Gold prices moved higher on June 4 as a softer U.S. dollar and easing oil prices lifted demand for the safe-haven metal amid renewed hopes of de‑escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict. Spot gold was up about 0.7% at $4,464.69 an ounce and U.S. August futures gained near $4,491.70, reversing losses from the prior session when bullion fell as investors priced in higher interest-rate risks. Markets had been hit on June 3 by renewed Middle East hostilities—an Iranian strike that damaged Kuwait’s airport and U.S. strikes near the Strait of Hormuz—which pushed oil and the dollar higher and weighed on gold. Comments from New York Fed President John Williams that Fed policy need not change for now and a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon helping ease some risk premiums also supported bullion. Other metals moved similarly: silver around $73–74, platinum and palladium posting modest gains.

TSMC’s chief executive C.C. Wei told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting in Hsinchu that robust adoption of AI across consumer, enterprise and sovereign applications will sustain strong demand for advanced semiconductors and computing power over the next several years. Wei said customers remain optimistic about AI, though TSMC is watching rising component costs and warned it will take a “very long time” for U.S. production to fully meet American customers’ needs. The company has raised its revenue outlook and is stepping up capital spending to expand capacity, including major investment plans in U.S. fabs. TSMC highlighted steep year-on-year gains in employee profit-sharing—around 30% increases for 2024 and 2025 and projected again for 2026—and pointed to a marked share-price rally over the past year. Market-focused outlets noted analyst and valuation commentary that the company faces supply constraints that could keep advanced-node pricing power high, while some investors flagged elevated valuation metrics and recent share volatility tied to customer outlooks.

Broadcom reported record fiscal second-quarter revenue of $22.19 billion on June 3, 2026, up about 48% year-on-year, driven by AI semiconductor sales of $10.8 billion (up 143% YoY). Management said AI bookings topped $30 billion and reiterated a full-year AI semiconductor target of $56 billion, with fiscal 2027 AI sales still expected to exceed $100 billion. Broadcom forecast third-quarter revenue of about $29.4 billion and AI semiconductor revenue of roughly $16 billion, figures that fell short of some analysts’ estimates. The company posted strong margins and cash flow — operating margin around 67% and free cash flow near $10.3 billion — but the guidance and chip-revenue targets triggered a sharp market reaction: shares slid 11–13% in after-hours trading. Executives reassured investors on supply commitments for 2026–27 and highlighted multi‑gigawatt deals with major customers including Google, OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta. Elevated valuation metrics (P/E ~93.6x), notable insider selling and intensifying competition from rivals such as Marvell were also flagged by analysts and market commentators.

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square is preparing to sell its remaining stake in Universal Music Group (UMG), according to reports on June 3-4, 2026. Pershing plans an overnight placing of roughly 80.6 million shares — about a 4.7% holding — with Bank of America marketing the stock in a range of €17.66 to €18.62 per share, which at the top end could raise about €1.5 billion. The move follows UMG’s board rejection last week of Pershing’s non-binding takeover proposal, which valued the company at roughly €55.75 billion (around €30.40 per share). Pershing first invested in UMG in 2021 and Ackman served on its board until 2025. Reuters and other outlets reported the sale after UMG said the offer “fundamentally and materially undervalues” the company; the Bolloré family remains UMG’s largest shareholder. Pershing has declined to comment publicly and UMG did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Media and market coverage notes the sale would conclude a turbulent multi-year activist campaign and could modestly affect UMG’s share price and liquidity on Euronext Amsterdam.

South Korea's finance minister, Koo Yun-cheol, on June 4 pledged immediate and preemptive measures to curb excessive volatility across the foreign exchange, stock and bond markets after the won slid to its weakest level since March 31. Koo met with Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song, Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon and Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Chan-jin to review market conditions and vowed rapid responses, including possible currency intervention, if herd-like behaviour intensifies. Officials attributed recent swings to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and continued net selling by foreign investors as they rebalance profits from recent gains. The ministry noted the economy’s underlying strength — exports rose 53.2% year-on-year in May and the local market ranks sixth globally by market capitalisation — but flagged rising margin loans as a potential risk. The won pared some losses after the ministry statement, trading around 1,523.6 per dollar as volatility eased.