Gold and silver surged to record highs on Monday, January 19, 2026, as global equity markets faltered after United States President Donald Trump reignited trade war fears by threatening several European countries with punitive tariffs over their opposition to Washington’s proposed takeover of Greenland.
The renewed tensions added to an already fragile geopolitical climate, sending investors rushing towards safe-haven assets amid fears of a widening trade conflict between the world’s largest economic blocs.+See more details
LeadNaija News reports that Trump, who has repeatedly argued that US control of Greenland is vital to national security, escalated tensions over the weekend after talks failed to resolve what he described as a “fundamental disagreement” with European nations over the Danish autonomous territory.
On Saturday, the US president announced plans to impose new tariffs on eight European countries for refusing to back the move.
According to him, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would face 10 per cent tariffs from February 1, rising sharply to 25 per cent from June 1, should they fail to agree to the proposed takeover.
The announcement drew swift condemnation from the affected countries, which issued a joint statement warning of the consequences.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” the statement said.
The move also cast doubt on the future of a trade agreement signed between the United States and the European Union last year.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking on ARD television, said, “I don’t believe that this agreement is possible in the current situation.”
In France, aides to President Emmanuel Macron disclosed that he may request the European Union to activate its so-called “anti-coercion instrument” against Washington if Trump carries through with the threat.
The mechanism, which has never been used, allows the EU to restrict imports of goods and services into its 27-member bloc, representing a market of about 450 million people.
Bloomberg reported that EU member states were already discussing retaliatory tariffs on up to €93 billion ($108 billion) worth of US goods.
The growing prospect of a transatlantic trade war sent shockwaves through financial markets, driving investors towards traditional safe-haven assets.
Gold climbed to a historic high of $4,690.59, while silver surged to a record $94.12, extending gains that had already been supported by Trump’s recent threats against Iran and the US-backed ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Equity markets across Asia reacted negatively to the developments, with major indices posting losses.
Markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore and Wellington all closed lower, while Seoul and Taipei managed modest gains.
European and US futures also pointed lower, reflecting continued investor unease ahead of trading sessions in the West.
Dollar Weakens, Euro and Yen Gain
The dollar slipped against its major peers as risk aversion intensified.
The euro, sterling and Japanese yen all strengthened, reflecting investor demand for currencies perceived as relatively safer amid global uncertainty.
Market strategist Charu Chanana of Saxo Markets said the next steps by Washington and Brussels would be critical.
“The next signpost is whether this moves from rhetoric to policy, and that is why the concrete dates matter,” she said.
She added that Europe’s response would be closely scrutinised by investors.
“On the European side, the decision path matters as much as the headline, because there is a difference between merely mentioning the anti-coercion instrument as a signal and formally pursuing it as action,” Chanana noted.
Even if tensions ease temporarily, she warned of longer-term risks.
“Even if the immediate tariff threat gets negotiated down, the structural risk is that fragmentation keeps rising, with more politicised trade, more conditional supply chains, and higher policy risk for companies and investors,” Chanana added.
There was little reaction to fresh data showing that China’s economy grew by five per cent last year, in line with government targets.
However, analysts noted that growth in the final quarter slowed sharply compared with the previous three months, adding to concerns about the global outlook.
Meanwhile, investors in Seoul and Taipei appeared to brush off a warning from US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who said South Korean chipmakers and Taiwanese firms that failed to invest in the United States could face tariffs of up to 100 per cent unless they increased production on US soil.
Markets At A Glance
By around 0230 GMT, Japan’s Nikkei 225 had fallen 1.0 per cent to 53,412.88, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.7 per cent to 26,670.01. Shanghai’s Composite Index edged down 0.1 per cent to 4,099.23.
In currency markets, the euro rose to $1.1628 against the dollar, while the pound strengthened to $1.3397. The dollar weakened against the yen, trading at 157.54 yen.
Oil prices were mixed, with West Texas Intermediate inching up 0.1 per cent to $59.52 per barrel, while Brent crude was flat at $64.15.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.2 per cent at 49,359.33, while London’s FTSE 100 ended flat at 10,235.29.
As tensions continue to mount, analysts say markets are likely to remain volatile, with investors closely watching whether Trump’s tariff threats and read more>> translate into concrete policy action.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
