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 288.75 points, or 0.60%, to end at a new high of 48,731.16.

The Nasdaq Composite added 0.22% to settle at 23,613.31, emphasizing continued optimism in U.S. markets even as global investors remain cautious amid inflation and monetary policy uncertainty.

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