Shares slip in Asia as metals melt, earnings loom

Asian shares mostly followed Wall Street futures into the red on Monday as chaotic trading in precious metals made for ​a nervous start to a week that is packed with corporate earnings, central bank meetings and major economic data. Silver lost another 5% at one stage, ‌as Friday’s 30% plunge squeezed leveraged positions in what had become a very crowded trade. Dealers also said pressure on the UBS SDIC silver futures fund in China added to the rout. Oil prices fell around 3% as President Donald Trump said over the weekend Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington, perhaps lessening the risk of a US military strike on the country.