China ups the trade war ante by warning other countries over making any trade deals with the US that might be detrimental to Beijing. Ahead of US stock markets opening on Monday, gold is up again, just shy of $3,400. Bitcoin is following, up 2.8% so far on the day, and fast approaching a potential break in the downward trend at $88,600.

Trade and real wars still worry markets

In a statement that escalates the current tit-for-tat trade war between the US and China, countries that are working out trade deals with the US were warned by Beijing that should these deals be “at the expense of China’s interests”, the Chinese government will impose “countermeasures” against those countries.

On another geopolitical front, US President Donald Trump has said that peace talks between Russia and …