Global equities hovered near record levels on Wednesday as investors weighed geopolitical developments against the continued rally in precious metals. European stocks traded mostly flat, while Asian markets were mixed, with Chinese shares edging higher and Japanese stocks slipping slightly. US equity futures pointed to a marginally weaker open, signaling a pause after recent gains.
Gold extended its advance, rising 0.4% to trade above $4,500 an ounce for the first time, underscoring persistent demand for haven assets amid elevated geopolitical and policy uncertainty.
On the diplomatic front, the US and Ukraine continued peace talks, with discussions increasingly centered on potential territorial concessions, according to people familiar with the matter. Tensions between Washington and Brussels also escalated after the US government imposed sanctions on former European Union official Thierry Breton, a move seen as part of a broader pushback against the EU’s Digital Services Act, which has drawn criticism from US technology companies and policymakers
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